Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think someone is trying to scam me.. photo attached

162 replies

Aaahhhelp · 13/02/2019 09:32

Hi everyone,

I put my wedding dress that I no longer want on gumtree yesterday. Last night I had someone asking do I still have the wedding dress. I replied yes and would they like to come and see it and got this reply this morning... as it said I would have the funds before sending I did think it was genuine, however a part of me thinks it sounds like a scam!

What do you think? And should I reply?

To think someone is trying to scam me.. photo attached
OP posts:
MrsWillGardner · 13/02/2019 10:33

There are lots of posts on the web about similar situations, whereby someone sends a “courier agent” to collect, the seller gets them to sign to say they’ve taken it and in some instances, have taken photos of the “courier” with the item, but PayPal have refused this as sufficient evidence as sent and the buyer has had the item and a refund.

Be careful.

NunoGoncalves · 13/02/2019 10:34

Reply saying

If you are looking to con me, I can tell you I don't have money. But what I do have are a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career. Skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you stop trying to scam me now, that'll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don’t, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you.

LittlePaintBox · 13/02/2019 10:35

What makes it seem like a scam? As ubbesponytail says,

so much unnecessary pull-at-heart-string details

MostlyBoastly · 13/02/2019 10:37

PayPal must atleast recognise the scam if they’re not even changing the wording? Or are they too big to particularly care?

myhamsteratefreddiestarr · 13/02/2019 10:38

Advice to anyone who might read this thread, ALWAYS google the message and guaranteed you will find out it is a scam.

My friends DH had one when he was selling his car. He had to send them some money so they could pay him! He fell for it! She was livid. He’s the “intelligent” one in the relationship but she was the one who saw through it! Grin

It worries me how many people fall for this sort of thing.

At4oclockthenormalworld · 13/02/2019 10:38

Nuno GrinGrin

Agree OP smells fishy. I've never done EBay/Gumtree etc before and have been working myself up to do so as I have some good stuff I may as well make a few £ on but I'm worried I'll be scammed!

Can one of you clever lot start up a shop like Steve Carell's girlfriend does in 40 Year Old Virgin? I'd keep you on a retainer?!

Piffle11 · 13/02/2019 10:39

Why have I never had a surprise wedding dress bought for me??? Yeah several points scream 'scam': the 'surprise' for someone, the 'make you feel sorry for me' health issues) , the courier collection, the Paypal payment (you won't be able to prove you have handed over the dress: even if you made the 'courier' sign something, Paypal will not accept it as anyone could have written it) as this can be reversed very easily. If you contact them saying cash only, they will either move on to another seller, or will argue their case. Steer clear.

CallMeRachel · 13/02/2019 10:41

As pp have said it is a definite 100% scam.

The elaborate over sharing email, the language and the fact it is a template which even comes up on google searches tell you everything you need to know.

There seems to be s frightening lack of awareness how PayPal is unsafe to accept payment on if you have no tracking number to prove delivery.

Never accept PayPal for collection only items, nor allow anyone to arrange their own courier- you must be able to upload your own courier tracking information to cover yourself in the event the inevitable charge back.

Piffle11 · 13/02/2019 10:43

Actually - I think someone's already mentioned this - I just typed 'Paypal courier scam' into Google, and on the Paypal website there is a word for word copy of this reply, that some guy selling his bike got (gumtree, I believe). So yes def a scam.

Piffle11 · 13/02/2019 10:44

pasted from Paypal site

Is this a Paypal Scam on Gumtree

Hi
Selling my bike for £600 and have received the below email it sounds a bit fishy to me! what should I respond to sound it out?

Thanks,

Alex

Great! please consider it sold 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 me being in wheelchair.
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?

PottyPotterer · 13/02/2019 10:49

Possibly the most obvious scam I've seen. Who buys someone else a surprise wedding dress Hmm.

BirthdayCakes · 13/02/2019 10:51

My DH gets something similar EVERY SINGLE TIME he posts something for sale on Gumtree.. It's always Paypal, and always some stupid sob story..

DowntonCrabby · 13/02/2019 10:52

Big fat hairy scam Sad

IceRebel · 13/02/2019 10:53

My DH gets something similar EVERY SINGLE TIME he posts something for sale on Gumtree

Every time I post something to gumtree I get calls about accidents and claiming compensation, I swear they stalk the site for numbers to call.

Quartz2208 · 13/02/2019 11:06

the syntax as well definitely screams scam

Jebuschristchocolatebar · 13/02/2019 11:07

I work in fraud prevention for a big financial institution. THIS IS A SCAM. Delete the messages and don’t bother to engage at all.

NunoGoncalves · 13/02/2019 11:15

I wonder how many more people need to say "it's a scam" before the OP gets the message. Grin

morningconstitutional2017 · 13/02/2019 11:20

It looks suspicious to me, it seems so slick but insincere. A genuine buyer wouldn't try to 'guilt trip' you by telling you about their hearing loss and heart problems. Scam, scam, scam.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 13/02/2019 11:25

It really has got it all hasn't it?

"Surprise present" As if you'd do that with a wedding dress
"Health problems" Usual fishing for sympathy
"Bought for a cousin" Odd how it's never for themselves isn't it?
"Own courier" For security you always use your own, not theirs
"Can i earn your trust" Strange phrase and classic mark of a scam

callymarch · 13/02/2019 11:29

Google is your friend. If you typed in any part of that reply to the advert into Google it would find other occurances like a PP has.

PassTheGinPlease · 13/02/2019 11:30

Total and utter scam

Had the same email before, near on word for misspelled, grammatically incorrect word regarding an item I was selling.

Gumtree are well aware of all the scam activity that seems to be prevalent on there now. Even posting wanted in the homes for rent section gets you scam email about places which don't exist.

Joe Lycett did a whole stand up routine on winding up Gumtree scammers.

clairestandish · 13/02/2019 11:31

Definitely a scam.

Does this scam work by them just getting the goods for free? Or do they charge for the courier who never actually turns up, so gain money rather than the item?

clairestandish · 13/02/2019 11:37

And yeah Gumtree is awful for scams it seems. Every time I’ve looked to buy an item on there and enquire about something there’s a 50% chance I get an obvious scam email from the ‘seller’. Don’t bother anymore with it.

Who are these people and where are they operating from? And why is the law so powerless to stop them?

Interesting when you google a scam email and there are forum posts dating back years from people who received identical messages. Does that mean it’s the same person/group of people conducting the scams for so long?

TheCreativeLife · 13/02/2019 11:37

Absolute scam. Have seen it dozens of times before. Sorry OP

bestbefore · 13/02/2019 11:37

@ThePants999 - not always a scam - though clearly this one is - I sold an old ripped out kitchen on ebay - wanted cash on collection only but the buyer paid paypal and then sent a courier/ man with a van random guy from Cornwall to Essex and picked it up - absolutely no problems. I was very vary but it was all fine...