Many years ago I sold a mobile phone (Motorola Flare) on gumtree. I met the buyer at my local tube station, handed over the box, took payment and went on my way.
As I put the cash in my pocket I realised that the mobile phone I was selling was still in there, and I had just sold someone an empty mobile phone box for £60. Being the honest guy that I am I ran after the guy, explained what had happened and handed over the phone. His initial look of shock when I approached him turned to a smile.
About 10 minutes up the road I thought I'd take a peep at my new dosh, but outside in the daylight I was devastated to find I'd been paid with some fake £20 notes!
Not being able to accept it I took the 'every man (boy) for himself' stance and went on a mission to pass them on.
First port of call.... a geezer selling £1 flashing yoyos outside the local shopping centre. Approached him, did a bit of oscar award winning acting..... "oooh I really like those yoyos but I've got no small change to buy one". He said he had change of a £20, so the deal was done! One fake £20 gone, two to go.
Second port of call..... another geezer, this time in the shopping centre car park. He pulled up to me in a car saying that he was selling some gold chains etc that had 'fallen off the back of a lorry'. I wouldn't usually get involved but as I had some dodgy things of my own to get rid of I entered into a deal with him. Managed to off load the remaining two fake £20s.
Happy with my days work I celebrated by going to KFC and ordering a bargain bucket. Took out the notes (a £5 and £10 note) I got given as change during my 'First port of call', but the KFC worker just looked at me and said "Sorry mate, can't accept them, they're fakes!!".
A few days later I noticed that the gold chains purchased from my 'Second port of call' were turning my skin green.
At that moment I decided that if there's a next time I'll just accept the hit.