Scammer ‘Sells’ This Disabled Woman A PS5 For $450 And Never Sends It, So She Decides To Mess Up His Life
It’s been difficult to get your hands on the new PlayStation 5 since its release. So if someone really wants the console, they have to be open to all kinds of opportunities.
Which is why artist Brittany Everette pursued one that presented itself on Twitter. Or at least she thought it did.
“This guy … reached out to me saying he was selling his PS5 digital edition that his fiancé gifted him because it was the wrong version. He was selling it at the regular price too,” Everette tweeted.
The woman was skeptical at first but he seemed genuine, so she agreed to a 50% down payment and the rest 50% on arrival. And that’s when she realized she was being scammed.
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The woman never had any personal interactions with scammers prior to this experience. So for someone without any “formal” training, you gotta give it to Brittany, she’s certainly quick on her feet!
“Surprisingly, the authorities haven’t responded after I reported the scam,” Brittany told Bored Panda. “The only thing I’ve received are confirmations that my reports/complaints were filed.”
She said the reaction her thread has received was overwhelmingly supportive. “I had no idea my story would reach this many people. The amount of love and positivity has been truly incredible.”
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Even though she got her money back, Brittany still doesn’t have a PS5. “I’ve tried every restock at Target, Walmart, Amazon, GameStop, Sony, and Best Buy with no luck,” she explained. “Bots buy entire stocks out within seconds then resell them for over $1,000. I really want one, but it’s starting to seem impossible (this is me asking if Sony wants to send me a PS5 digital edition).”
And she isn’t alone in this situation. Sony has created one of the hottest gadgets of recent years in the PlayStation 5, but its launch has been spoiled by scalpers who are buying up scarce supplies and threatening the long-term health of the company’s most important product.
Scalpers, who buy the PS5 at retail and then resell at a higher price, have long been a challenge in the gaming business. But the problem at this particular time is even bigger since the coronavirus has squeezed production and pushed more console sales online — where scalpers use sophisticated bots to buy up the PlayStation 5 (and the new Microsoft Xbox).
These bots constantly monitor online stores for changes in inventory and supplies, then automatically place orders and check out in seconds when the goods become available. The technique is based on familiar web-crawling or scraping technology, but specifically tailored for e-commerce and can sometimes jump to the front of order queues.
A console’s debut is planned to set off a virtuous cycle of consumers rushing to buy the devices, while developers release games that capitalize on new graphics and processor capabilities, increasing the demand on both sides.
“The PlayStation 5 could miss a critical chance to get into a good hardware-software upward spiral,” said Kazunori Ito of Morningstar Research. “The peak of the platform will likely be low and the platform’s total revenue earned won’t be as strong as we hoped for.”
As for Brittany, she isn’t ashamed she got herself into this mess and thinks other people shouldn’t be too. “At the same time, don’t let the scammers/scalpers get away with it! Hold them accountable for the terrible way they’re treating people,” she added.
People think Brittany handled the situation like a pro
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Rokas is a writer at Bored Panda with a BA in Communication. After working for a sculptor, he fell in love with visual storytelling and enjoys covering everything from TV shows (any Sopranos fans out there?) to photography. Throughout his years in Bored Panda, over 300 million people have read the posts he's written, which is probably more than he could count to.
Read less »Rokas Laurinavičius
Writer, BoredPanda staff
Rokas is a writer at Bored Panda with a BA in Communication. After working for a sculptor, he fell in love with visual storytelling and enjoys covering everything from TV shows (any Sopranos fans out there?) to photography. Throughout his years in Bored Panda, over 300 million people have read the posts he's written, which is probably more than he could count to.
Read more »
I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. I kickstart my day with a mug of coffee bigger than my head, ready to tackle Photoshop. I navigate through the digital jungle with finesse, fueled by bamboo breaks and caffeine kicks. When the workday winds down, you might catch me devouring bamboo snacks while binging on the latest TV show, gaming or I could be out in nature, soaking up the tranquility and communing with my inner panda.
