QLD Australian Consumer Law - Ripped Off by Facebook Seller - Refund?

[Tim W]

The police and Crimestoppers are not relevant. This is a civil dispute, not a criminal matter.

If you are someone who can run it yourself,
then a small claims proceeding (whatever they call those in Queensland)
may have some prospect of success.
You'll probably need to run it in the state the seller is in.

 

[Wiggins]

OK that's very interesting, Tim, thanks for pointing out that, but I am a bit confused as to how this is not considered to be "obtaining financial advantage or benefit by deception". If this person sells as a one off, or habitually does this kind of trick, is this not something the authorities should be notified of?

I guess to take an extreme example, I advertised 1oz gold bars on Wbay and posted you a gold plated one, would that be a criminal or civil matter?

I'm just at a bit of a loss to understand the distinction.

 

[Tim W]

For one thing, it's probably not deception in the criminal sense.

Rather, it's more accurately described as being a
buy-and-sell dispute between two private citizens.
And that takes it into the realm of contract law - not crime.