UPS UKASH UKCASH Gumtree Scam and scams in general

beingearnest123

New mobile being used: 07747192044

See: who calls me.com and enter the above number for present scams

New email: [EMAIL="sarah75harlow@gmail.com"]sarah75harlow@gmail.com[/EMAIL]

Jonnytwotimes

Im absolutely staggered at the amount of people that fall for this. I know you are saying its very convincing especially the email from UPS or Parcelforce but so are the dodgy emails that are supposedly sent from the bank asking you to enter your banking details.

I dont think this scam is clever at all its just an updated variation of a long list of scams that have perpetrated over the years and one that will continue to evolve which all boils down to one thing, sending money to a complete stranger over the internet. Remember sending money by western union, now its Ukash. These types of scams used to revolve around the latest must have gadgets now its tents and guitars.

Unfortunately I dont think people will ever learn. Now Im not trying to say Im clever or I know it all but how can you send money to somebody over the internet who you have never met or spoken to, without even seeing the goods, this just beggars belief that people do this.

Earlier this year I was selling an iPad and I got an email from somebody with a story about how she wanted me to end it early and that her granny was giving her the money but she needed it right away before she went back to college. Even though they were paying cash the alarm bells were sounding very loud. Long story short she turned out to be legit but I insisted she withdraw the money in front of me from a cash machine. This is just taking common sense precautions which have been completely absent from the folk that fall for this.

The internet is a very safe place to trade and I cant believe one person said they will never buy anything over the internet again. C'mon guys if your going to buy anything over the internet either buy from a legit website or do business the old fashioned way by handing over the money once you've seen the goods regardless of what yarn they spin you.

Unfortunately I think the people that have been scammed will just have to let this one go, because for all we know the scammer could be feeling very safe right now sitting in a hut in Outer Mongolia and at the moment the internet is not policed at all unless you committed some major fraud hacking into a US Government website.

blick999

Like previous posters I so very nearly fell for this scam so a big thank you to previous posters.
My item was a Viamare 250T inflatable boat via an ad on Gumtree.
Ebay pricing currently around the £200 +/- plus £35 to ship from Germany - Sarah Harlow price a very tempting £90 and then to top that off an almost unbelievable free shipping deal to sweeten the pot and cash on delivery from Parcelforce to boot! Can't go wrong with this deal I thought, but then I thought that I would check out Parcelforce's cash on delivery service as it could work very well with other things that I do. Of course, Parcelforce do not operate a cash on delivery service, and then alarm bells started to ring which is how I ended up here, with the £90 still in my account!
The 2 emails were so very plausible (exactly the same format/wording as previous posters), and I think that I am pretty net savvy as well as being one of the worlds biggest cynics, so anyone that is caught out by this has my sympathy. I like to think that I would not have gone any further once Ukash/western Union/PayPoint came into play but who knows how far you go to get that perfect deal?
The old adage has once again proved to be true:- If it seems too good to be true, it probably is
I will report this to Gumtree and the police but I feel that nothing will be done.

beingearnest123

How's the cyber sleuthing coming on?

Jonnytwotimes

nearlyscrewed wrote: »

Well well well!"
I would like to do a bit of cyber sleuthing to catch this person! Day off work, so will give it a shot!
Current Ad I nearly fell for on Gumtree
.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/lpkf-protomat-c60-pcb-plotterplotting-mill-with-vacuum-system-fully-working/105232693

got the same email messages about them visiting mum, parcel force.. .how tiresome!

£810 its a bargain, but too good to be true, these are about £15000 new plus some!

UKASH is operating illegally if no form of identity is required to obtain payments, its going against the Anti Money Laundering laws introduced a few years ago in the UK

So, after getting scammed by the famous Roulette computer scammer in Australia who was exposed by a genuine supplier in the UK, I have being bent on getting revenge on these people. Read more about this scam and how its actually done at stevenhourmouzis.com and his previous imprisonment for internet fraud. There is even a copy of his court case there! Again, the authorities have done nothing there too, Reported to the Police, the ACCC and the trading standards there along with 30 other victims. Thats another story so I won't go on too much, but a genuine supplier of such equipment that I visited in the UK exposed him and spotted how he was faking his videos! This was my first and last time I were going to get scammed on the net.

So today, will spend a bit of time tracking this criminal down with this gumtree scam, it cannot be that hard surely to find the people responsible? got the name John Mohn coming up, interesting for angela75 Murray. They are not that clever, same dates, hmmm.

will come back later to tell you what I have found;)

So be careful out there with UKASH

no one is a fool here, this UKASH is operating illegally in the UK!

