Im in the same boat. Unfortunately mate you're pretty much out of luck with gumtree. You must log in or register to reply here. Help. A friends / family (or gift payment) is intended as a transfer of funds from family or friends to one another. References. Most likely they won't be trying to scam you, it's very rare someone would pay first and then try scam you after that. If you think youve been a victim of scam then report it to Action Fraud on0300 123 2040 or use their online cybercrimereporting form. Do I report the fraud to entities other than Gumtree? Include the price. Track and trace. If youve got an account on Gumtree, then you might end up with a text asking you for personal information like passwords or bank details. You are using an out of date browser. I think you need to reread.It did not take me 17 days to decide to file a paypal dispute. (Open 7 days 10:00-6:00) Contact number: Email: *Item NO. But with any online space theres a risk of fraudsters being active and attempting to scam you out of your cash. A common way for scammers to trick you is to create an ad for an item that is only just cheaper than the competition but not enough that itll cause suspicion. Let them pay you first, send the parcel, if they say they never got it, tell them to fuck off and sue you. Take photos of how you pack the box. 4. A day or two later I noticed they added some other items so emailed and texted again and no still no reply after a couple of days. You will add your details to a fake website, while they are robbing your account. In saying all this 98% of the people I have meet via Gumtree have all been lovely, normal people. I have seen sale listings with the sellers first and last names on their profile, and even - their home address. Any message stating that you need to make a payment NOW otherwise your ad is going to be deleted or your account is to be closed, needs to cause concern. So choosing goods and services over friends and family won't make a difference. Approved. He has over 15 years of experience in law enforcement and specializes in digital forensics. No do not accept Paypal (unless your buyer will send it as a "Gift Payment), cash sent special delivery is best if not bank transfer. You can have a Gumtree account without one. A brilliant article. Choose the most appropriate category for your item so that buyers can find it easily, then think carefully about your title. Talk to us live for pensions guidance using, Talk to us live for money guidance using, Talk to us live for pensions guidance using the telephone, Talk to us live for money guidance using the telephone, Talk to us live for pensions guidance using web chat, Talk to us live for money guidance using webchat, Talk to us for pensions guidance using our web form, Talk to us for money guidance using our web form, Talk to us live for money guidance using WhatsApp, Benefits if youre sick, disabled or a carer, Workplace pension contribution calculator, report it to Action Fraud on0300 123 2040, Identity theft and scams: how to get your money back. To stay safe, it's always worth arranging to meet . This scam involves rogue car dealers posing as an individual user of Gumtree and posting ads for fully working or good condition second-hand cars, when in fact the cars are often missing parts or in bad condition. I sell on Gumtree those items I'm NOT prepared to send like big articles - cash on delivery - personal collection. PRO TIP: Take your mobile phone charger with you to the meet. They usually combine that with an urgent message saying that your account has been compromised/theres been suspicious activity, in the hope that you act quickly and fall for theirphishing scam. Just using your first name on your Gumtree profile is completely acceptable. Usually, the scams go something like this: you will list something on Gumtree, then you might receive a Gumtree delivery scam Whatsapp message enquiring about the item. The buyer can test it out properly, and you can both walk away from the sale, knowing that everyone is happy. 1.2K Posts. Collect together any extras like power cords, instruction manuals or accessories. http://www.gumtree.com.au/scam-security-centre/. Respond appropriately to potential buyers so you can sell your items. I now prefer to use ebay when I want it shipped to me and use Gumtree for local exchanges only. The AD is removed. Start by creating an account on the site. For everything else please contact us via Webchat or telephone. Just wanted to do the deal via post. Sure. Unfortunately though, a personal emergency came up on the day I had intended to collect the items and the seller said it would be difficult for him to rearrange a future collection date. But depending on where you are, having visitors may not be allowed. Just to say this scam is still current as he contacted me Easter Sunday ( 4/4/21), except name changed to advocdodave (signed Wolfe) and now he's not on an oil rig, but 'in a wheelchair' so can't view the car which 'he' wants for daughter Jennifer! Even direct deposit is a no go. Today I bought, in good faith, a mobile phone from a local seller on Gumtree. So I recently bought an item off Gumtree for about $80. You might even like to use synonyms; for example, if you are selling a pair of bedside tables you could also put bedside drawers or nightstands in the title. Enjoy! What a tosser!! Post Tweet. Not really. Your title will catch your buyers eye, but a good description will sell your item for you. Apr-05-2021 11:45 PM. Its a phrase we keep repeating, but if it sounds too good to be true then it probably is. Not all buyers are happy to drive an hour to buy somethingthough some dont mind! As I stated, she said she would ship the 28th. 345 7692 64. how to price your items to sell on Gumtree. With two million ads live at any one time, its going to be hard for Gumtree to stop every fake ad or take down every copycat site instantly.so being aware of what to look out for is