Exclusive: When a post from a farmer selling free-range eggs popped up in her local Facebook group, it seemed like perfect timing for Brisbane mum Hanna Mouhetta.

Having given birth to her daughter just days earlier, and juggling the demands of a newborn, the promise of delicious fresh farm eggs delivered straight to her door at an eye-catching price seemed like a godsend.

"I thought, 'Okay, great. I don't need to get out … that saves me some time,'" Mouhetta said.

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The Facebook post from an account going by the name Esther Williams said her farm had "too many" chicken, duck and goose eggs, and so it was "sale time" for anyone who wanted to get in quickly.

Williams claimed she was selling a dozen chicken eggs for $4.50, perhaps a couple of dollars cheaper than supermarkets.

A handful of wholesome photos made the post pop: a flock of chickens walking around in green grass, and beautiful brown eggs stacked in bowls and cartons.

A couple of feel-good emojis were added for good measure.

"If interested just pm (private message) me to make your order," Williams wrote.

It's not uncommon for local farmers around the outskirts of Brisbane to post in the group selling their produce, Mouhetta said, "and I normally I try to support the local businesses".

So she pinged off a direct message, hoping to snap up two dozen eggs.

She got a speedy response from the supposed farmer, who upsold Mouhetta into purchasing the last three dozen of her stock.

PayPal details were exchanged and Williams instructed Mouhetta to make the payment using the "sending to a friend" option – in hindsight, a red flag.

But battling "a little bit of a baby brain", which clouded her judgement, Mouhetta didn't give it much thought, so she obliged and transferred $13.50.

And with that, Williams vanished, along with her money.

"The next day I messaged the person and I didn't hear back," Mouhetta said.

Further attempts drew a blank.

She logged back into her Facebook group, a kind of virtual town square for residents in suburbs west of Brisbane, but Williams' egg post had disappeared.

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