Gumtree Scammers

[Barneyballbags]

OK, so I've got a phone up for sale on Gumtree at the moment (I know it's full of scammers, but I want to sell the phone locally).

Since the listing went live this morning I've had 14 emails, all sounding VERY similar, none of which are written in decent English, and all of which are asking me for my "best price on the beautiful item".

I did originally offer an option for buyers to pay using Paypal, and I said that I could post the phone for an extra £5.00 (to cover the cost of Special Delivery). A few of the 'buyers' said that they'd pay me an extra £20.00 to simply send it first class..!

Honestly, are people really THAT stupid that they fall for these tricks? It's obvious that the 'buyer' is going to pay using Paypal and then claim non-delivery. They specifically asked for regular first class postage so that I have no concrete way of proving that the phone was sent.

Needless to say I still have the phone safe & sound in my possession!

Makes my blood boil! :evil: :evil: :evil:

 

[hamster]

I kept getting hassled by this guy in the Ukraine wanting to buy my 306...would pay £5000! :roll:

 

[unkleGsif]

Honestly, are people really THAT stupid that they fall for these tricks? It's obvious that the 'buyer' is going to pay using Paypal and then claim non-delivery. They specifically asked for regular first class postage so that I have no concrete way of proving that the phone was sent.

Just get them to gift it, and take their £20 as well
The trouble is, there are always going to be the less savvy sellers out there, as well as people who make a living out of scamming like this, so as long as they keep trying and using a scatter gun approach, they will often catch someone unsuspecting out


G

 

[silverclaws]

If something looks too good to be true it probably isn't.

Sad to think the world is full of thieves.

 

[Barneyballbags]

Here's an example of an email I received today:

"Hello to you Mr Mark.

I could not pass your item from my eyes for many a while today. It is truly beautiful. I would like to know Mr Mark what is your best price to sell today. I would like to use the paypal as it is very secure lately. I will pay 20 pounds extra and you will send 1st class delivery so that I receive it safely. Please reply to me by my email address richardrichy1908@gmail.com.

I will await your soon response Mr Mark"


Jog on.

 

[cyfa2809]

Have some fun with them:
http://www.419eater.com/

I had one before. Wanted me to send to nigeria for his sons birthday or something and pay by western union.

I kept asking all the questions. And he soon buggered off.

Had another where teh woman wanted money to help with her family as they were poor.

I spun loads of stories like my mum had died can she send ME money and i only have 50p left now or 1675 ugandan dollars

In the end i made her admit she was a scammer and informed 'her' that i had watsed her time and that she should stop it.

The aim is to waste their time so thats less tim ethey have to scam someone.

 

[rawednylme]

Gumtree is a right pain in Edinburgh (I imagine it's the same everywhere).
Seems rare to find a seller who doesn't seem shady.
A hell of a lot of decent bikes that have inaccurate or ridiculous descriptions. Plenty of adverts where you can see same mobile numbers and different names used, etc.
Gypsytree.

Today's for example.
"Nah, I don't have that bike anymore but I do have a Cannondale road bike, mint condition"
This was regarding a MTB listed today... Seems legit. :|

 

[Barneyballbags]

Gumtree is a right pain in Edinburgh (I imagine it's the same everywhere).
Seems rare to find a seller who doesn't seem shady.
A hell of a lot of decent bikes that have inaccurate or ridiculous descriptions. Plenty of adverts where you can see same mobile numbers and different names used, etc.
Gypsytree.

Today's for example.
"Nah, I don't have that bike anymore but I do have a Cannondale road bike, mint condition"
This was regarding a MTB listed today... Seems legit. :|

But, on the other hand, there are some real bargains to be had on there... There's a Kilauea just up the road from me at the moment..

It's £90...

I think it just takes a good eye to sort out the bargains from the shadys...

 

[dyna-ti]

My problem buyer started off by buying a down jacket i had for sale @ at BIN price
Turned out to be Australian and wanted to jacket sent to New Zealand. :shock: what?
I pointed out that UK only actually means UK only and i wasn't willing to send it 10's of thousands of miles in the hope everything got there ok.
I also sent him an offer to withdraw.
He declined the offer.As seller you have to requestthey withdraw and if they dont want to then you have to go through ebay,then theres the hassle over the fees :roll:
I asked this prick very nicely to withdraw and that there was no way i would be sending it.
Again he refused and i had to wait 3 weeks for ebay to sort it out.Took another 3 emails to them to make them see this wasnt my fault and the fees will be returned to me.
I relisted the jacket with a BIN and it sold just as quickly.
To a guy with zero feedback but who lives down south of England

Not all as it appears
Yup.The original buyer :shock:
So he basically opened another ebay account and put his local as S of Eng.
I really didnt fancy going through that relist again for it to happen again that i took his money.Transferred it to the bank and sent the jacket off to the addy shown on the order.
A few days later i get positive feedback :roll:
The explaination was he really likes Alpkit jackets and just had to have one.
Weird way of going about it.
If the seller first refuses[im guessing he asked a few before embarking on this course of action]
I havent left him feedback,no point its just a one off account so wouldnt mean anything,and besides he did really go to the ends to get one so i must really applaud him for that. :?