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Gumtree scams

Advertised a couple of things on Gumtree, endless scam texts, today alone I've won a pretend £500 prize and someone on an oilrig in Brazil wants to pay more than I wanted for a lorry in Surrey...

When did Gumtree get this bad?
"Love you Dave Brooker! x"

"i sent a letter headded sales of god act 1979"

Comments

  • soolin
    soolin Posts: 74,425 Ambassador
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Advertised a couple of things on Gumtree, endless scam texts, today alone I've won a pretend £500 prize and someone on an oilrig in Brazil wants to pay more than I wanted for a lorry in Surrey...

    When did Gumtree get this bad?

    It's been like this for a couple of years now.

    I am used to getting the generic 'is your item still available as I need it for my brother who is a missionary in Africa and will send payment soon if you let me have your paypal address'

    All very well, except that the sort of things I am selling (huge glass bowls and vases) would be of no use at all in Africa, so I assume they just send the same email to every one who lists.

    although just recently I haven't even had any spam responses- no one wants my stuff :(
    I’m a Forum Ambassador and I support the Forum Team on the eBay, Auctions, Car Boot & Jumble Sales, Boost Your Income, Praise, Vents & Warnings, Overseas Holidays & Travel Planning , UK Holidays, Days Out & Entertainments boards. If you need any help on these boards, do let me know.. Please note that Ambassadors are not moderators. Any posts you spot in breach of the Forum Rules should be reported via the report button, or by emailing forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com.All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
  • I had one today saying `thanks for your ad`- official email. on inspection on Gumtree, it was an ad set up on my account trying to sell a car. I have a phone number but it goes straight to voicemail. Anyone else experienced this? I`m a bit worried. I`ve contacted Gumtree and changed password, then deleted my account.
    2014 wins-2 picnic hampers,Boxfresh goodies,foodie festival tickets,Polo event tickets,Kent airshow family ticket,£25 Nisa voucher,New Pines holiday for 6,meal for 6,fake tan and mitt,pickled beetroot,£50,£100 Mucky boots voucher.
    Thanks and good luck to all! xx:beer::j:money::T
  • theonlywayisup
    theonlywayisup Posts: 16,032 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Unfortunately the scammers get everywhere, bit like the spammers!
  • hermum
    hermum Posts: 7,123 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I think Gumtree has always been full of scammers.
    About 7 years ago my daughter advertised as a babysitter & someone replied saying they has 2 kids needing looking after but she'd have to collect them from Heathrow & keep them for a few days, a few days later a business cheque for £3k (I think it was £3k) arrived through the post to cover the travel & rental money of a property for her to live with these kids, they of course wanted a large proportion of the money paid back to them.
    It was all taken to the local police & we never heard any more.
    As soolin, I used to get lots of people who were missionaries in Africa needing whatever I was selling, often high heels for their Uncles. I would have loved photos of these Uncles tripping around in heels.
  • RainbowDrops
    RainbowDrops Posts: 4,674 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Urgh, I resisted putting my mobile number on an add until this week.
    Had four email enquiries, but when I replied I didn't get a further response. I was worried that their email system was not letting my responses get through, so I added my mobile no.
    I wish they had an on site messaging service, like ebay, rather than their weird email system.
  • SailorSam
    SailorSam Posts: 22,754 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I don't think Freecycle is any better, and you're not even trying to sell stuff.
    How hard can it be to give things away. People ask you to keep it and not let anyone else have it. They promise to come and you're left sitting waiting.
    Liverpool is one of the wonders of Britain,
    What it may grow to in time, I know not what.

    Daniel Defoe: 1725.
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