Payment required via bank transfer on gumtree - Is it safe?

Abdal_T · 21 June 2019 at 4:26AM

Hi,
so I stumbled upon this irresistible deal on gumtree. The only trouble is that it's quite far away. So I need him to ship the item to which the seller agreed. However, due to some bad experience with PayPal in the past the seller only takes payment via bank transfer.
Now my Question is,

is it safe for me to pay him via bank transfer?

Is there anyway for me to get my money back in case this turns out to be a fraud?

What sort of confirmation should I ask the seller after which I can initiate the payment on my side? To be honest, this looks like "too good to be true" deal but if safe, I want to give it a go.

Thanks in advance!!

[Deleted User] · 21 June 2019 at 5:41AM

Abdal_T wrote: »

Hi,
so I stumbled upon this irresistible deal on gumtree. The only trouble is that it's quite far away. So I need him to ship the item to which the seller agreed. However, due to some bad experience with PayPal in the past the seller only takes payment via bank transfer.
Now my Question is,
is it safe for me to pay him via bank transfer?
Is there anyway for me to get my money back in case this turns out to be a fraud?
What sort of confirmation should I ask the seller after which I can initiate the payment on my side?
To be honest, this looks like "too good to be true" deal but if safe, I want to give it a go.

Thanks in advance!!

Generally not safe as there is no way to get your money back. It's the same as handing over cash.

unforeseen · 21 June 2019 at 5:41AM

No and No to the first 2 questions. That's why the seller doesn't want to use PayPal.

Stick with 'too good to be true'

soolin · 21 June 2019 at 7:12AM

Look at the Gumtree FAQ's they warn about paying for something with bank transfer as it is not safe for any buyer. Gumtree is a scammers paradise with sellers taking bank transfers and then disappearing, just do a Google search.

bubble565 · 21 June 2019 at 8:04AM

100% scam.

stripeyfox · 21 June 2019 at 8:46AM

Abdal_T wrote: »

Hi,
so I stumbled upon this irresistible deal on gumtree. The only trouble is that it's quite far away. So I need him to ship the item to which the seller agreed. However, due to some bad experience with PayPal in the past the seller only takes payment via bank transfer.
Now my Question is,
is it safe for me to pay him via bank transfer?
Is there anyway for me to get my money back in case this turns out to be a fraud?
What sort of confirmation should I ask the seller after which I can initiate the payment on my side?
To be honest, this looks like "too good to be true" deal but if safe, I want to give it a go.

Thanks in advance!!

There's the first warning bell!

Go to collect the item in person and hand over the money when you're happy that it is what it claims to be.

bris · 21 June 2019 at 2:17PM

bubble565 wrote: »

Can you be more exact? How did he contacted you? Did he use some kind of a company? Please send more details about this

Doesn't need to be, it's a common scam that still catchers people to this day. Getting a bargain seems to be to irresistible to some people.

davemorton · 21 June 2019 at 5:34PM

Ask him if you can collect and pay cash (even if you cant). You will get your answer soon enough that it is a scam when he says you cant.

d123 · 21 June 2019 at 6:23PM

100% a scam, these “irresistible deals” seem to be appearing on gumtree every day lately.

soolin · 21 June 2019 at 6:38PM

davemorton wrote: »

Ask him if you can collect and pay cash (even if you cant). You will get your answer soon enough that it is a scam when he says you cant.

No need it's so obviously a scam it's not even worth wasting time typing an email.

soolin · 21 June 2019 at 6:47PM

looks like we are picking up some post builders today, if you see anything that looks spammy can you click the spam button and let the forum team decide.

Payment required via bank transfer on gumtree - Is it safe?

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