Read less »Mindaugas Balčiauskas
Author, BoredPanda staff
I'm a visual editor at Bored Panda. I kickstart my day with a mug of coffee bigger than my head, ready to tackle Photoshop. I navigate through the digital jungle with finesse, fueled by bamboo breaks and caffeine kicks. When the workday winds down, you might catch me devouring bamboo snacks while binging on the latest TV show, gaming or I could be out in nature, soaking up the tranquility and communing with my inner panda.
Children, please don’t imitate that one without checking your countries’ laws before. Pretending to be a lawyer can get you in serious legal trouble in several countries.
But I doubt if any scammer will file a complaint or report you to the police. Criminals generally aren't too keen on contacting the police.
Load More Replies...“Officer, arrest this man! He assaulted me after I tried to rape him...s**t”
Yes, scammers do not want to be noticed by law enforcement, in the case that police would actually do their job.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
not a criminal, just a s**t head.
In the US, even lawyers pretend to be lawyers. Have you seen the TV ads?
M O’Connell that made me chuckle! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a commercial for a lawyer in the uk? US commercials are wild!
As a legal professional....I fully endorse this comment. 😆
Actually that is not accurate, as long as you are not practicing law with out a license, and not impersonating an actual lawyer and not doing it to facilitate a crime, there are no laws broken.
I don't know why AzKhaleesi's comment was down-voted???? Why catching a crook is considered being against the law, especially when police is completely ineffective? You should like it, shouldn't you?
What? What are you saying? Catching a crook is not legal? Since when? Even citizens are allowed to make a citizens arrest in order to catch a criminal. What does any of that mean or have to do with the previous comment at all? And does the second part of ur comment have anything to do with the 1sy sentence of ur comment? Like are you asking about why the comment was down voted and then continuing on that topic or did u just switch topics cuz I hve no clue wat catching crooks has 2 do with the last comment or wat police ineffectiveness has to do with it either. I'm extremely confused here.
Exactly, Az. Exactly.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
And you know that for sure for every single country in this world? Plus: it may be that there were no laws broken, but it is completely possible that something like this ends up in court. What will be expensive and tim-consuming. So: legal trouble, even if you are innocent in the end.
There are "laws" which keep crooks and all kinds of criminals, and lawyers who defend them in lucrative business. I'm pretty sure that is happening in every country in the world. Human beings are incapable to rule themselves in any remotely just manner, and there's a reason for that.
The FBI and PIs pretend to be other professions all the time. What is the scammer gonna do? Report her? To do so he also has to admit that he committed a crime.
That is a part of the job, Tobin, it's called undercover investigation, undercover agent.
In America, it won't get you in trouble in a case like this. Maybe an admonishment. But she didn't file any official documents as an attorney or any official reports, complaints, or take other legal actions usually limited to legal professionals, and she also didn't try to represent herself as an attorney for the sake of financial or other malfeasance (e.g. to con someone) so....no one would give her a second thought for how she went about it.
Actually thats not true. ANYONE can act as their own lawyer. What you cant do is sell yourself as a lawyer for money. These false inaccurate beliefs is exactly how these dirtbags are successful. They prey on people not knowing what they can do. In my life experience most laws are written in favor of criminals...written to Actually make it easy for criminals to profit and virtually impossible for honest people to live.
So have friends who are lawyers and who are willing to be with the fake law firm. I know that doing this is not illegal, at least in my state.
It is illegal here in the U.S. as far as I know to represent yourself as an attorney when you aren't. Legal Eagle covers this while reviewing the movie "Legally Blonde" talking about the scene where Elle represents herself as an attorney to get a friend's dog back from her ex.
Not in the way this woman did. You cannot represent yourself as an attorney and 1) receive money for work you did as an "attorney", 2) file legal documents /official legal responses, motions, or other pleadings, etc. in any judiciary system, etc. representing yourself as an attorney. You cannot practice as an attorney...esp.in exchange for money, or any goods or valuable services.
