to keep account details private

[Aki23]

So I had a clear out over the weekend and will be doing a car boot in May. I thought I could get rid of a few of the larger/more valuable items on Gumtree.

I'm selling a ring and earrings and have had some interest. This is a site where usually someone will collect the items avoiding postage but I have agreed to post these items as they are small, under £20, buyer pays and I can get these covered without insurance by using the free proof of postage protection. I do not use Paypal outside of eBay (and won't as at least one person had tried to scam me by using this via Gumtree - thankfully saw through it). I explained this to buyer and they confirmed they would send a cheque. That was Friday. Today they are asking for my bank details to send the money. I have not responded.

Am I being difficult? I do not know this person (probably answering my own question) but hate putting out obstacles. I would never give out my bank details anyway but am now thinking of just saying they are no longer for sale or asking for a cheque again. They could be genuine or scammers.

WWYD?

If you're not sure - go into or ring your bank and ask them if it's safe to disclose your sortcode and account number.

For example:-

www.newdirectionsuk.com/shop/site_links/info.php?id=20#pm

I've had all sorts of bogus direct debits set up by people using my business bank account details - Sky TV, a credit card, car insurance, charity donations, mobile phones, all sorts of things. I always got the money back with no problem (Direct Debit Guarantee) but it happens nevertheless.

The big one was somebody trying to take over my bank accounts though. Over a period of a few months a scammer was able to change the address on my accounts and attempted a quite serious fraud against me. He knew the name of my business and as a company director my full name and date of birth are a matter of public record, a bit of research gave him access to my birth registration records and my mother's maiden name, all he had to do then was guess the rough amount of a direct debit on one of my accounts - my council tax for example, easy to work out once you've got an address. For anyone with a fairly unique name he could have skipped the director information and just searched the birth registration records for the name.

So account details, name, address

User892 - they told me to take the item, £100 dress, off the site, they would send me details of where to send it to. They would send me £250 plus the postage to send it to Middle East (dress for sister). They said it would only cost £240 but made a mistake and I could keep the extra £10. They sent to me an email confirming funds had been sent (made up to look like it came from Paypal but email didn't match up) - I did use Paypal at that time. My check on paypal came up with no money through.

It looked odd but I proceeded as I wanted to see what they would ask me.

They claimed they were in a wheelchair which was why they wanted me to send the item and I was to pay for postage from my account after they 'sent' me the money.

When I said I hadn't received the funds following the fake email they claimed I was discriminating against them because they were in a wheelchair. I said I couldn't do anything until I had the funds. I then said it looked like a scam and never heard anything again.

2 weeks later when I put the dress back on (I took it down as it was a worrying experience) I received the exact same email down to the letter

God this is terrifying - as they already have name and address I wont be sending any further details. I'll keep the items for now. Other items are going to people who will come to the house with cash so Ill stick with that. I keep saying I will not do postage and I must stick to it!

I've had all sorts of bogus direct debits set up by people using my business bank account details

But you're not liable for the costs and you regularly check your bank account, don't you. This can also happen to anyone sending a cheque.

He knew the name of my business and as a company director my full name and date of birth are a matter of public record

DOB is a different matter, OP isn't giving this out - or is this publically available OP?

God this is terrifying

No - it's not. Ask your bank.

There is no need to be terrified, honestly.

Businesses send invoices day and daily with their bank account details on there for all to see.

You just need to be vigilant.

£20 is not worth the risk of potential ID fraud but thank you to all those who have commented.

My parents were the subject of £2000 bank fraud some years ago (thankfully refunded) and it always makes me nervous and err on the side of caution

It is not terrifying, you are paranoid. There is no risk. Are you not getting the fact that if someone sends you a cheque they are at more risk from you, because you have their name address bank details AND an example of your signature?

Again, clearly selling is not for you. You're too paranoid.

Aki23 - your experience with the dress wasn't in any way PayPal's fault. If you ask for someone's registered PayPal email address, then login to your PayPal account to check the funds are definitely received - this is fine.

I honestly think you're over-reacting, and you will lose sales, but you must do what you think is best.

Please do go into your bank during a quiet time to have a quick chat with the counter staff about what info is safe to give out.

Perhaps I am paranoid . I won't let it stop me selling but I will let it stop me posting anything outside of eBay without the Paypal protection.

Ive sold plenty with no problems but just don't think its worth the hassle via Gumtree

£20 is not worth the risk of potential ID fraud but thank you to all those who have commented

In that case, never give a cheque to anyone ever again. And just deal with cash when you sell things.

Apologies - that full paragraph should have been -

Your experience with the dress wasn't in any way PayPal's fault. If you ask for someone's registered PayPal email address, login to your account to send them an e-invoice, then login to your PayPal account to check the funds are definitely received - this is fine

If you've not raised PayPal invoices before; in your PayPal account it's under Tools > Invoicing > Request money. There is a small fee to pay, of course.

That scam re the dress was just typical nonsense even a baby could see through and not related to PayPal. PayPal is very safe if you pay through goods and services, never through friends and family (except friends and family!).

Collection is always the safest though

If you use PayPal outside of eBay you still plenty of protection, so does the buyer.

I would use PayPal personally. From what you've said, you've never actually had a problem with PayPal, you've had a problem with someone pretending to have paid you and it was easy to establish that they hadn't by logging into your account.

Personally I'd be far more concerned about inviting strangers to my house to collect purchases than giving someone my details for a bank transfer.

Personally I'd be far more concerned about inviting strangers to my house to collect purchases than giving someone my details for a bank transfer

Good point

My bank (along with most of the major ones) supports pay a contact which might suit you better @Aki23

You'd have to set it up through your Internet banking first, but basically it's that your bank has your mobile number, someone can send a payment to your mobile phone and it's credited directly to your account.

The person sending the funds never sees your account details.

I've used it with colleagues in the past (gift collecting for a national team is a great deal of fun!).

Maybe check this out as an option for you instead before dismissing this seller.

It is perfectly normal to give out your bank sort code and your account number when you need to be paid for something.

This is how I have paid all workmen (plumbers, builders, other tradesmen) who do anything on my house or any of my other properties. To pay them I need their sort code and account numbers. Have you never set up direct debits and standing orders, either online, at the bank or by posting a form? Yes? Then you will have had to have given out your sort code and account number to a third party. No choice there.

What you should never give out are your bank card numbers, security codes and PIN numbers, and you will notice that if these are used online they are encrypted.

You will never sell anything if you keep on being this paranoid because you are going to make it impossible for people to pay you. Plenty of people (myself included) no longer even keep a cheque book as it is so rarely needed these days.

Personally, I think a direct bank transfer is much better and safer. It is credited virtually immediately. Cheques take time to post and process, can bounce and are generally far too much of a faff.