Gumtree Scams?

alien1234

I have recently put an item on gumtree to sell but I have got many emails asking me to send a paypal request to them to pay. I offered my paypal address for them to send the money instead as I did not want to send the request myself. Anyway, similar messages of "you request money and I can pay" for day 1, day 2 they will say "Its paid, can you please send the item"Day 3 "Why you have not send my items"

Are these scams? How are they running it? What do it need to be careful of?

soolin

If the money is not in your paypal account then you have not been paid and it is a scam.

Your paypal account history is your friend.

alien1234

Thx for the advice

in_the_Cotswolds

I had the same problem trying to sell a laptop. This what I put in my replies:

Thank you for purchasing my Laptop.
Due to the high possibility of scams and charge backs.

The following will apply.

1) As soon as I receive the payment by Paypal I will transfer the money to my bank account.

2) As soon as the money is in my account I will withdraw it.

3) This means I will have my money without been scammed.

4) This can take up to 10 days. As soon as I have withdrawn the money I will send you the laptop.

Please don’t email me for tracking numbers until I have cleared your payment.

I will not send the laptop without the money cleared and withdrawn from my bank account.

Please email me your acceptance of these terms. I will need to know so I can withdraw the advert.


Needless to say nobody has bought it.

soolin

mechanic wrote: »

I had the same problem trying to sell a laptop. This what I put in my replies:

Thank you for purchasing my Laptop.
Due to the high possibility of scams and charge backs.

The following will apply.

1) As soon as I receive the payment by Paypal I will transfer the money to my bank account.

2) As soon as the money is in my account I will withdraw it.

3) This means I will have my money without been scammed.

4) This can take up to 10 days. As soon as I have withdrawn the money I will send you the laptop.

Please don’t email me for tracking numbers until I have cleared your payment.

I will not send the laptop without the money cleared and withdrawn from my bank account.

Please email me your acceptance of these terms. I will need to know so I can withdraw the advert.


Needless to say nobody has bought it.

I think you need to re read the terms for seller protection on paypal - urgently!

Withdrawing to a bank account can cause you problems as if you don't ship within 7 days of payment receipt your seller protection is lost, so very bad move. I'm also not sure what you hope to achieve by removing the money either, if it is chargebacked then if you can't defend a claim (as you can't due to late shipping) they will persue you for the debt or just take any future money you receive.

Paypal is fine as long as you understand it, it tends to fail badly when we misunderstand how to protect ourselves.

alien1234

I am a bit confused now. So I will either check my paypal record or meet the buyer in person with cash? Is that correct?

Haffiana

No, do not accept Paypal at all on Gumtree. Gumtree = cash only. If you want to avoid being scammed, then it must be cash only. The post above about withdrawing the funds from Paypal etc etc is hopelessly bad advice.

soolin

alien1234 wrote: »

I am a bit confused now. So I will either check my paypal record or meet the buyer in person with cash? Is that correct?

Cash on collection is obviously much better and I would always recommend that.

If item has to be posted and you use paypal then you will need to fulfil all the usual requirements for seller protection listed here:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3146680