You're misled. Only if you try doing legal stuff. All she did was send an email. Not at all illegal. Read up on your facts
She was on her way to be a lawyer. Good for her, and her friend, and especially for the dogie.
What’s he going to tell the police? (Scammer)“Yea so she pretended to be a lawyer to scare me” (cop) “Sir, why was she trying to scare you?” (Scammer) oh because I scammed her out of $450 prior to the email, I pretended to sell a PS5 and she sent me $450 but I never sent her anything” (cop) umm sir do you realize you just confessed to a crime? You have the right to remain silent *handcuffs click around his wrists) That’s how that would have gone down had he reported her so I’m pretty positive no scammer is going to the authorities because the victim is trying to get her money back.
Except, he would have claimed he did nothing to her. Then, she'd show all the evidence and he'd be in deeper than if he confessed immediately. Cops don't like being lied to
This is another unjust, one - fits - all laws. Pretending to be a lawyer to do what??? That should be taken into consideration by lawmakers, especially if law enforcement do not respond to filled complaints - calls for justice. This is the reason why crooks, scammers, liars are kept in business. It doesn't take a genius to correct this problem, if only people we (voters) put in power did their job. Think before you vote.
Christina, don't listen to anyone here saying she'd be in trouble for this. Az is correct.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Oh okay, adult. Thanks for the advice. 😂
Fake or not, I hope it’s scares dirty low-life scammers!
I don't know how she was able to know that the new twitter handles were for the same individual. Also, how did she find the e-mails of his fiance? This kind of information doesn't seem like something you could get from a simple internet search.
Load More Replies...Work out his name because all of his twitter handles are variations on a theme.Also, presumably she had some details for where she sent the money. Once you know his full name then paying for a background check on a zillion online sites will also give you emails and phone numbers of people who live at the same address or are related.
“Work out his name because all of his twitter handles are variations on a theme.Also, presumably she had some details for where she sent the money.” Are you staying this, about his ever-changing Twitter handles being similar/variations, as fact? He’s a scammer who got money out of her, twice, but he’s not smart enough to create a Twitter handle that she, a perfect stranger, couldn’t find to stalk? I mean, I’m not on Twitter but I can’t imagine it would be that difficult to create an unidentifiable handle and/or block someone you don’t want following you- especially one that’s difficult for those who don’t personally know you to find. Wouldn’t this mean that any criminal could find any Twitter user? Sounds illogical to me. As far as I’m aware, personal information is minimal for online monetary transactions.
It takes two seconds to create a new Twitter. A block is just a minor inconvenience
You can, that's why it's scary. Most sites list people who may be associated with you, family, friends, if you're roommates (due to address). That's ALL connected to your information. AND if you're willing to shell out the money for it. So yeah, she was determined.
I confess I'm a bit skeptical of this story. It's amusing, but I wouldn't bet the farm on it being true.
Also, we’re treading on thin ice daring to question this story. Op checked some relevant boxes by interweaving them into her story so she’s likely off-limits to skeptics.
Nice try, 67Firebird aka Henry Beacon. Now get off the internet before we send a screenshot of your comments to your girl.
So many holes and several points of seeming manipulation and deceit. What does her being disabled have to do with this story? Is it cited in an attempt to justify her foolishly sending the second/final payment? Her empathy for his “sick” kid won out, which is why she fell for it, but only because she’s disabled and feels empathy so much more profoundly than the rest of us?Scammer is “so stupid” yet he managed to scam her, twice! So much to cite, so little space to say it. So, his gf texted her and was fully supportive of this total stranger- the event effecting their relationship and gf was concerned about a random stranger who wants a ps? Mentioning Ativan- wth? She’s clearly an over-sharer and attention seeker, imo. This story paid off for her- we’re talking about her and it’s manna from Heaven for many these days. Attention is their addiction.