going to help keep that cash in your account. how to pay for Gumtree items using PayPal, Cover Grey Hair Naturally With Henna Hair Dye, Tips for Planning a Kids Party at the Park or Playground, Review: Woolworths supermarket online delivery. Check their updated policies/buyer protection info before using, and tell seller you'll pay by PayPal, see how they react. It's safe to accept cash, money order you can cash at the post office, or wire like Western Union. Your email address will not be published. And if you dont even want to do that, the system gives you a default name of Gumtree User. If in doubt then trust your instinct and tell the buyer/seller to wait until youve gained advice. Gumtree will use your postal code to classify your ad based on location. Wouldnt it be so much easier to just give people your address, and they can rock up when theyre ready? The thing is tho, How do I know he used the goods and services option rather than friends and family? Your postal code will not appear in the ad. For any purchase, give the buyer ample opportunity to inspect the item in person. O did this only to find that he did not live at the address given. Or maybe it does need to be said. Don't hand over the item until you see the payment in your PayPal account. Its also part of Gumtrees recommendations on staying safe. Calls from the UK are free. Your email address will not be published. i have proof of purchase. The payments went through straight away and an email was received each time. I have only ever used gumtree for selling/buying locally. Inspect the listing. Didn't ask any questions about the watch or anything. My sister recently put up something on Gumtree and the buyer was asking for her PayPal email. Choose the closest category. Yes, learn from your experience and don't do it again. If you simply stick with some very basic Gumtree rules for selling, you can avoid most of the issues. Sign up for wikiHow's weekly email newsletter. No reply.Sat came around I filed dispute.Sunday (1st, 11 days after paid, 6 after apparent loss of contact) she posts on this board saying she doesn't have any addresses bc Paypal not working right (she stated she'd known this for 8 months, never once asked for my address in 5 days we had contact), her messenger is broke.and apparently her email too.So her and I had a 'discussion' on a transaction board as it was the only way to get hold of her.I moved my dispute to a claim right after that. Collect together any extras like power cords, instruction manuals or accessories. I sent her like $1 through friends and family and another $1 through goods and services. 5. Safest is direct bank transfer, you have the money no matter what. Select your items and give them a good once-over. You might be able to find a great deal on a second . Meet the buyer in a public place. Select your items and give them a good once-over. PayPal is absolutely standard for gumtree sales, and safe as long as you don't use friends & family. If youre not sure how to price your item, its well worth taking a look at existing Gumtree ads to see how people have priced similar items. Of course it's possible that it's legitimate, or it could be a scam. I found this item on Gumtree and I'm happy with the price and everything but my only problem is that it's so far away, completely different city. Introductions are limited to motor finance. Gumtree say they will take down a copycat site as soon as they can, but there will always be people who end up using it before Gumtree can get to it. Because it looks genuine, money is transferred and the scammer disappears. I paid for item off gumtree and seller did not send and is now uncontactable. For example, you may have a username like ThrifyOne555.. Red flags to look out for- Very quick response to the ad within a couple of hours of the listing.- Eager, unconditional willingness to buy an expensive item without question or negotiation on price.- Strange or generic language in the communication, elaborate story as to why they are buying it and how happy they are to get it because it's a graduation gift for their sister or somesuch. IfGumtree needed to get hold of you theyd do so via the message centre in your account. Doubt police will do anything unless you have some proof of giving the money in exchange of goods. It looks like you're going to have to wear it. The information I provide is not a replacement for legal advice. Thanks to wikiHow editors.". PayPal is SUPER convenient, and one of the safest ways to pay for just about everything these days. O did this only to find that he did not live at the address given. Try to give them space and allow them to inspect the item in their own time. In some cases once the victim has sent over their email and name to the scammer, they then receive a fake eBay invoice. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. These scammers tend to target high-value items like gaming consoles, tablets, phones, laptops, motorcycles, and cars. "I want to use Gumtree but I have never sold anything on line before. Paypal is not safe due to the fact that they don't always make the best decisions. Is there anything I can do about this? JavaScript is disabled. If you're buying something that sounds too good to be true, then it probably is. That said, no bad experiences. He wants my PayPal email address to send me the money. