Gumtree / PayPal selling question

[TattiePants]

Can anyone advise if there is a risk to me here? Last night I listed a relatively expensive child’s bike on gumtree and I’ve had the following response (this is via email as the buyer asked me to contact via email rather than on gumtree).

“ i will want you to consider it sold kindly remove the ad as i am willing to pay your full asking price because i need to buy it for my cousin asap, 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 today. Where is the pick up location so that i can inform the courier agent about it now?”

The message just seems weird, too much detail, a bit demanding? If they pay via PayPal friends & family is there a risk to me? What about if they insist on paying by PayPal goods & services? I always insist cash on collection when selling on eBay but is it the same for gumtree? Something has just got my spidey senses tingling!

[SquatBetty]

SCAM

Think it's a well known one as well, will try to find link.

[SquatBetty]

Yes only do cash on collection with Gumtree as well. If you accept Paypal goods and services, the buyer can collect the bike then claim that they never received the goods and PayPal will refund them. So you'll have lost the bike and your cash for it.

[TattiePants]

Thanks, I knew that for eBay but wasn’t sure if it was the same for gumtree. Is there a risk if they pay friends & family?

[Antirrhinum]

Like @SquatBetty says, it's a very well-known scam. Just ignore it.

[HermosaMain]

They might not pay and just send you a fake PayPal email. If you don't check your account you won't know it's fake.

They might pay with a stolen card, so the money will get removed later.

[TattiePants]

I replied saying cash only and they emailed again telling me how easy it is to set up PayPal. Just part of the script...... I’m ignoring now.

[Soubriquet]

The way that is written sounds a bit suspicious but I wouldn’t completely write off paying by PayPal

I’ve paid for items on eBay which was cash and collect only, but because I was so far away, I asked if I was allowed to pay by PayPal and arrange a courier to collect it

They were happy with that, but I made sure to provide all evidence every step of the way

[TattiePants]

@Soubriquet I’ve done similar in the past too but this just feels off. It’s £175 so just too much to risk it. I even said local delivery might be possible but they’ve totally ignored that.

[Judashascomeintosomemoney]

It’s practically word for word the same as another Mumsnetter received for their pram a couple of weeks ago. Good to hear you’re ignoring them.

[ReplacementPlasticUterus]

If you allow a buyer to arrange a courier then you won't have any evidence of collection and delivery, and if the buyer is scamming you and decides to claim they never received the item, you won't have a leg to stand on with PayPal.

Funny how people doing this sort of thing always claim they've just had surgery, or a baby, or some other reason they can't collect from you in person. I've had this so many times on ebay, it's almost a script - of course these days they claim they are self isolating!

It's your sale, you are under no obligation to agree with their demands - just ignore them.

[Soubriquet]

Yeah, I’ve bought a pram, around £250 but you’re right

The wording just sounds odd

[TattiePants]

It’s really pissed me off that they obviously think they can get away with it. My anger may be clouded by just opening some Cadbury’s Roses and they’ve replaced my favourite with another bloody soft centre! Fuckers!!

[BarbaraofSeville]

Yes, scam. With the pram one, the next step they tried was that the pram seller was also to pay the courier, who of course was part of the scam, so they wanted to trick her into giving the pram away for free plus handing a bundle of money to the 'courier' for delivery.

DP spotted a car one once, where the seller was the scam artist not the buyer. Niche car on ebay for a good price in another country. You had to send money and they'd send the car over.

Funnily enough when we offered to fly over and pick up the car so we could enjoy driving it over the Alps and up the Autobahn, the 'seller' went quiet.

[BertieBotts]

Ignore and block.

[Soubriquet]

DP spotted a car one once, where the seller was the scam artist not the buyer. Niche car on ebay for a good price in another country. You had to send money and they'd send the car over.

Funnily enough when we offered to fly over and pick up the car so we could enjoy driving it over the Alps and up the Autobahn, the 'seller' went quiet.

A popular puppy one too

They claim they have a puppy that they desperately want to find a loving home for due to xxx happening at the home. They don’t want money for the puppy but would request you pay for the courier to deliver said puppy

However, if you claim you are nearby and therefore collect the puppy in person, they suddenly dissapear and refuse to reply back.