No one is a fool here ? Hello ! your told delivery will be free and you will have the the opportunity to inspect the goods at the door. Ok I'm with you up until this point. Then you get a tracking type email asking you to go out and get a Ukash voucher and send it to the scammer, DING DONG ! Wasn't delivery supposed to be free, cash at the door, but instead the victim is almost tripping over themselves in the rush to get to the Ukash pay point.

This is not Ukash' fault. If it was not Ukash it would be by another means such as WU, the list is endless. How can you say they are operating illegally, as far as I remember they are perfectly legit. Are you a financial lawyer ?

beingearnest123

One of the main issues is that it is not readily obvious that the code and not the voucher and the code are needed to cash the voucher. The vouchers say 'treat as cash' well you can send someone a photo of a fiver and not be worried that they will use the serial number from the photo.

Also, Ukash is ideal for criminals since it states if you steal it it is yours. Where else does this work? If I steal money does it become mine? If I steal a car and log book does it become mine?

Ukash are aware that vouchers codes are likley to be stolen and instead of taking measures (tracking codes, making available to victims, activley pursuing criminals using their system, keeping an up to date of scams (angela murray / alexa ..../ sarah harlow would currently be top of the list) they issue a disclaimer that under any other circumstances would be classed as protecting the criminals. If you steal then it it is yours. Ukash will change their stance on this if they want to continue to be used.

7.4 You cease to be the holder of the Ukash if you provide the details of the Ukash voucher code to some other person (see 2.3.3) whether such a person is acting unlawfully or is guilty of misrepresentation.

A.k.a Stealers keepers owners weepers! if someone steals it from you then its not yours and they can use it.

beingearnest123

Have a look at this: whilst there are some statements where the voucher CODE is mentioned most of the text here places the emphasis on the VOUCHER it has been the understanding that you need to be in possession of the voucher and the code not just the code. Those people who have sent pictures were unaware that it is the code alone and not the voucher and the code which can be redeemed.

Ukash is designed to enable you to use your banknotes and coins to pay or send money on the internet. You don't need a bank account or credit card to use Ukash. You simply need to have some cash!


Why would I need that?
Our customers tell us that they use Ukash for many different reasons. Some don't like using their bank or credit cards online. Others may not have access to a bank account. Still more like the control that Ukash gives them, as you can only spend up to the value of your Ukash voucher.
Whatever your reason, you can get and use your Ukash without providing us with any financial information. So you stay private when you are using your money online. Read on for more information on how it works.
How does it work?
Ukash is very simple.
Step 1: Get a Ukash voucher

To enable you to use your cash online, you need a Ukash voucher. Each voucher is worth the amount of money you use to get it - there are no extra fees. So, if you want Ukash voucher for £50 you simply visit your nearest store and over £50 and receive a Ukash voucher worth that amount. Simple!
Step 2: Decide where to use it


A Ukash voucher can be used in many different ways. The voucher value can be spent online to buy goods and services on the thousands of websites where Ukash is accepted. Or it can be used to load value into your favourite e-wallet or prepaid card, including our own UKASH NEC card, to enable you to spend money wherever MasterCard® is accepted.
And you can even send the Ukash voucher value to friends and family overseas.

All the talk is of the voucher and not the code. In my opinion Ukash need to differentiate in their nomenclature between the voucher (physical reciept) and the voucher (voucher code) which seem to be interchangeable. The two are not synonymous and this has been the source of some confusion. If it was readily clear people would be less likley to send a photo of the code. This is an error in their document authoring which leaves things unclear.

m4c4m00

My 17 year old step son has been conned by this today!!!
Exactly same info contained in email supposedly from her & the one from parcelforce email [EMAIL="angela75murray@gmail.com"]angela75murray@gmail.com[/EMAIL] tel 07747516575

He had saved for a drum kit....saw it on gumtree, bargain.....only in York...paid his money to the shop....cash!! but no drum kit!! reported to police, parcelforce.
Does anyone have link to watchdog as these people need to be stopped ASAP!!

Also has anyone had any luck in getting monies back?

m4c4m00

Have reported to watchdog now....lets wait & see

mehairy7

Hi,

I just brought dive gear worth £120 from gumtree and have been conned out of it supposedly it was suppose to arrive by yesterday.

Don't know who to report this to but the ad is still on gumtree!

What's the next step?

Marshel