UPS UKASH UKCASH Gumtree Scam and scams in general

dirtgirl1

This time it is Lisa Austin lisa75austin@gmail.com
Phone number 07973 425 052

I did not get to the point where I agreed to have the goods delivered (a spin bike on gum tree located in Swindon - page now removed) but the emails I received had nearly word for word as previous ones - see below:

Hi,

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,
Lisa.
P.S. Will let you know before heading out, cash only please.

then

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 )
Lisa.

Rickthehack

Ahhh too late for me! I wanted to buy a van rear seat on Gumtree. A Lisa Austin emailed me, saying her mobile phone was dodgy... I got suckered in completely. "She" even has a Facebook site. I was convinced that UKASH/PayPoint/ParcelForce was genuine. I paid £200 for a non-existent seat. I thought it would be like PayPal - that's the trouble.
BEWARE everyone - DONT DO PARCELFORCE DELIVERIES (OR ANY OTHER DELIVERY COMPANY) WHO REQUIRE PRE-PAYMENT VOUCHERS. YOUR MONEY WILL DISAPPEAR!!!!
"My" Lisa75Austin was apparently in Sheffield - but the same story...

cheekychap00

Rickthehack wrote: »

Ahhh too late for me! I wanted to buy a van rear seat on Gumtree. A Lisa Austin emailed me, saying her mobile phone was dodgy... I got suckered in completely. "She" even has a Facebook site. I was convinced that UKASH/PayPoint/ParcelForce was genuine. I paid £200 for a non-existent seat. I thought it would be like PayPal - that's the trouble.
BEWARE everyone - DONT DO PARCELFORCE DELIVERIES (OR ANY OTHER DELIVERY COMPANY) WHO REQUIRE PRE-PAYMENT VOUCHERS. YOUR MONEY WILL DISAPPEAR!!!!
"My" Lisa75Austin was apparently in Sheffield - but the same story...

not too late rickthehack see my previous posts regarding
the ombudsman and fsa and go down that route
if enough people complain to the financial ombudsman and the FSA
then ukash should be made to end this 2 year old scam

katyhaynes

I responded to an advert on gumtree for a Yamaha Digital Piano in Birmingham (Ad Ref 1003167916) last night, and then received a generic text this morning which did not answer my question but said "It's Lisa from gumtree(Yamaha DGX630 Portable Grand),if you have any questions email me at LISA75AUSTIN at GMAIL.COM" ... Although the ad was very convincing and the text could be appropriate, something didn't quite feel right so luckily I googled the email address and found this thread - thanks for all posting on here! The advert has been reported to gumtree both on the ad page and through the main contact section on the website. These scammers make me sick, I hope it get removes very quickly!

Mamaskinz

I have read all through these posts about Alexa and they are, generally, word for word the same emails I received but from Lisa Austin, offering to sell a complete bedroom suite. She used the Parcelforce Worldwide transport offer and if it hadn't been for the Parcelforce Worldwide email looking so convincing, I would still have my £100 now.

Emails, contact details, mobile phone numbers etc all passed on to Fraud Action but somehow I doubt anything will come of it. Left a bitter taste in my mouth at a time when I can least afford to lose any money.

Latest contact details are: Latest number for Alexa Brown / Norma Palmer / Sarah Harlow / Sarah Harding / Angela Murray / Alexa Edwards / Alexa Connel / Sarah Harper /

07747192044
07973425052
07747516575

If you want to see who else has been conned by this person, male or female, just enter a name or mobile number into your search bar and loads of forums will come up detailing all the other mugs who've been conned.

I wish there was a way it can be stopped. Any fraud reports to Fraud Action about either the same person's name or mobile number are automatically linked together across the country and across each individual police force so please report it, so that each of these crimes can be logged and maybe even a pattern emerge.

Good luck.

keyser666

I am surprised the authorities and Gumtree havent stepped upto the mark on this, this thread alone and what has been lost is phenomenal, thats not including people that have been scammed on other sites with threads just as long.

tranmereforever

Looks like this is developing, started off with competitions, gone to Gumtree and just seen someone post this on Facebook, seems similar...not good!

May not be related but it does seem similar

"Just received a PPI call which totally has to be a con so wanted to give out a warning....

