Gumtree Paypal Buyer Scam

Spoonie_Turtle

knightstyle said:

I have bought and sold items on Gumtree using Paypal and someone like Hermes.  To protect both buyer and seller the seller needs to do a Paypal payment request with the item plus postage stated on it.  Buyer pays, seller sends with insurance for full value.  Job done and safe as it can be.

The point of the scam is that the 'buyer' arranges the courier which doesn't meet the requirements for seller protection.  If the seller posts the item themselves it's fine but that's not what the scams are asking.

theonlywayisup

knightstyle said:

I have bought and sold items on Gumtree using Paypal and someone like Hermes.  To protect both buyer and seller the seller needs to do a Paypal payment request with the item plus postage stated on it.  Buyer pays, seller sends with insurance for full value.  Job done and safe as it can be.

If you mean friends and family payment then this has issues for both buyer and seller - for the seller, there is no protection if the buyer claims the payment was fraudulent.   For the buyer there is no incentive to pay this way as you have no buyer protection.

kalsha

theonlywayisup said:

knightstyle said:

I have bought and sold items on Gumtree using Paypal and someone like Hermes.  To protect both buyer and seller the seller needs to do a Paypal payment request with the item plus postage stated on it.  Buyer pays, seller sends with insurance for full value.  Job done and safe as it can be.

If you mean friends and family payment then this has issues for both buyer and seller - for the seller, there is no protection if the buyer claims the payment was fraudulent.   For the buyer there is no incentive to pay this way as you have no buyer protection.

I thought that Paypal friends and family was safe for seller but not the buyer as he has no buyer protection?   Isn't it safe for the seller?   What can go wrong - at they are supposed to be friends?  I thought the buyer could not claim that the payment was fraudulent?    I have sold a few things on marketplace.  Usually it is for cash but sometimes I have had to accept paypal and I have requested that they pay using F&F.   Would it be better to ask for Bank Transfer?

soolin

kalsha said:

theonlywayisup said:

knightstyle said:

I have bought and sold items on Gumtree using Paypal and someone like Hermes.  To protect both buyer and seller the seller needs to do a Paypal payment request with the item plus postage stated on it.  Buyer pays, seller sends with insurance for full value.  Job done and safe as it can be.

If you mean friends and family payment then this has issues for both buyer and seller - for the seller, there is no protection if the buyer claims the payment was fraudulent.   For the buyer there is no incentive to pay this way as you have no buyer protection.

I thought that Paypal friends and family was safe for seller but not the buyer as he has no buyer protection?   Isn't it safe for the seller?   What can go wrong - at they are supposed to be friends?  I thought the buyer could not claim that the payment was fraudulent?    I have sold a few things on marketplace.  Usually it is for cash but sometimes I have had to accept paypal and I have requested that they pay using F&F.   Would it be better to ask for Bank Transfer?

You shouldn’t be asking for a Fand F payment on marketplace , it is the mark of a scammer and might get you reported. You say yourself that you thought it meant they were friends or family- so are your buyers really only your friends? I sell across both marketplace and specialist groups and many groups would ban and report you for asking for a f and f - although many buyers do still use it out of ignorance (or possibly because they know they can get it back ).

a f and f payment can be reversed if buyer states it was made fraudulently , that’s quite a biggie really and not done easily as they have to be convincing enough to persuade the bank they were hacked or suck like. However if they do raise a complaint  (and even on eBay I used to get about 2 or 3 such claims a year) the only way a seller can protect themselves is to show delivery confirmation to the address given by PayPal. F and f payments do not show an address , therefore seller has no seller protection. It is a little known issue with a f and f payment, we’ve had a couple of threads on here where people have had this happen, but it is rare. 

kalsha

Thank you for that info Soolin.   Just as well it hasn't happened frequently.  Twice in 3 years.  I will need to rethink if anyone asks to pay by paypal.  

knightstyle

NO I do not use F&F  just go to Paypal and do a payment request!  Nothing to do with F&F!
For example we sold an old collectable cork screw on Marketplace, and arranged a price including postage with a buyer.
Then I got him to send his Paypal details and sent a Paypal request for payment detailing the item plus postage in the request, he paid and I sent.  Just about risk free as far as I can see!

astradriver67

I've just had one on e mail for a post on my Gumtree add and this is what he sent me that made me think scammer " l'm just about to make the payment now, but I want to inform you that I will add an extra £100 to the amount I am sending into your account. The courier I am using requested the delivery fee be paid upfront before collection and they don’t accept online payment so we have agreed for the fee to be made with a gift card to them, which you can buy from any store, supermarket, and they will collect it upon arrival for collection. I can’t get it because I’m having surgery soon So I will appreciate your help and understanding here. You will be receiving a confirmation and instructions email from PayPal. Thanks so much, and can I proceed to make the PayPal payment." ignored him and long and behold another pops into my inbox starting the same way just because I ignored the first one 

soolin

astradriver67 said:

I've just had one on e mail for a post on my Gumtree add and this is what he sent me that made me think scammer " l'm just about to make the payment now, but I want to inform you that I will add an extra £100 to the amount I am sending into your account. The courier I am using requested the delivery fee be paid upfront before collection and they don’t accept online payment so we have agreed for the fee to be made with a gift card to them, which you can buy from any store, supermarket, and they will collect it upon arrival for collection. I can’t get it because I’m having surgery soon So I will appreciate your help and understanding here. You will be receiving a confirmation and instructions email from PayPal. Thanks so much, and can I proceed to make the PayPal payment." ignored him and long and behold another pops into my inbox starting the same way just because I ignored the first one 

I think they are out in force at the moment, several mentions by sellers on various FB groups all with identical messages referring to 'your item' rather than even bothering to change the cut and paste to state the item they are trying to steal from you.

Brie

soolin said:

I think they are out in force at the moment, several mentions by sellers on various FB groups all with identical messages referring to 'your item' rather than even bothering to change the cut and paste to state the item they are trying to steal from you.

I don't think they are the least bit bothered about the item itself.  They just want the money.  Of course if they can get an item of sufficient value that they can then sell on great!  Hopefully someone will try to scam them!!!

soolin

Brie said:

soolin said:

I think they are out in force at the moment, several mentions by sellers on various FB groups all with identical messages referring to 'your item' rather than even bothering to change the cut and paste to state the item they are trying to steal from you.

I don't think they are the least bit bothered about the item itself.  They just want the money.  Of course if they can get an item of sufficient value that they can then sell on great!  Hopefully someone will try to scam them!!!

That was my point, they can't even be bothered to personalise this scam message anymore - they just don't care and send the same message out in the thousands. People have received this message for everything from large sofa beds right down to £10 lot of baby clothes.

They know there are enough vulnerable people out there that will fall for it and don't put any effort into even trying to look legitimate anymore.