Scam Advice

alex350r

Dear all,

I recently replied to a Gumtree ad to purchase an Apple iPhone 3G - the guy was offering it new and boxed for £180. I paid this amount into a bank account he gave me details of and it turns out he is a scammer - a pack of blank dvds turned up and he just fains ignorance.

I have logged a crime with the police and given statement etc so hopefully they find the above low-life fraudster.

I then wanted to make sure I purchased a genuine one, I was going to use ebay but then I found one advertised on the hallolondon site - advert here: <link>hallolondon.co.uk/free_ads/for_sale/computing_and_phones_!48/Apple_iPhone_3G_16GB_Factory_Unlocked_must_go_asap_Serious_Seller_~319118</link>

I contacted him and we had a good repore going via email, he sent me an email invoice etc and was very personable etc. I wanted to pay by paypal for the reasons of me being scammed before but he wanted bank transfer as he had been scammed himself using paypal before.

I feel I should have seen the alarm bells ringing again but seem to have ignored them, he gave me his address etc and I transferred £260 to him. Since then he has been emailing and texting and has recently provided me with a royal mail recorded delivery tracking number (doesnt register on the track & trace system). He says it is being delivered and will be here monday whereas I severely doubt it.

I have asked him for a refund and he has promised a full refund on monday if the item doesnt turn up. I have given him an altimatum and said either he refunds me in full today or I call the police simple as that and currently waiting to see what he comes back with.

I don't really know my reason for posting this here, maybe just to get my rant out - im so angry, upset and just generally annoyed that people can get away with this fraud daily.

If anyone is interested I can pass on his details incase people have had dealings with the above scammers before.

Cheers and thanks for listening,

Alex

hippyadam

Oh no Does sound like you've been had, twice...

I would take it up with the police (again) & the bank see if there is anything they can do..

Apart from that i cant really offer any help im afraid, but feel free to rant your on the right board

Good luck!

alex350r

yup it doesnt seem that way im so angry and upset - normally I am very good when trading online have used ebay for years and hated scammers.

I should never have bought from online ads or even used bank transfer! going to speak to the bank this afternoon and see if they can do anything

Then I will speak to police/log another crime next week. Cheers for listening anyhow

stugib

So you tried to buy an iPhone via a private ad and got scammed by someone asking you to do a funds transfer for it.....and then went and tried to buy a second iPhone from another private ad and did exactly the same thing?

Either this is a wind up or.........hang on, I've just found this iPhone - yours for £150 if you PM me and transfer some funds into my bank account?

alex350r

Well yes I did do the same thing - but the second guy was from a completely different site and seemed like a legit wholesale bulk seller! Obviously I feel stupid for what ive done and it doesnt really help saying that!

I thought people would be nicer on here but obviously not, mods please delete this post.

montyrebel

you live and learn, never transfer money to a bank on gumtree, meet the seller in person and pay in cash after checking the item

pinkshoes

If it seems too good to be true - IT IS!

Why on earth in a million years would someone sell something for £180 when they could get over £300 for it?!?!?!

Other than speaking to the police (again) if the second one doesn't turn up, there really isn't much you can do.

Bowling_4_Gold

Oh wow, not again.

Could Gumtree really make it any clearer?

Don't hand over any money until you see the item. Trade face to face. See our Stay Safe section.

This is at the top of EVERY Gumtree page with listings on it.

You make me want to put this as my signature.

Enfieldian

Fool me once, shame on you....

Fool me twice, shame on me.....

Ste_C

So that's £440 wasted which you'll never see again? Why not buy direct from a proper mobile phone company in the first place? PAYG from O2 = £440.40

I understand you're frustrated and angry and I sympathise, but buying from strangers over the internet is a risky business. Trust nobody