Gumtree Sale - is it a scam?

esker46n1

Hi everyone,


I'm looking for advice. I am selling a product worth around £200 on gumtree and I hoped to sell it locally with cash on collection.


However, I've had an email offering me near-enough the asking price, from someone who lives a long way away, offering me a bank transfer of the money. I was suspicious so I said I'd heard of scams like this where a fraudulent account is use and said the only way I'd be comfortable is if either I wait 7 working days after receiving payment before posting, or he takes cash into NatWest and transfers that into my account.


He replied saying he was happy to wait 7 working days after receipt of payment and was happy to arrange a courier to collect the item. Instead I asked for his address (and he's provided a work address) and I'll arrange postage (at his expense) as I didn't want to give him my details.


So, my questions:
- is this legit? I can't really see how it could be a scam but what's putting me off is...
- Why is he so trusting in a complete stranger if it's not a scam? It would be so easy for me to take his money and all he has is my gumtree username and bank account number/sort code, which alone can't be used for anything (I think?)


Please let me know what you think.


Thanks,
Kerry

freebiequennie

Why not suggest he pays via PayPal n covers the fees if makes it safer.

I brought a pram recently was collection locally 200miles from me seller kindly couried it I paid via PayPal.

bxboards

freebiequennie wrote: »

Why not suggest he pays via PayPal n covers the fees if makes it safer.
.

Very bad advice! Paypal is not a safe way to be paid and the buyer wants to arrange their own courier too, which is even more unsafe where Paypal is concerned.

How are poeple becoming so brainwashed that Paypal is seen as the safest way to accept payment? It's the least safe out of cash, bank transfer or cheque as it is the only payment method that exposes someone to fraudulent credit card transactions, chargebacks, item not recieved or item not as described claims.

Bank transfer is very safe for a seller, it's just about the safest way for a seller to be paid.

RainbowDrops

Cash transfer is much better than paypal - once you receive the cash they can't file for a refund like they can with Paypal!

esker46n1

Yeah I would not ever use paypal unless for an ebay buy that was being posted, anything else and it seems very scam-happy!


So do you think this seems legit? I guess what worried me most was how open the buyer is to sending a stranger money - seems a little too good to be true!

bxboards

esker46n1 wrote: »

So do you think this seems legit? I guess what worried me most was how open the buyer is to sending a stranger money - seems a little too good to be true!

Well I can't see there is any risk to you - either the money will arrive in your bank account or it won't. If it doesn't don't send anything.

I'm glad you are wise to the Paypal thing - this is twice in two days people here have been recommending Paypal for collection items or with buyer's couriers involved, and it really worries me how some people believe Paypal will 'protect' them as a seller when it reality its the worse and most expensive way to be paid - good on you for asking.

Brooker_Dave

freebiequennie wrote: »

Why not suggest he pays via PayPal n covers the fees if makes it safer.

Proper ebay brainwashing in action when people think getting paid by paypal ($$$) is safer than a free (and safe) bank transfer.

Brooker_Dave

esker46n1 wrote: »

H
However, I've had an email offering me near-enough the asking price, from someone who lives a long way away, offering me a bank transfer of the money. I was suspicious

Take the money before they change their mind!!

soolin

As above take the bank transfer and ignore erroneous advice of taking an unsafe payment via PayPal.

One point though, check the money is In your bank account, do it yourself, don't trust emails or notifications. Make sure it went in as cash and clear it overnight before you post next day.

esker46n1

Thanks for the help everyone.

soolin wrote: »

As above take the bank transfer and ignore erroneous advice of taking an unsafe payment via PayPal.

One point though, check the money is In your bank account, do it yourself, don't trust emails or notifications. Make sure it went in as cash and clear it overnight before you post next day.

Just to be clear, when you say "make sure it went in as cash" do you mean that an online transfer is not safe and the buyer should go into branch and deposit the cash t be transferred? I know this is a better way to do it but I hoped waiting a week or so after the transfer should remove most rick of it being a fraudulent account?


Thanks again!

soolin

esker46n1 wrote: »

Thanks for the help everyone.






Just to be clear, when you say "make sure it went in as cash" do you mean that an online transfer is not safe and the buyer should go into branch and deposit the cash t be transferred? I know this is a better way to do it but I hoped waiting a week or so after the transfer should remove most rick of it being a fraudulent account?


Thanks again!

Apologies I wasn't clear. The only possible scam here , and it is rare as they need to know a bank that records transactions incorrectly on occasions, is where a buyer pays in a cheque at the counter but it shows as just a payment when you check your account.

You need to ensure that either cash has been paid in or a bank transfer and if that is not clear when you look at the payment in your bank then phone them and ask.