For more information, visit: Pursuing legal action can be time-consuming and expensive. People dont care what your name is, theyre just interested in the goods youre selling, or that youre going to buy from their listing. Gumtree is an alternative to The Trading Post. This means signatures are NOT required even for services like Registered Post. Press J to jump to the feed. Scroll down and click on the red "Contact Us" button. 569 Posts. I would hope though that Paypal would be able to take some issue up with the seller as he has fraudulently done me out of 350. The Gumtree messaging system is perfectly fine to correspond with buyers and sellers. PayPal is SUPER convenient, and one of the safest ways to pay for just about everything these days. Below are three golden rules to using Gumtree without worrying about your safety. Be upfront if there is damage or an issue with the item so the buyer knows what they are getting. I got an offer from a guy who's keen to buy it. Make it easier on yourself and scope out a good potential meeting spot near a power point, the next time youre at the shops. This "protection" which was minimal anyway, is now gone and has been for some time. A day or two later I noticed they added some other items so emailed and texted again and no still no reply after a couple of days. Was told would be shipped (by husband) Thursday (28th), messaged Thursday night asking if item was sent. 2023 Money and Pensions Service, 120 Holborn, London EC1N 2TD. (Open 7 days 10:00-6:00) Contact number: Email: *Item NO. Refuses to send. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Include the price. Seller didn't send. If you live in the UK, you can file an online report through Action Fraud. You can also note if you are willing to negotiate the price by putting down "OBO," which stands for "Or Best Offer.". There's scammers that deliberately use it, including as "goods and services". You may need to add numbers to the end of the username if it has already been taken by another user on Gumtree. We get it! The information I provide is not a replacement for legal advice. What a tosser!! 1.2K Posts. What selling platform Gumtree, facebook? I have a different problem. Title the ad. Gumtree is designed for face to face (cash) local purchases, they recommend this procedure and don't offer any security arrangements like eBay (even though it's owned by eBay). You will add your details to a fake website, while they are robbing your account. Apr-05-2021 11:45 PM. Gumtree Disagreement - Posting Ads for Prohibited Items? Click "Register". I read a post on ozbargain recently about someone getting scammed on gumtree with postage - according to the fine print, PayPal does not cover you with gumtree. I have read that page through, and it doesn't mention Gumtree and a page search shows 0 instances of the word "Gumtree". can the police do anything?As SirFlibble said they can, in theory, but they won't. You might also receive via text a response to your 'for sale' ad that looks a bit odd. Use a short, descriptive title to attract buyers. Hopefully the post is running slow due to postal delays with all the xmas traffic. If anyone comes and says they'll pay using PayPal I tell them only cash. What I mean is, they valued the time it would have taken to learn how to deal safely on the site (e.g, read the obvious warning in several places stating that you should use it for face-to-face cash-in-hand transactions only), more than they valued their $80. If this happens, plug in your phone charger and see if it charges your phone if not, then clearly the power point is the culprit. Pick your meeting place wisely, and take a friend if youre worried. Gumtree can be a great way to find somewhere to rent, to sellyour unwanted items or to pick up a second-hand bike. If they claim they are having account issues then, as mentioned above, search their seller number online to read previous reviews, or halt the sale until youve contacted Gumtree. For everything else please contact us via Webchat or telephone. This article was co-authored by Scott Nelson, JD and by wikiHow staff writer, Amber Crain. I'm happy with the condition and willing to pay extra. No do not accept Paypal (unless your buyer will send it as a "Gift Payment), cash sent special delivery is best if not bank transfer. If the price seems far lower than the competition then question its authenticity. Wanting to sell your old stuff online without fees, but wondering if its safe to sell on Gumtree? If so, discuss adding extra money to the sale amount with the buyer for postage and packaging. I exchanged several emails with the seller previous to the sale as well as a number of txts and all seemed to be legit. This potential buyer will ask to buy it and for it to be delivered. It seems simple to just link your PayPal account to Gumtree. He wants my PayPal email address to send me the money. Yes, learn from your experience and don't do it again. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. This is a dream for an identity thief or criminal mastermind (who doesnt need to be much of a mastermind, really, given how much personal information is there for the taking). They say they were going to turn up and don't, or they are trying to get my personnel information. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 22,383 times. Even though Gumtree partners with Parcel2Go, there have been a lot of Gumtree Whatsapp message scams. Always ask the seller to see the cars details, past financing and insurance, and ask to see the sellers proof of address and identity and check this against the V5. For help sorting out your debts or credit questions. densol_2 Forumite. Inspect the listing. As with any scam there are few signs to look out for which might help you determine whether its genuine. Now that youre clued up on staying safe whilst using Gumtree, dont forget to read up on tips on how to sell successfully on Gumtree. And I will never ship. Since you made a friends and family payment, your purchase isn't protected and you won't be able to get a refund. The old saying 'too good to be true' is worth bearing in mind. Exactly, police have more important matters to help the community. Your suburb is fine, just