Paypal Scam on Gumtre, UK

Hi

Just wanted to share with you that I have recently posted on gumtree and had an instant reply via text message, although it came up as Murray and was unable to call or text back. When I tried to ring it it came up as 687729 - invalid number.

First off he/she text saying: Do you still have it for sale (mamas and papas) knidly (his/her spelling not mine) reply to my private mail ([email protected]) I am okay with the price...

I sent an email saying it is still for sale.

His/her response:
What is the last asking price?

My response:
We are after £350.00 as its only been used for 4 months and it was over double that price when we bought it last year.

His/Her response:
Thanks for the response, i agreed with the condition of the items, i will offer you £350 to keep any other offers off, if my offer is granted kindly get back to me now with your Name and PayPal email address so as to make the payment asap, due to nature of my job i will not be able to come and inspect it but my agent will do so on my behalf, i will like you to send me your home address and so that we can arrange for pick up scheduling as i will like the item to be picked,so NO SHIPPING by your self.
Please get back to me now so as to make the payment asap.
Regards

My response:
Unfortunately I do not have paypal. The amount is what we are after but would need to be in cash, so if we can arrange a collection point with yourself then you have a deal.

His/Her Response:
I will not be able to pay you cash as I was in camp now and also the agent will not be responsible for handling cash the best way I can do here is to have the money send to your paypal account and get back to me so that I can make the instant payment for the shipping to commence on time right?

My response:
Unfortunately as I do not have paypal will have to give this a miss. Sorry.

I then never heard anything else back.

After reading the posts on this website I am sure it is a scam!

Thanks for this forum

Hi kerkals and welcome to Scamwarners!

So glad to see that you were able to determine you were being scammed!

The things to note here are:

A. The scammer only asks about "it" or "the item" and never actually says what the item is
B. They are OK with the price immediately without seeing the item in question or asking anything else about it
C. They immediately introduce a third party (the "agent"), who would most likely run into some kind of problems that require money to be paid or a fake check to be sent

Just pointing some of this out for anybody who happens to find this post. Great job!

This has just happened to me. After doing a search on the net before hand didn't see anything come up with this name and link to scams as his first txt wasn't convincing ( but didn't type in the email linked to this name) but where sated above I was stupid and sent name address and email. Then after sending the email to my brother as it seemed dodgy then typed in the email address linked to this person and came up with the post stated above. I've science changed my password on PayPal but still concerned as he now has name and address

Welcome to Scamwarners Baz1984,

The scammer will not do anything with your name and address. You are ok.

Is there any thing else I would be best off doing?

@Baz1984

There is nothing else you need to do.

The scammer wanted to send you a fake Paypal payment. He has a fake Paypal address from a free email provider. The payment would look real. Its a screen shot of a fake payment. Depending on what you were selling he would either try to steal your money or property. If it was a vehicle or large item, he would pretend to make an overpayment. He then will instruct you to pay a mover, shipper or agent. The fake Paypal email from the scammer would say that your Paypal funds will be released when you send the scammer (mover,agent or shipper) money via Western Union or Money Gram. In reality Paypal would never hold your funds.

Log into Paypal directly without any links to check for monies received or call Paypal directly from the number on their site.

If you are selling electronics, Cell phones or computers then the scammer is trying to steal your "item". Your fake funds will be released when you send the scammer a scan copy of a receipt showing you mailed your item.

This same scam works with fake check and money orders. You and your bank will think they are real. After you cash the fake check. Days or weeks later your bank will inform you of the fraud. Your bank will have you repay the monies. Possibly close your account for fraud and report you to Law Enforcement.

The best thing to do is to sell in person face to face in a public place.


Please post the email address, phone number, name and script the scammer used. This will help other avoid him when they do internet searches.

This person "murray carson" used the same scripted as in kerkals case almost word for word emails also using the same private mail [email protected]. Not being able to reply to his txt but when trying to ring invalid number 687729

This scamer also used the same with me from a Gumtree add (pram) i posted. Same e-mail address and text message was from murray. This was just this morning so they are persistent to try and scam people.

I to have also had the same dealing with this person as in the emails above the words were almost identical I gave similar responses to the person and after stating that I didnt have paypal I have since not received a response beware of this person only today

Same with me today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BE AWARE OF THAT EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] !!!!!!!!
I didnt sent any of my paypal details or private address.
Please dont trust no one!!!!!!!! Especially on gumtree:)

Welcome to Scamwarners bee.

Though the mail address he's currently using is significant, he can set up another in just s few minutes and he's probably using several others anyway.

The point is that if someone texts you using a number that you cannot use or contact, then the likelihood is that he's using an online method to mass spam advertisers with a message to get you to contact him through one of his scamming mail boxes.

Treat it as suspicious if you get one of these text messages. They're operating on an industrial scale so you'd better be on your guard because you'll get them if you advertise.