UPS UKASH UKCASH Gumtree Scam and scams in general

MuffinTops

The "This package would make a great Christmas Present" is just copied from the genuine seller on eBay. They take the photos and description of an item and add it elsewhere.

cheekychap00

according to bromley police over 600 been scammed on deborah regan name alone (dont know if thats local or international)
john

rimmy

well done Mister Nem. Glad you avoided it by finding us. We are building up good momentum, please keep posting details all and we can build up our case.

Thanks to all for their help on this. Cheeky, any updates you get from Bromley on progress would be good. Can you work with them to obtain FOI info releases from ukash?

rimmy

Ukash have responded and told me thus:
Dear Mr xx

I have been reviewing your case and can confirm that no refund is possible.

By giving the 19-digit Ukash number to the criminal behind the scam on Gumtree you ceased to be the ‘holder of the Ukash’ as defined in Ukash Terms and Conditions.

The advice to ‘only spend Ukash at genuine websites listed at https://www.ukash.com’ is clearly printed on all Ukash code receipts issued by Payzone in the UK.

The Gumtree scam asks the victim to email the 19-digit Ukash number so cannot in any way be seen as a website transaction.

It also seems that you were unaware of Ukash as a payment scheme before it was introduced to you by the criminal. The view of the regulatory and law enforcement communities is that failing to undertake due diligence prior to committing one’s own funds to a new payment scheme is negligent.

I recommend that you report the crime to Action Fraud, on 0300 123 2040 or at actionfraud.org.uk, as the intelligence gathered is having a significant effect on the detection and prosecution of the criminal gangs behind the Gumtree scams and other financial fraud.

You are also in receipt of the Ukash Complaints Process and you can of course request escalation of your case to a formal complaint by emailing feedback@ukash.com

You can also email me if I can help further in any way.

Yours sincerely

David Cox
Head of Customer Experience, Ukash

I have escalated, as they seem to think their liability stops there.

arthas

Hello everyone.
English is not my first language and I was almost scammed too by "Deborah Regan". I live in Bristol and I found this advert on gumtree:

(add gumtree.com)/p/for-sale/yamaha-tyros-1-for-sale/1001613142

The normal price of this yamaha keyboards is 2 times higher so I was suspicious from the beginning. When she 'dispatched' that item for me she wrote that I will receive an email from parcel force but: 'They sent out an email notification on how to proceed. Did you received it ? Check your spam or junk folder as well, maybe it got caught in there.'
I don't think emails from company like Parcelforce would go to the spam folder straight away, so I took a close look to that email, when i saw this:
'[FONT=&quot]Our department will automatically validate your voucher and release the parcel out for delivery.' [/FONT]
I have never heard any delivery company would do anything like that.
So, I wrote to her that we both agreed for cash on collection and I am not going to buy any vouchers. From 2 days I didn't get any response and I just googled her name, that's why I'm here.
If this thread had 30k views, I wonder how many people were scamed.
This is madness, is it impossible for the police to track these scammers down?

rimmy

tonight I am drafting an enquiry line for mainstream media consumer affairs panel to investigate..
we will get traction if everyone here keeps up the pressure.. thanks,
rimmy.

cheekychap00

rimmy wrote: »

well done Mister Nem. Glad you avoided it by finding us. We are building up good momentum, please keep posting details all and we can build up our case.

Thanks to all for their help on this. Cheeky, any updates you get from Bromley on progress would be good. Can you work with them to obtain FOI info releases from ukash?

wilco active on a couple of fronts cheekychap00

Mister_Nem

Just a follow up to say I've also started receiving the emails (from KATE PORTER) so definitive confirmation of another name used in this scam.

They look extremely friendly/genuine so people need to be really careful. Also, the email I received actually answered a specific question I asked, as well as also containing the usual text. The personal response to questions asked again makes the reply seem very genuine. Be careful people!!

Hi ,
Hubby's upgrading.
Don't know if it's been long since you've emailed, I've been out so couldn't follow up on my text message. Can't promise anything but visiting my mum shortly, wouldn't mind making a drop off

If you'll send me your postcode I can check out on my satnav the distance to yours.

Reasonable price and accurate description, it's worth the money, no bad surprises. I won't go any lower.
Can be reached on (0797)--342--5052 low signal strength area but check emails regularly.
Ta,
Kate.
P.S. Will let you know before heading out, cash only please.

JackpotUK

Hi folks,
I joined up specifically to add a post to this thread as it saved me from losing £360! (for a musical keyboard that obviously didn't exist!!)
So, THANK YOU VERY MUCH! :-)

I typed her email address Kate75Porter@gmail.com and this thread came up - I was gobsmacked! I'd heard of the Western Union scam but not this one.

As the previous poster said, she seemed very friendly and even had a Google+ account with pictures of a happy couple with 2 lovely children!!

A big warning sign for me was that when I tried calling and went thru to vmail, it came back as the inbox being full.

Here are the emails:-

In a message dated 05/11/2012 10:39:54 GMT Standard Time, kate75porter@gmail.com writes:
Hi Jack,
Don't know if it's been long since you've emailed, I've been out so couldn't follow up on my text message. Can't promise anything but visiting my mum shortly, wouldn't mind making a drop off

If you'll send me your postcode I can check out on my satnav the distance to yours.

Reasonable price and accurate description, it's worth the money, no bad surprises. I won't go any lower.
Can be reached on (0797)--342--5052 low signal strength area but check emails regularly.
Ta,
Kate.
P.S. Will let you know before heading out, cash only please.

Of course, nothing goes according to plan Unfortunately I've just got called into the office so very busy till next week, hectic lifestyle. However, back at work we have some shipments for large items with parcelforce all week long. Just thought it would save you time and hassle if I'll send it along with them free of charge hihi company benefits .

I asked around and it seems you can pay cash upon delivery/inspection. It's quite simple since they're able to wait for you to check it out, if not as described they can just void the shipment with no extra charge.

If that's alright with you I'll need a name, address, contact number and also date&time suitable for the delivery.
Second option - if you want to pop in and collect you'll have to wait till next week or so when hopefully I'll get my head around.
Let me know either way. No need to worry If my reply is delayed since I'm just having fun working long hours ... or not )
Kate.

So, once again, thanks again for this forum!! :j

JackpotUK

Hey folks - just found a list of these scammers' email addresses.
(typing the mobile number into google reveals a HORRIFYING list of people who have lost anything from £60 to £440!)

Updated list...Email addresses are all @gmail.com

Alexa Brown - alexa75brown 07747516575
Alexa Edwards - alexa75edwards 07747524520/07973423112
Alexa Connel - 07747524520
Sarah Harper - 07747516575/07747192044
Sarah Harding - 07747192044
Sarah Harlow - sarah75harlow 07747516575/07747192044
Norma Palmer - 07747192044
Angela Murray - angela75murray 07747516575
Teresa Sutton - teresa75sutton 07973475052
Nora Alexander - 07973423112
Lynn (can't find surname) - 07973423112
Carol Andrews - 07973475052
Amanda Wilder - amanda75wilder 07973475052
Jennie Bright - jennie75bright 07973475052
Melanie Wherton - melanie75wherton 07973475052
Stacey Stone - stacey75stone 07973475052
Helen Watson - helen75watson 07973425052
Pamela Hogan - pamela75hogan
Deborah Regan <deborah75regan 07973425052