so buyers know your rough location, and whether youre local to them. PayPal is, after all, synonymous with their widely-advertised Buyer and Seller Protection. GUMTREE Item Paid for Via Paypal and NEVER recieved. I recently bought a few academic books from a seller off Gumtree. Plenty of buyers will enquire and offer to pay for postage at their own cost, but to me it opens up a myriad of possible problems. How do I report a suspicious ad on Gumtree? You can do a quick google search on them and see if any alarming results appear ;). Check their updated policies/buyer protection info before using, and tell seller you'll pay by PayPal, see how they react. Changed decor so no space for it.. I think I have one for $70. Bargain, transfer the money I'll send it express tomorrow;-) ( wink wink). Just to say this scam is still current as he contacted me Easter Sunday ( 4/4/21), except name changed to advocdodave (signed Wolfe) and now he's not on an oil rig, but 'in a wheelchair' so can't view the car which 'he' wants for daughter Jennifer! Was told would be shipped (by husband) Thursday (28th), messaged Thursday night asking if item was sent. Or maybe it does need to be said. Take a look at Gumtrees community guidelines before you post your ads. $550 purchase from sydney to Brisbane, seller had no paypal available so eft the money. 5. Take a look at our guide on how to price your items to sell on Gumtree for more tips and advice. Prominent Member. or do i need to type that myself? This is a scam from Russia. All of his contact details and proof from Australia Post that he did not send items that i paid for. Im a seller on Gumtree. PRO TIP: On the odd occasion Ive seen peoples email addresses appear in the email header info when they reply. Its worth making sure photos are clear, in focus and not too far away. Try to have a combination of letters and numbers so the password is strong and hard to guess. If anyone tells me to post the item and they'll pay for it, I ignore it. Join 150,000 Australians every month. Collect together any extras like power cords, instruction manuals or accessories. For example, instead of just saying denim skirt you could say blue knee-length denim pencil skirt, size 14. Take photos of how you pack the box. Top tip: take photos during the day with natural light from the front to make sure images are bright and sharp. Paypal is not safe due to the fact that they don't always make the best decisions. Second to that is an Auspost money order. not too sure. Not all buyers are happy to drive an hour to buy somethingthough some dont mind! Also make sure it clears your account before sending it. Once you have registered and activated your account, it's time to post your ad. If that 80 was their life savings, they probably would have been a lot more cautious. It's also a very good idea to photograph the item being boxed and boxed with tracking code. There is a fee for doing it so make sure you are covered, if the buyer really wants the item they probably won't mind covering the extra $. did you miss the part where they say gt is for f2f only? I wouldnt expect anything less from a savvy buyer! If someone is determined to steal from you, they may well find a way. Gumtree is intended to be a platform to bring together local buyers, to meet face-to-face. About 3 weeks ago i bought an item through Gumtree but paid via Paypal (so i have some protection). Sep 25th (last contact) asked if item had been shipped yet. But mostly, you dont want to be giving out your mobile number to some disgruntled person, or if you get a weird vibe from the person when you meet up. This isnt the case though, when you inspect their page on how to pay for Gumtree items using PayPal. For tips on responding to potential buyers, keep reading! I live in the cold now but I miss Brisbane! Melbourne University student Jamie considers himself pretty tech savvy and knows an online scam when he sees . Gumtree will use your postal code to classify your ad based on location. And to also search the sellers number or business online to check their history or for any previous reviews. Introductions are limited to motor finance. He kept insisting he had paid and kept urging my sister to check her spam inbox and click the link to accept the payment - major red flag. "I didn't know where to start with using Gumtree. wikiHow's Content Management Team carefully monitors the work from our editorial staff to ensure that each article is backed by trusted research and meets our high quality standards. Fill in your contact information and click "Next". Doubt police will do anything unless you have some proof of giving the money in exchange of goods. AFAIK they did exclude GT sales from buyer protection back in 2015, probably to give the more gullible sellers a false sense of security to get them to use paypal on GT. Gumtree may have its fair share of scammers and time-wasters (and the odd weirdo who sends you really strange enquiries) but most of the time, theyre just normal people who are looking to buy and sell their used items. Thats all you can do. The AD is removed. Cookies help us customize the PayPal Community for you, and some are necessary to make our site work. He's okay with this. IfGumtree needed to get hold of you theyd do so via the message centre in your account. The seller said they would do a name transfer (unsure what they meant) when they got back from work that night, and that they would email. Because they're accepting paypal payments for in-hand exchanges, or non-trackable posted, or giving bank deposits, or paying 'agent fees' for delivery of their car to an oil rig (and all variations on that ridiculous theme), or handing over cash before getting the item, or paying when getting the item but before making sure it works (phones with IMEI blocks or fake iPhones/tablets especially), or any of the other myriad ways in which naive or lazy buyers and sellers leave themselves open to easy abuse by unscrupulous individuals. Whilst most postage services come with tracking these days, theres little recourse if the item was delivered but to the wrong address. They can request their funds back after they get the item. Weird tech issues happen. Don't hand over the item