Reclaiming from a Gumtree Seller

dac1

Hi all,
I require some help/advice please.

On the 28/12/2012 I made my first purchase off Gumtree, which was an Iphone 4 for £110, from a Gumtree member somewhere in the UK. I requested the item be dispatched to my address, which I provided, 'signed for' delivery in which he said the £110 would include the item being sent Special Delivery. He requested the money be paid via Bank Transfer, he provided me with his Account details, in which I duly made the payment. The following day he emailed me with the Special Delivery number. A few days had passed but no item had arrived, with this being Special Delivery it should be next working day. The Royal Mail tracking stated it had no infomation available. I contacted the Seller and he asked if I would like a refund, I said 'Yes' and provided my Account details, he advised the refund was made via telephone banking as his bank wouldn't let him set me up as a payment online so it had to be via telephone banking. Three weeks have now elapsed since I made the purchase but still no item nor any refund. He is not responding to my emails now either.
Please note that I requested the item to be signed-for and he has provided me with a tracking number (although I now think it was made up). I have every email back and forth between the Seller and I (emails sent via Gumtree).
I am not happy with this and I would like to know my options on claiming the money back? I am willing to take this all the way to the police for fraudulant reasons - the person must be registered with an address to be able to get a bank account.

Thanks in advance.

roonaldo

Sounds like you have been scammed, a used Iphone 4 go for near £200 on ebay. Paying by bank transfer you have left yourself exposed with no protection. You have also provided them with your bank details, mistake number 2.

I would tell the police and your bank, but unsure if police will do much. Do you have their name and address?

Personally I never look at Gumtree, its rife with fraud.


http://www.hotukdeals.com/misc/bank-transfer-fraud-896462

http://www.moneywise.co.uk/scams-rip-offs/scams/money-transfer-scams-the-rise-what-you-should-look-out

techspec

Scammed - always pay with paypal if postage is a must - but i wouldn't even do that on gumtree - cash only for me.

There is no protection for bank transfers - so police are your only way forward i think. Won't be easy - as you don't have an address.

spacey2012

I contacted the Seller and he asked if I would like a refund, I said 'Yes' and provided my Account details,

Please pick up a telephone and call your banks fraud team immediately.
The i-phone scam is the least of your worries.