If you follow a person, or have a link to one of their tweets, their twitter handle just changes, but the follow/link stays the same. I follow a girl who changes her handle every 24 hours (the actual @, not the just the name), but the follow stays, so you can just see the change.
Children, please don’t imitate that one without checking your countries’ laws before. Pretending to be a lawyer can get you in serious legal trouble in several countries.
But I doubt if any scammer will file a complaint or report you to the police. Criminals generally aren't too keen on contacting the police.
Load More Replies...“Officer, arrest this man! He assaulted me after I tried to rape him...s**t”
Yes, scammers do not want to be noticed by law enforcement, in the case that police would actually do their job.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
not a criminal, just a s**t head.
In the US, even lawyers pretend to be lawyers. Have you seen the TV ads?
M O’Connell that made me chuckle! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a commercial for a lawyer in the uk? US commercials are wild!
As a legal professional....I fully endorse this comment. 😆
Actually that is not accurate, as long as you are not practicing law with out a license, and not impersonating an actual lawyer and not doing it to facilitate a crime, there are no laws broken.
I don't know why AzKhaleesi's comment was down-voted???? Why catching a crook is considered being against the law, especially when police is completely ineffective? You should like it, shouldn't you?
What? What are you saying? Catching a crook is not legal? Since when? Even citizens are allowed to make a citizens arrest in order to catch a criminal. What does any of that mean or have to do with the previous comment at all? And does the second part of ur comment have anything to do with the 1sy sentence of ur comment? Like are you asking about why the comment was down voted and then continuing on that topic or did u just switch topics cuz I hve no clue wat catching crooks has 2 do with the last comment or wat police ineffectiveness has to do with it either. I'm extremely confused here.
Exactly, Az. Exactly.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
And you know that for sure for every single country in this world? Plus: it may be that there were no laws broken, but it is completely possible that something like this ends up in court. What will be expensive and tim-consuming. So: legal trouble, even if you are innocent in the end.
There are "laws" which keep crooks and all kinds of criminals, and lawyers who defend them in lucrative business. I'm pretty sure that is happening in every country in the world. Human beings are incapable to rule themselves in any remotely just manner, and there's a reason for that.
The FBI and PIs pretend to be other professions all the time. What is the scammer gonna do? Report her? To do so he also has to admit that he committed a crime.
That is a part of the job, Tobin, it's called undercover investigation, undercover agent.
In America, it won't get you in trouble in a case like this. Maybe an admonishment. But she didn't file any official documents as an attorney or any official reports, complaints, or take other legal actions usually limited to legal professionals, and she also didn't try to represent herself as an attorney for the sake of financial or other malfeasance (e.g. to con someone) so....no one would give her a second thought for how she went about it.
Actually thats not true. ANYONE can act as their own lawyer. What you cant do is sell yourself as a lawyer for money. These false inaccurate beliefs is exactly how these dirtbags are successful. They prey on people not knowing what they can do. In my life experience most laws are written in favor of criminals...written to Actually make it easy for criminals to profit and virtually impossible for honest people to live.
So have friends who are lawyers and who are willing to be with the fake law firm. I know that doing this is not illegal, at least in my state.
It is illegal here in the U.S. as far as I know to represent yourself as an attorney when you aren't. Legal Eagle covers this while reviewing the movie "Legally Blonde" talking about the scene where Elle represents herself as an attorney to get a friend's dog back from her ex.
Not in the way this woman did. You cannot represent yourself as an attorney and 1) receive money for work you did as an "attorney", 2) file legal documents /official legal responses, motions, or other pleadings, etc. in any judiciary system, etc. representing yourself as an attorney. You cannot practice as an attorney...esp.in exchange for money, or any goods or valuable services.
You're misled. Only if you try doing legal stuff. All she did was send an email. Not at all illegal. Read up on your facts
She was on her way to be a lawyer. Good for her, and her friend, and especially for the dogie.