until you see the payment in your PayPal account. Then, post the ad with as much detail as possible. If the response casts doubt in your mind then log into your Gumtree account to see if the message is also there and just delete the text. Paying for Items on Gumtree. Having said that you can read more about prevention on being scammed. O did this only to find that he did not live at the address given. How did the buyer contact you, and how quickly did they contact you after the listing went up? Just wanted to do the deal via post. You might be able to find a great deal on a second . Do I report the fraud to entities other than Gumtree? Gumtree say they will take down a copycat site as soon as they can, but there will always be people who end up using it before Gumtree can get to it. Which I did not get my money back, Paypal is holding it because of the claim. Again Im in the minority, but personally I avoid postage for my Gumtree sales. 4. UPDATE: Ive since dipped my toes into trying eBay, and it has surprisingly been an easy and positive experience. Youll receive an email whenever a message comes through, and you can reply via email itll cloak your email address when you respond. The best thing to do is to separately log into your Gumtree account. Note if you are firm on the price by writing "FIRM" next to the price or by writing, "No negotiating.". Gumtree is a platform to help bring local buyers and sellers together. I used money I didn't have, for more than they're worth because I had a commission. Your email address will not be published. PayPal is probably the best bet though. But it can also be your buyer! This is a ploy to get you to click the fake link or to reply to a fake email known as smishing. If you can, upload a picture of the item as well. Any message stating that you need to make a payment NOW otherwise your ad is going to be deleted or your account is to be closed, needs to cause concern. Help. A friends / family (or gift payment) is intended as a transfer of funds from family or friends to one another. All of his contact details and proof from Australia Post that he did not send items that i paid for. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Meet the buyer in a public place. How did you fund it ie which funding source? My sister recently put up something on Gumtree and the buyer was asking for her PayPal email. The payments went through straight away and an email was received each time. Sold an Item on Gumtree - Refund Under Australian Consumer Law? Try to give them space and allow them to inspect the item in their own time. Why oh why people use bank deposit via Gumtree? Always paid via PayPal and asked for tracking when posted, I never do Bank Deposits. #1. Some services capture the actual signature, which can be sent to you at a cost. If youre really wanting to keep your email address private and nuisance-free, setup a separate free email address just for Gumtree. If you've been preyed upon by a scammer on Gumtree, you're probably feeling pretty upset about it. In this case, 89% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Let them pay you first, send the parcel, if they say they never got it, tell them to fuck off and sue you. I politely decline and advise that post is not possible. Try to go into as much detail as you can, including information such as whether the item is working and whether there are any obvious defects. Choose the most appropriate category for your item so that buyers can find it easily, then think carefully about your title. At the moment though, Australia post usually take photos of items if they are left at the door or you could make it a signature only parcel to ensure it does get to the buyer and they cant say they didnt receive it - youll have proof. In rare cases, you may offer to mail the item to the buyer. Copyright 2000-2020 Gumtree.com Limited. And lastly, dont enter your home address for your Location in your Gumtree profile. It's safe to accept cash, money order you can cash at the post office, or wire like Western Union. Select your items and give them a good once-over. Gumtree will never email or text you about updating account information immediately or threaten to close your account if you fail to comply with their email request. Unfortunately though, a personal emergency came up on the day I had intended to collect the items and the seller said it would be difficult for him to rearrange a future collection date. 3. Safest is direct bank transfer, you have the money no matter what. Just using your first name on your Gumtree profile is completely acceptable. You have to find a parking spot. By using our site, you agree to our. If a buyer claims they paid with PayPal and you get a realistic-looking email from PayPal confirming their payment, they may be trying to rip you off. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. Gumtree advice is to ask the seller for proof of purchase, or any certificates. Just about anything else can be reversed. The phrase 'more money than sense' appears to apply in most such cases. Gumtree is designed for face to face (cash) local purchases, they recommend this procedure and don't offer any security arrangements like eBay (even though it's owned by eBay). PayPal generally sides with the buyer. PayPals pages on Buyer Protection clearly state they dont apply to purchases of secondhand or used items you pick up in person. PRO TIP: Take your mobile phone charger with you to the meet. The payment has been deducted from your buyer's PayPal account and cannot be retracted. Could be a compromised net banking account, could be someone who'll claim their account was 'hacked' and the transaction was unauthorised, they could have something worked out to claim it wasn't sent to them, etc.. I have much more success on E-bay. Ive only sold portable items that are easily transportable to a public meeting place. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/21\/Report-Fraud-on-Gumtree-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Report-Fraud-on-Gumtree-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/21\/Report-Fraud-on-Gumtree-Step-5.jpg\/v4-728px-Report-Fraud-on-Gumtree-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"