Looking for ideas to mess with a gumtree scammer

181 Posts

Hi all -
I am again selling a lot of stuff on gumtree and getting the usual scammer - "can't meet you in person but will send a courier, will pay full price via PayPal and please contact me outside of the gumtree messaging app"
When he asked for item location and after I replied in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean he has asked me for my paypal email and paypal first and last name. I was tempted to replay [email protected] and first f... last YOU!
Tempted to be a bit smarter about it - how can I make him lose some time and potentially some money?
Ideas welcome! Let's get the scumbag!!!
Full text of scammer in case someone is being scammed on this at the moment [For knowledge: NEVER transact outside the gumtree app, pay via PayPal, and give to a courier giving you no proof of delivery of good:)
I really appreciate your quick response! i will want you to consider it sold kindly remove the ad because i am willing to pay your full asking price because i need to buy it for my cousin asap due because they need some stuff for their new apartment kindly inform if you have other items for sale, i have read through the advert and i'm totally satisfied with it,sadly i would not be able to come personally to collect due to my hearing loss and I'm just recovering from heart surgery so I'm home-bound.I have a courier agent that would help me to pick it up at your preferred location after you have received your money and i'll pay you via PayPal that is attach to my bank account as that is the only secure form of payment that I have access to right now. Where is the pick up location so that i can inform the courier agent about it now
I am again selling a lot of stuff on gumtree and getting the usual scammer - "can't meet you in person but will send a courier, will pay full price via PayPal and please contact me outside of the gumtree messaging app"
When he asked for item location and after I replied in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean he has asked me for my paypal email and paypal first and last name. I was tempted to replay [email protected] and first f... last YOU!
Tempted to be a bit smarter about it - how can I make him lose some time and potentially some money?
Ideas welcome! Let's get the scumbag!!!
Full text of scammer in case someone is being scammed on this at the moment [For knowledge: NEVER transact outside the gumtree app, pay via PayPal, and give to a courier giving you no proof of delivery of good:)
I really appreciate your quick response! i will want you to consider it sold kindly remove the ad because i am willing to pay your full asking price because i need to buy it for my cousin asap due because they need some stuff for their new apartment kindly inform if you have other items for sale, i have read through the advert and i'm totally satisfied with it,sadly i would not be able to come personally to collect due to my hearing loss and I'm just recovering from heart surgery so I'm home-bound.I have a courier agent that would help me to pick it up at your preferred location after you have received your money and i'll pay you via PayPal that is attach to my bank account as that is the only secure form of payment that I have access to right now. Where is the pick up location so that i can inform the courier agent about it now
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It you haven’t come across this common scam look it up on google , whilst it seems an obvious one many people do still fall for it unfortunately.
All views are my own and not the official line of MoneySavingExpert.
I never use paypal unless its payment via friends and family. If not its bank transfer only.
I sold an SSD for a macbook a few days ago, the buyer said paypal and pay postage and I thought oh here we go again. Turns out he was legit as paid via bacs.
I've not used eBay or PayPal for atleast 8 years hence me being out the loop.
Lewis Carroll