A BARRHEAD gran is warning people to be on their guard after falling victim to an online scammer while trying to buy furniture for a memorial garden she created in honour of her late husband.

Ann Marie Howie, 69, paid a deposit for the ‘bargain’ furniture after spotting an advert on Facebook Marketplace.

However, the fraudster took her money, failed to deliver the goods and then blocked her on the social media site.

Ann Marie told the Barrhead News: “I just want to warn people about this because I really am not gullible but I still fell for it.

“If something looks too good to be true, then it probably is.”

Ann Marie has lovingly created a peaceful space in her garden where she can remember her 72-year-old husband Ron, a respected clay target shooting coach, who died after suffering a stroke in July last year, just months before the couple were due to celebrate their 48th wedding anniversary.

When she spotted rattan furniture in an online advert, it seemed like the perfect fit.

Ann Marie said: “I found Ron in the garden when he had the stroke and I thought ‘I need to do something about that space’ because, every time I looked out, I could see him where he was lying.

“I’ve had it slabbed and grassed and have been busy planting plants and it’s turning into a nice wee spot to go and sit and talk to him.

“I can still see where he was but it looks different now because there are flowers and seats.

“It’s a happy place where my family sit and blether about him but, when we all get together, there are quite a few of us, so I thought I would buy an extra garden set so everybody can sit comfortably.”

The advert was posted by a ‘Jamie Ellis,’ who was offering the furniture at a knockdown price because premises run by ‘JTF Warehouse’ were closing down.

This appeared to be the case when Ann Marie searched for the company online.

She ordered a set for delivery on the Saturday and paid a £50 deposit.

Nothing arrived and, days later, the fraudster asked for payment in full before delivery, which Ann Marie refused.

She offered to pay cash on delivery and said that, if this wasn’t acceptable, she wanted her deposit to be returned.

However, the scammer insisted the deposit was non-refundable, despite no mention of this anywhere in the advert or in messages sent to her.

Ann Marie added: “In the end, I said ‘give me my deposit or I’m reporting you’ but they came back with ‘well, bye then.’

“I went to the bank but it’s doubtful that I’ll get the £50 back. It’s just £50 but that’s a week’s groceries to me.”