GLS scam

Pollycat

I was with my friend the other day, she had listed an item on (FB?) Marketplace for approx £200.
Almost as soon as the listing was live she got a reply from a potential buyer saying they would send a GLS 'postman' with the cash to collect the item.
She asked me if I thought it was OK.
My response was 'I think everything is a scam until I've proved otherwise'.
Lots of Google hits agreed with me. 
In the meantime, she got another response saying virtually the same thing - they'll send a GLS postman with the cash.

She has now amended the listing to read
"Do not reply saying you'll send GLS or any other courier with cash. I will not sell to you.
Buyer to view the item to check and agree condition. Cash on collection only".

How does this scam work?
Google suggests that the seller is expected to pay insurance costs. 
Why would anyone expect a seller to pay any costs?

soolin

There are lots of variations on this scam and rather than give you one of my complicated explanations here’s one from Google , plenty of others are available if you google GLS and facebook scam, it seems to be a scam that has started up again having stopped for a while. 

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/crime/20674123.scammers-infiltrating-norfolk-facebook-marketplace-posts-steal-cash/

Pollycat

soolin said:

There are lots of variations on this scam and rather than give you one of my complicated explanations here’s one from Google , plenty of others are available if you google GLS and facebook scam, it seems to be a scam that has started up again having stopped for a while. 

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/crime/20674123.scammers-infiltrating-norfolk-facebook-marketplace-posts-steal-cash/

Yes, that was one that we read, plus others on Mumsnet and Reddit.
I'm just struggling to understand how people who are selling something for cash fall for paying the potential buyer money.

But, as I said up-thread - I'm naturally suspicious of anything.
I won't even buy from a website I've not used before without checking it out thoroughly.
I won't click on links unless I'm sure about it.

That's why I've never been scammed and why I can't understand people who don't take care of their hard-earned money.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Is this classed as an Authorised Push Payment Scam? 

If so, OP you can ask the bank if they are signed up to the Contingent Reimbursement Model Code and if the money was sent to a UK bank account they should generally refund the victim. 

Which lists the following banks as members of the code:

• Bank of Scotland
• Barclays
• Britannia
• Cahoot
• Cater Allen Limited
• Co-op Bank
• First Direct
• Halifax
• HSBC
• Intelligent Finance
• Lloyds Bank
• M&S Bank
• Metro Bank
• Nationwide Building Society
• NatWest
• Royal Bank of Scotland 
• Santander
• Smile
• Starling Bank
• Ulster Bank
• Virgin Money

If the money went to a bank account outside the UK I don't think there's much to be done sadly. 

Pollycat

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

Is this classed as an Authorised Push Payment Scam? 

If so, OP you can ask the bank if they are signed up to the Contingent Reimbursement Model Code and if the money was sent to a UK bank account they should generally refund the victim. 

Which lists the following banks as members of the code:

• Bank of Scotland
• Barclays
• Britannia
• Cahoot
• Cater Allen Limited
• Co-op Bank
• First Direct
• Halifax
• HSBC
• Intelligent Finance
• Lloyds Bank
• M&S Bank
• Metro Bank
• Nationwide Building Society
• NatWest
• Royal Bank of Scotland 
• Santander
• Smile
• Starling Bank
• Ulster Bank
• Virgin Money

If the money went to a bank account outside the UK I don't think there's much to be done sadly. 

I think you may have misunderstood my original post. 

The payment to my friend (seller) was to be in cash, brought to her address by a GLS postman who would collect the item.
No payment was made - either to a bank or to a RL person - as I said I didn't trust it.

We found out that it was a scam by Googling so no money was lost.

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head

Pollycat said:

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

Is this classed as an Authorised Push Payment Scam? 

If so, OP you can ask the bank if they are signed up to the Contingent Reimbursement Model Code and if the money was sent to a UK bank account they should generally refund the victim. 

Which lists the following banks as members of the code:

• Bank of Scotland
• Barclays
• Britannia
• Cahoot
• Cater Allen Limited
• Co-op Bank
• First Direct
• Halifax
• HSBC
• Intelligent Finance
• Lloyds Bank
• M&S Bank
• Metro Bank
• Nationwide Building Society
• NatWest
• Royal Bank of Scotland 
• Santander
• Smile
• Starling Bank
• Ulster Bank
• Virgin Money

If the money went to a bank account outside the UK I don't think there's much to be done sadly. 

I think you may have misunderstood my original post. 

The payment to my friend (seller) was to be in cash, brought to her address by a GLS postman who would collect the item.
No payment was made - either to a bank or to a RL person - as I said I didn't trust it.

We found out that it was a scam by Googling so no money was lost.

Oops, apologies I posted this on the wrong thread!  

Pollycat

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

Pollycat said:

the_lunatic_is_in_my_head said:

Is this classed as an Authorised Push Payment Scam? 

If so, OP you can ask the bank if they are signed up to the Contingent Reimbursement Model Code and if the money was sent to a UK bank account they should generally refund the victim. 

Which lists the following banks as members of the code:

• Bank of Scotland
• Barclays
• Britannia
• Cahoot
• Cater Allen Limited
• Co-op Bank
• First Direct
• Halifax
• HSBC
• Intelligent Finance
• Lloyds Bank
• M&S Bank
• Metro Bank
• Nationwide Building Society
• NatWest
• Royal Bank of Scotland 
• Santander
• Smile
• Starling Bank
• Ulster Bank
• Virgin Money

If the money went to a bank account outside the UK I don't think there's much to be done sadly. 

I think you may have misunderstood my original post. 

The payment to my friend (seller) was to be in cash, brought to her address by a GLS postman who would collect the item.
No payment was made - either to a bank or to a RL person - as I said I didn't trust it.

We found out that it was a scam by Googling so no money was lost.

Oops, apologies I posted this on the wrong thread!  

I did wonder that.