Complaint Review: SCAM ALERT - Craigslist Aesthetics Machines For Sale in London UK - BEWARE

This is a warning to all beauty salons, skin clinics, medical professionals and doctor-led aesthetic clinics in the UK who are considering buying used cosmetic equipment online.

Please beware of Craigslist listings in London, UK under the 'Health And Beauty' or ‘Electronics’ categories for Cutera Trusculpt machines, Ulthera/Ultherapy machines, Beautytek 320 machines and Cynosure Smartlipo machines.

From late 2016, images and text from legitimate branded medical machine listings in the US or elsewhere have been reposted on Craigslist and advertised “for sale” in the London, UK area.

These machines do not exist as this is part of an organised scam perpetuated by an individual or group of Eastern European origin.

The scam involves creating fraudulent listings culled from legitimate medical machine sales websites (Dotmed, Alibaba, etc). Funds or part payments are demanded via bank transfer to a fraudulent or stolen Natwest bank account and a tracking number is promised. However, neither the tracking number nor machine ever materialise.

Please see the attached image for reference. As of 23/02/17, this listing is still live on Craigslist in London, UK and has been for 2 weeks.

Please see several examples of fraudulent listings that are STILL LIVE on Craigslist.

https://london.craigslist.co.uk/hab/5992019743.html - BEAUTYTEK 320 "FOR SALE" IN LONDON, UK

https://london.craigslist.co.uk/hab/5996753693.html - SMARTLIPO (CYNOSURE) "FOR SALE" IN LONDON, UK

https://london.craigslist.co.uk/hab/5993175626.html - TRUSCULPT (CUTERA) "FOR SALE" IN LONDON, UK

https://london.craigslist.co.uk/ele/5991574898.html - TRUSCULPT (CUTERA) "FOR SALE" #2 IN LONDON, UK

https://london.craigslist.co.uk/hab/5985141667.html - TRUSCULPT (CUTERA) "FOR SALE" #3 IN LONDON, UK

Details about the fraudster(s):

• One calls himself by the name of "Radek Tom Prokop", which may be the legitimate name of someone whose Natwest bank account was stolen and used for the purposes of criminal activity. He uses the following mobile phone number: 07493 731286 (now defunct). These details were likely "throwaway" contact details and will likely not be re-used. Therefore, please beware of anyone "selling" a machine on Craigslist with a foreign accent/English as a second language (in emails or on the phone) who is insistent upon bank transfer and formulates an excuse as to why the machine cannot be viewed before the “buyer” makes payment.
• The fraudster stated he was affiliated with the company "Medical Diagnostic Innovations Ltd.", which has been defunct since 2010 according to records at Companies House. No individual by the name of "Radek Tom Prokop" exists on those company records.
• The fraudster is using an account with Natwest that is registered at a branch in Walsall, UK. It is highly likely that this is a stolen bank account or an account registered under a fake name using a fake address.
• The fraudster previously told one "buyer" that the aesthetic machine in question (Trusculpt) was located in northern Scotland, possibly to deter them from seeing the machine in person.
• If you insist on an invoice, they will send you one with a company name that either does not exist or has ceased to exist.

Please see the attached image for an example of one of these fraudulent listings.  

Please do not buy any medical/aesthetic machines on Craigslist unless you are buying the machine in person from another medical professional and paying on site.