AIBU to think this guy might be a scammer?

[DiddlySquatty]

Ok this is a weird one.

I have been conversing on email with a guy after he bought something I advertised on gumtree, and has made a few more direct purchases since.
He has seemed genuine enough.
As well as conversing about the items and purchases we’ve had a small amount of general friendly chit chat.

He has paid via PayPal and so I’ve seen his name and address on there and although can’t see him on social media, a quick google shows there is someone of that name living in that area.

His email has always appeared In my inbox
as his name and surname eg. joe bloggs
His actual email address is something like [email protected]

Today when he emailed me, instead of coming up as from Joe Bloggs it said gov.testing

It’s so odd. Same email address and normal message content.

It looks like he’s changed his name on his email address to appear as gov.testing

Could this be to try and scam people and he forgot to change it back before emailing me?

Or could there be any other explanation?

He does not have my real name or email address and I use a business PayPal account so he can only see my pseudo name I think. So I’m pretty sure he can’t scam me on any info I’ve given.

Does it matter? Just stop emailing him

Just to add - a couple of things

The original transaction was a few months ago and there’s been no chargeback on my PayPal or anything. And I used a tracker service so he can’t have been planning to claim he hadn’t received the items.

He has always been generous and paid slightly more than I was asking. But I didn’t think much of this.

He wanted a click and collect service, but has also said he’s single and talked about his ex. Normally in my experience people want that service if they live with someone and want to keep their purchase of this item private. Unless it’s because he doesn’t want to share his address- but I can see an address on PayPal.

He genuinely seems to be into the items that I sell, which is a bit of a niche interest shall we say.

Does it matter?
Well maybe not but it’s bugging me!
And he’s paid half up front for an item I’m getting ready for him so we’re sort of mid transaction.

Sorry, can you be clearer, was it like [email protected]?

Sorry, it was the same email address, I don’t understand what exactly said gov.testing then?

Oh and he talks quite convincingly about his work as a skilled tradesman

Forward the email to [email protected] and they'll look into it.

www.ncsc.gov.uk/news/public-urged-to-flag-covid-19-threats-new-campaign

For future reference two of his behaviours are indicators that he is preparing a scam;
he pays more than you ask him to
he is creating the impression that you know him from giving you information about his personal life.

That sounds dodgy. I'd cool off the contact and just process the order. Be wary of doing anything for him or giving him the benefit of the doubt because you've built up a "friendship". He could be genuine but could be dodgy, it's not worth the risk.

Ok thanks

Yes same email address

But in my inbox on my iPhone emails come up with the name of the person it’s from rather than the email address.

His always came up with his name, and now it’s gov.testing

When I glanced at my email box I thought initially - ooh am I being contacted by track and trace about Covid? That was just my instinctive thought. So I guess someone might change the name on their email if they wanted to con people into somehow paying or sharing info.

I don’t think he’s obviously conning me in that way as his email was normal.

But yes if he’s the sort of person that does that, could he be trying to con me another way. I just can’t think how? But will be very wary.

Just a bit odd now as i would normally reply but do I mention something’s funny with his email address? Weird not to.

I could just refund what he’s already paid me for the next order but it’s quite good money!

He genuinely seems to be into the items that I sell, which is a bit of a niche interest shall we say.

???????

Could anyone else have changed the name on his account? That’s I guess what I was wondering if there could be any other explanation

Isn’t that about your phone settings though?

@TheSandman

He genuinely seems to be into the items that I sell, which is a bit of a niche interest shall we say.

???????

Oh God, he's not a sniffer is he?

Why are you asking so many questions? Forward the email to the relevant authority to get it checked out and cease contact with him. It’s weird to talk to someone you’re just selling stuff to this much

If by niche you mean worn underwear, I'd block him
If by niche you mean star wars memorabilia, I'd block him too.

There could be an innocent explanation, but it seems odd.

Not sure? Maybe if I had him stored as a contact and renamed him but I don’t think I do?

If he's buying special interest items that most men don't want delivered to their house, he might change the name on his email address depending who he's messaging.

Yes I understand that.
But gov. testing
Is a strange choice

Am I the only one who wants to know what you’re selling?

It’s footwear

I very much doubt if the testers use a gmail address. Reporting to a phishing at a gov.uk address will not work.

Tread very warily and if you can then block the email

@DiddlySquatty

Can you log on to a laptop or other device you can use a mouse on and look at your emails on there? If you hover over his address it will show if it's fake and there's one lurking. I agree he sounds dodgy for the two reasons TheInebriati gives.

What is this niche item? (Completely misses the point)