Farnworth Buy and Sell targeted by scammer

One victim, who had paid more than £35 for portraits, was even targeted by the woman on the day of her grandmother's funeral.

Police have said they are aware of the scam and urged people not to pay money to her.

A spokesman said that the seller has 'no intention of fulfilling their promise'.

A post appeared in the 'Farnworth Buy and Sell' Facebook group on October 8, offering to draw portraits of photographs at a good price.

The post offered pictures to be delivered in four days and a number of people snapped up the offer.

People made payments via Paypal and their banks and many handed over substantial deposits and fees.

However, after a week, buyers began to get suspicious after their portraits did not arrive and they started to contact her.

After she did not get in touch, people began messaging her threatening to go to the police and report her.

The woman then ignored them, blocked them, or insisted they would have their money returned – which never happened.

Caroline Shaw, aged 26, was tagged in the woman's post on Monday, October 9 and got in touch showing an interest in a portrait of her dog as a Christmas present.

The scammer then messaged her again the following day, when she was at her grandma's funeral and that night she sent the pictures and made a payment of £38.

A week later she saw the post on the buy and sell group and realised she had been conned.

Mrs Shaw, who is self-employed and lives in Radcliffe, said: "She does not care about anyone. I have been told by a few people that she has done this sort of thing on all different sites.

She said it would be four days. I left it for six days and thought I would leave it a week because she might be busy. When I saw the post about it being a scam I could not believe it.

"She was telling me she is going to send my money back but it has never come. She just does not care. I am not stupid enough to think I am going to get my money back.

"She has got hundreds of pounds from all these different people. It is small amounts but it is from different people.

"A lot of people have been coming forward saying she has taken money from them. We have put it in every buy, sell and swap that we can find in the area."

As well as herself, Mrs Shaw said she is aware of a number of people being conned out of amounts from £15 to £40.

Amanda Magari, aged 40 and from Moses Gate, is the administrator for the Farnworth group and has been working to spread awareness and stop the scammer.

She said: "That I know of she has already got five people. A lot of people have paid her deposits.

"She doesn't get back in touch when people contact them, she just starts ignoring them.

"I think it is absolutely disgusting. I tis really upsetting people. I just feel stunned that she is continuing to do it."

A number of warnings have now been circulated about the scammer, who it is believed has also conned people out of money by pretending to sell baby clothes and puppies in the past.

Another victim, from Little Lever who wished to remain anonymous, said: "She has got about £30 off me for a portrait of my dog.

"She was telling me how she loved my dog. I told her I was little nervous and that I had never done something like this before.

"It was the post from the admin when I realised. I messaged her and got nothing and then she blocked me.

"I am just worried she is going to do it to more people. She is still out there doing it. She is just taking money off people left, right and centre.

"She is just a low life thief."

Anyone with information about the scam can contact police on 101.

The Bolton News has attempted to contact the seller.