Scammed on Gumtree - Chance of recovery poor

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  • jonmoneybags
    jonmoneybags Posts: 311 Forumite
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    bobbo71 wrote: »
    On 3rd March 2017 I responded to an ad buy a guy selling 4 x Amazon Fire TV boxes on Gumtree. We texted back and forth, I checked that they were boxes, not Firesticks and after satisfying myself regarding the item decided to buy one. I offered a PayPal payment, (I'm a longstanding eBay seller/buyer and PayPal user) but the guy declined saying it was too much of a pain waiting for PayPal approval so instead we settled for a BACS transfer of £40. He was agreeable, promising to send the item next day along with a texted proof of postage.

    By Thursday 9th March nothing had arrived, he ignored my texts and attempts at phoning him. I contacted Gumtree, ('If you've been scammed contact us immediately' on their website help section), and had a live chat, they took details of the problem and then suggested that I wait another 7 days and come back to them if there was no joy.

    On Thursday 16th March, no joy, I sent more texts and using a different phone spoke to him, as soon as I said 'I'm the guy who bought the Fire TV' he ended the call. I then had another live chat with Gumtree, by this time I had the Advert ID number, his bank account number (Halifax) and his phone number (Virgin Media). This was all shared with Gumtree but they can't/won't do anything as they are a classified advertising service. So my live chats with Gumtree seem to have benefited them by me providing details of a rogue seller, but no benefit to me.

    I've contacted my bank and they will approach his bank and request a return of the £40, maybe this will happen maybe not. I am also considering contacting Action Fraud to report the matter as an internet fraud.

    I know that I should not have used BACS but I did, lesson learned. I'm sharing this experience just to warn others but I would welcome any other ideas about how to recover the £40. I have some limited info as you can see and I do hope his bank will look at his account to see if there are other income streams that may be suspect.
    So apart from the obvious advice any sensible suggestions are welcome.

    I bet he was, scammers christmas someone being daft enough to do that.
  • Sicard
    Sicard Posts: 851 Forumite
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    donnac2558 wrote: »
    Down in the EBay section of the board(it does cover other selling places such as Gumtree), it repeated and repeated and repeated. Gumtree you go in person and buy face to face and pay money on inspecting the goods.

    Never send money


    People have done this and been mugged.
    You know what uranium is, right? It's this thing called nuclear weapons. And other things. Like lots of things are done with uranium. Including some bad things.
    Donald Trump, Press Conference, February 16, 2017
  • takman
    takman Posts: 3,876 Forumite
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    Sicard wrote: »
    People have done this and been mugged.



    So your saying you should never buy anything in person from someone because you might get mugged, how ridiculous!.


    You could be mugged everytime you leave the house so are you saying nobody should ever leave their home just in case?
  • donnac2558
    donnac2558 Posts: 3,610 Forumite
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    Sicard wrote: »
    People have done this and been mugged.

    Thousands buy from Gumtree face to face(they tell you to do this), how many have been mugged then? Well I suppose meeting up a dark alley might happen.:rotfl:
  • jonmoneybags
    jonmoneybags Posts: 311 Forumite
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    I will keep my tinfoil hat just in case; you can borrow it for now if you want.
  • vikingaero
    vikingaero Posts: 10,920 Forumite
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    Depends on how far you are willing to pursue it:

    http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/14906281.Dartford_fraudster_sentenced_for_trying_to_flog_fake_Slipknot_tickets/
    The man without a signature.
  • shaun_from_Africa
    shaun_from_Africa Posts: 12,858 Forumite
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    Sicard wrote: »
    People have done this and been mugged.
    Without a doubt, people have been mugged walking to their local high street to do a bit of shopping, walking to/from a pub after having a night out and on their way to a restaurant, and what about people who have been mugged after taking money out of a cash machine?

    Does this mean that nobody should every carry cash in their pockets just in case this ever happens to them?
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User] Posts: 0 Newbie
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    donnac2558 wrote: »
    Down in the EBay section of the board(it does cover other selling places such as Gumtree), it repeated and repeated and repeated. Gumtree you go in person and buy face to face and pay money on inspecting the goods.

    Never send money
    Sicard wrote: »
    People have done this and been mugged.

    Best to go in a gang
  • bobbo71
    bobbo71 Posts: 13 Forumite
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    Thanks to everyone who have taken the time to read my post. No further news. I agree no more BACS for me. No news yet from my bank so it looks like a report to Action Fraud next.
  • Sicard
    Sicard Posts: 851 Forumite
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    You lot are so funny.
    You know what uranium is, right? It's this thing called nuclear weapons. And other things. Like lots of things are done with uranium. Including some bad things.
    Donald Trump, Press Conference, February 16, 2017
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