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Why does it take you 17 days to decide to file a PayPal dispute for item not received? Have a picture in your profile is optional and completely up to you. Look out for fake email addresses, Gumtree say just because it says xxxx@gumtree.com it doesnt necessarily mean its from Gumtree. It may not display this or other websites correctly. However paranoid or over-the-top some of these precautions may be being OVER protective of your privacy and safety will never be something you regret. From PayPal scams, to getting robbed it never hurts to remain cautious and protect yourself. Auto-suggest helps you quickly narrow down your search results by suggesting possible matches as you type. What I mean is, they valued the time it would have taken to learn how to deal safely on the site (e.g, read the obvious warning in several places stating that you should use it for face-to-face cash-in-hand transactions only), more than they valued their $80. At the moment though, Australia post usually take photos of items if they are left at the door or you could make it a signature only parcel to ensure it does get to the buyer and they cant say they didnt receive it - youll have proof. I have bought and sold on gumtree using bank transfer. It's also a very good idea to photograph the item being boxed and boxed with tracking code. Lost $390 in a transfer, won't ever make that mistake again. I am an irregular user of gumtree. 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I'd be very careful with apple products.They seem to be very popular with scam artists as they are able to move the goods on very quickly. Description says they can post it at buyer's expense, which is great, my question - is how does this work? Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. So if Gumtree is full of scammers, should we all give up and resort to other platforms like eBay and Facebook Marketplace, when trying to clear our homes of unwanted goods and recouping some cash? New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. If you want to sell an item on Gumtree, youll need to create an ad. There's not a lot that you can do. If Gumtree needed to get hold of you they'd do so via the message centre in your account. Conversely, the anonymity of Gumtree (and the fact its free to setup a profile and start selling) also makes it a breeding ground for scammers. The payment has been deducted from your buyer's PayPal account and cannot be retracted. If youre selling an electronic item, arrange to meet at a local shopping centre where power points can be found on the walls. I'll send my transport guy around to pick it up". It takes longer and is more effort. Delete it straight away, as Gumtree would never text asking this. This is such a big no no! If your item has a brand, make or model number, be sure to include that too. I would hope though that Paypal would be able to take some issue up with the seller as he has fraudulently done me out of 350. 1999-2023 PayPal, Inc. All rights reserved. Gumtree.com Limited, registered in England and Wales with number 03934849, 27 Old Gloucester Street, London, WC1N 3AX, UK. Note if you are firm on the price by writing "FIRM" next to the price or by writing, "No negotiating.". By using our site, you agree to our. I clicked on the 'pay individual, friend or family' - I'm realising that I should have clicked on the pay for a service or product. Required fields are marked *. Why oh why people use bank deposit via Gumtree? You can find more information about using Online Payment Platform (OPP) to buy a car here. You may get questions about the material of the item and the condition of the item. It is no easy or quick feat to just relocate if youre unfortunate enough to encounter someone shady or disgruntled, who knows your home address. I cant say for sure if this is still the case for a PayPal transaction via a linked account to Gumtree, BUT, its probably safer to assume so. I emailed them and got no reply after a day and therefore texted them and still got no reply. Something doesn't feel right but I can't figure out what the scam (if any) is. 3. I guess there are some good people out there. Do a search on ozbargain.com for the thread - lots of tips and (unfortunately) stories about being scammed. This is a dream for an identity thief or criminal mastermind (who doesnt need to be much of a mastermind, really, given how much personal information is there for the taking). Below are three golden rules to using Gumtree without worrying about your safety. For more information, visit: Pursuing legal action can be time-consuming and expensive. Set your price and come up with a title, then post your ad! Gumtree will now send a link to the email address you provided. Use a short, descriptive title to attract buyers. What item? 6. You are viewing the PayPal Community Archives. He earned a Master of Business Administration from the California State University Stanislaus and a Juris Doctorate from the Laurence Drivon School of Law. https://blog.gumtree.com.au/gumtree-buy-sell-win-selling-guide/, http://www.mirror.co.uk/money/gumtree-secrets--5-ways-7894050. The buyer may also ask you if they can buy multiple items from you for a certain price if you have listed multiple items on Gumtree. I have a different problem. Ask a question, respond to a question and better understand the law today! You should arrange a convenient date and time for the buyer to view the item. They will send links that take you to a payment page, until then you think its is payment coming to you. It doesn't hurt to make sure the items are clean - a quick wipe, dust, or launder and iron (following the fabric care label) can really help them look their best. If this happens, plug in your phone charger and see if it charges your phone if not, then clearly the power point is the culprit. 6. He is also a practicing attorney for Goyette & Associates, Inc. where he represents public employees with a myriad of labor issues throughout the state. Have you got the exact text where they say that ? I need to delete that, and was looking for how. http://www.gumtree.com.au/scam-security-centre/. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/41\/Report-Fraud-on-Gumtree-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Report-Fraud-on-Gumtree-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/41\/Report-Fraud-on-Gumtree-Step-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Report-Fraud-on-Gumtree-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"