What’s he going to tell the police? (Scammer)“Yea so she pretended to be a lawyer to scare me” (cop) “Sir, why was she trying to scare you?” (Scammer) oh because I scammed her out of $450 prior to the email, I pretended to sell a PS5 and she sent me $450 but I never sent her anything” (cop) umm sir do you realize you just confessed to a crime? You have the right to remain silent *handcuffs click around his wrists) That’s how that would have gone down had he reported her so I’m pretty positive no scammer is going to the authorities because the victim is trying to get her money back.
Except, he would have claimed he did nothing to her. Then, she'd show all the evidence and he'd be in deeper than if he confessed immediately. Cops don't like being lied to
This is another unjust, one - fits - all laws. Pretending to be a lawyer to do what??? That should be taken into consideration by lawmakers, especially if law enforcement do not respond to filled complaints - calls for justice. This is the reason why crooks, scammers, liars are kept in business. It doesn't take a genius to correct this problem, if only people we (voters) put in power did their job. Think before you vote.
Christina, don't listen to anyone here saying she'd be in trouble for this. Az is correct.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Oh okay, adult. Thanks for the advice. 😂
Fake or not, I hope it’s scares dirty low-life scammers!
I don't know how she was able to know that the new twitter handles were for the same individual. Also, how did she find the e-mails of his fiance? This kind of information doesn't seem like something you could get from a simple internet search.
Load More Replies...Work out his name because all of his twitter handles are variations on a theme.Also, presumably she had some details for where she sent the money. Once you know his full name then paying for a background check on a zillion online sites will also give you emails and phone numbers of people who live at the same address or are related.
“Work out his name because all of his twitter handles are variations on a theme.Also, presumably she had some details for where she sent the money.” Are you staying this, about his ever-changing Twitter handles being similar/variations, as fact? He’s a scammer who got money out of her, twice, but he’s not smart enough to create a Twitter handle that she, a perfect stranger, couldn’t find to stalk? I mean, I’m not on Twitter but I can’t imagine it would be that difficult to create an unidentifiable handle and/or block someone you don’t want following you- especially one that’s difficult for those who don’t personally know you to find. Wouldn’t this mean that any criminal could find any Twitter user? Sounds illogical to me. As far as I’m aware, personal information is minimal for online monetary transactions.
It takes two seconds to create a new Twitter. A block is just a minor inconvenience
You can, that's why it's scary. Most sites list people who may be associated with you, family, friends, if you're roommates (due to address). That's ALL connected to your information. AND if you're willing to shell out the money for it. So yeah, she was determined.
I confess I'm a bit skeptical of this story. It's amusing, but I wouldn't bet the farm on it being true.
Also, we’re treading on thin ice daring to question this story. Op checked some relevant boxes by interweaving them into her story so she’s likely off-limits to skeptics.
Nice try, 67Firebird aka Henry Beacon. Now get off the internet before we send a screenshot of your comments to your girl.
So many holes and several points of seeming manipulation and deceit. What does her being disabled have to do with this story? Is it cited in an attempt to justify her foolishly sending the second/final payment? Her empathy for his “sick” kid won out, which is why she fell for it, but only because she’s disabled and feels empathy so much more profoundly than the rest of us?Scammer is “so stupid” yet he managed to scam her, twice! So much to cite, so little space to say it. So, his gf texted her and was fully supportive of this total stranger- the event effecting their relationship and gf was concerned about a random stranger who wants a ps? Mentioning Ativan- wth? She’s clearly an over-sharer and attention seeker, imo. This story paid off for her- we’re talking about her and it’s manna from Heaven for many these days. Attention is their addiction.
If you follow a person, or have a link to one of their tweets, their twitter handle just changes, but the follow/link stays the same. I follow a girl who changes her handle every 24 hours (the actual @, not the just the name), but the follow stays, so you can just see the change.
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