I was scammed by someone off gumtree- please help!

hsloyal

Hi, I didn't know where to post this, so i'm just posting here. But basically, i texted the guy who was selling this Samsung Galaxy S II for £300. And I asked him if he still had it for sale, he replied saying yes, but payment should be made into his girlfriends account for some reason. Okay, so i agreed and bank transferred £300+£10 p+p into his GF's account. He received this on the 28/05/2011. He then said he'l send it next day delivery to me and text me the tracking num.

About 2-3 days later I contacted him saying I still haven't received the phone, he said it wasn't posted he was busy. Okay so, I waited abit longer, then still nothing. so I contacted again a few times but no response, then finally on about 6/06/11 he text back saying he was holiday and will phone his home to get tracking num. But never got a reply for that, so i got in touch again and he said that 'his brother has posted it'. When i asked, 1. When, 2. Where? and 3. For tracking Num, he never answers back to these 3 questions.

So then I accused him of being a conman and then he sent me a long text back about he's not a conman his name is "David" (no surname given) and that its his business to sell phones etc. Then I said okay i'll wait till your back from your holiday to sort this out, please contact me then. So I waited and waited but still nothing, so then i contacted him several times and no response, finally i called him and he said he was busy and will call me back, still no call back.

Finally I lost my patience and texted him stating I would contact the police, he then instantly replied back saying his brother posted it, but again he didn't answer my 3 questions! And he never does! Then I said his time is up and im going to the police with all the text messages as evidence, and then he started to text back telling me to F** Off!! (This was today!)

Can someone please tell me what to do?! Or give me some form of advice please, I'm quite worried that i've just lost £310 to a Criminal!

Thank you so much in advance!

Harpal

pug_in_a_bed

Not a great deal you can do sadly, unless you have his address to bring a small claim action. I would report the ad to gumtree though and bring it to their attention.

vax2002

Is this a wind up ? surely nobody is that stupid ? come off it...

soolin

Gumtree + bank transfer + phone = scam. I doubt if there is anything realistic you can do here to get your money back.

Gumtree is a face to face venue, it has warnings plastered all over it about not using unsafe payment methods.

pug_in_a_bed

Vax now come on, lots of people still do caught out by these kind of scams despite all the publicity and info out there. The op didn't ask for judgement, they asked for help.

hsloyal

Thanks for your replys guys, and esp pug_in_a_bed, you're right I wasn't asking for judgement, however in hindsight I do feel rather silly!

But the reasons why I thought it would be okay, is firstly; I was desperate for a new phone and thought this was a bargain. Secondly, when you type his mobile number into google (*) you can see all the posts he has on gum tree. He even has a car listed on there, so i thought if someone wanted his car he obviously would need to provide his address details etc. (to view the items from the google results page you have click 'cached'). I reckon i could get his address that way, but the buger lives in belfast and im in wiltshire.

How could i do a small claim action pug_in_a_bed?

Thank you kindly

londondealer

hsloyal why have you gone public with his mobile number?

dane-katie

I do feel bad for what happened to you, but i have reported your post with the mans number on as it isnt fair to have it posted on here.

Other than you being able to find out his address and full name to go to small claims court there is nothing you can do.

spugzbunny

According to prev. mentioned google search, he is selling 5 phones and a car (3 iphones!).

I think you should call the police, report it as a crime but that is pretty much all you can do except maybe ask a friend to 'view' the car so you can get his address.

Swans1912

Make a nuisance of yourself, ring him allllll the time (no doubt others on here that will have seen his number will do the same lol) call the police, give them all the info you have, texts, phone numbers, bank transfer details etc - just try anything. Wishing you the best of luck!

DCFC79

Why use gumtree and not a respectible website or a high street shop