They say they are from the trading standards and someone from trading standards can be with me this afternoon to fill out some documents and for me to show my proof of ID etc

They will then arrange for £5,000 to go into my account.

However, I have to pop to my local co-op to get £250 worth of UCash vouchers and have to have them with me when 'Gary Smith' comes to us at 2pm. Apparently thats what they charge you for their work involved in getting the money!

I said I would not be handing over any money and if it was genuinely someone from trading standards they would not be putting me under this pressure. He then said he would put back the appointment by 30 minutes!

Be warned people....."

Rickthehack

I was looking at an insurance website and some of the ripostes to those having been scammed (in July 2012) were rude. Partly that was down to some poor English having been used by victims...
What I want to point out on this forum is that the scammers are becoming more sophisticated. What caught me was not only a convincing website-type message purporting to come from a reputable delivery company, but also the long run-up to the sting, with friendly but somewhat 'vulnerable' statements.
1/. In the latest phase you won't be caught by upfront demands for money eg "Pay me now by Western Union and I will dispatch from Harare". It is much more involved: you start by receiving an email usually from a female, then there are long delays, followed by apologies. You start to be suckered because surely scammers are in a hurry... No!!!!!
2/. They bank on the conspiratorial factor: if you may have to pay VAT on the deal, but they offer you a way round it, you are going to try to get round that. So you fall in with the plans...
3/. The adverts are 'genuine' in that they have been recycled. You can catch them out by asking detailed questions. In my case all the info was there, so I did not need to...
4/. I intend to demand that either UKASH and/or online sites like Gumtree up their own ante - the scale of scams has made Gumtree unusable in my opinion, and eBay could have its reputation damaged, too.
4/. Gmail has become the number one preferred email site for scammers, because it was set up to protect users from spam and make their addresses very difficult to trace - but scammers love that!
5/. Most worrying of all is that the Met Police have referred my case to an online fraud dept but say they do not have the resources to investigate the alleged fraud in depth, because of funding limitations. No wonder online fraud is going through the roof. I think we have to lobby our MPs in the UK!
PS Don't forget to google the email address of the seller, and see what comes up.

cheekychap00

i have been knocked back with 3 e petitions the latest at gov.uk
e-money should come under the same rules as moneylaundering.
this is how this senario should have worked from the beginning.
1. every gumtree advert carries a ukash voucher scam alert including western union ect alert (not a page you have to find)
2.the looser reports to action fraud (who only record and take details)
3. report to ukash with action fraud number.
4.ukash checks where the vouchers went ie bet365
5 ukash contacts bet365 regarding stolen vouchers.
6. bet365 contacts ukash with scammers name and address in this case belguim and ukash inform police in whatever way necessary.
7.met police contact [EMAIL="SC@09"]SC@09[/EMAIL] ( fraud squad at scotland yard)
[EMAIL="8.sc@09"]8.sc@09[/EMAIL] contact Belgium police
9. belgium police contact scammers
10 scam over

---

ukash do nothing when you give them the information
look at their ukash sportsbet website
we will not give your name to a third party
ie scammers paradise
BUT OH YES THEY DID they gave the name to the met police and the address of the scammers that bet my money
i can assure you its went as far as [EMAIL="SC@09"]SC@09[/EMAIL]
we just have to wait for a result.
i am also compiling a complaint against ukash with the FSA for their negligence in allowing this to continue.
i think that someone a bit more cleverer than me should design a form to lobby our mp's so that we can bring this scam to an end.
and hopefully close the ukash scam loophole
i am sorry that people are still being scammed(which is more than gumtree and ukash are) but at least people are picking up on the threads on this and different websites and saving their hard earned cash
cheers

swool92

dirtgirl1 wrote: »

This time it is Lisa Austin [EMAIL="lisa75austin@gmail.com"]lisa75austin@gmail.com[/EMAIL]
Phone number 07973 425 052

I did not get to the point where I agreed to have the goods delivered (a spin bike on gum tree located in Swindon - page now removed) but the emails I received had nearly word for word as previous ones - see below:

Hi,

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,
Lisa.
P.S. Will let you know before heading out, cash only please.

then

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 )
Lisa.

I found a very cheap guitar on gumtree and contacted the seller, and received these exact emails last week. Unfortunately it's too late now and I've lost out on £230.