[email protected] GUMTREE - PAYPAL SCAM

Add Jamie Wong's email [email protected] to the list! I'm selling a sofa and got the suspicious email, after a text message from a +1 (US) number.

Email as follows:

Thanks for getting back to me, I am satisfied with the Condition of the Sofa, I am indeed very motivated to purchase from you and am purchasing it for my leave because i'll be coming soon from the field. I work as a Petroleum Project Engineer here in (Amadeus Basin) My Job won't permit me to come over for inspection, contact via phone would have been the easiest means to talk to you but we are out of cell range, the satellite is often playing up but we can get along via e-mail. I will process the payment through PayPal because it is the fast and easy way to pay and get paid online, safe and secure for both of us. Once my money is through into your PayPal account and you cash it out, my Courier Agent will contact you in-order to handle the pick-up and delivery at any location of your choice to my Place.If you don't have a PayPal account you can easily set up just log on to (http://www.paypal.com) and sign up as it's very easy and fast.

I will need this following details so i can proceed with the payment right away,
Are you the first owner?
Your PayPal e-Mail Address?
What is your reason for selling it?
Last price?

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For me there was just a little too much information that he was willing to offer up. The courier was an odd thing too. Fortunately I googled before I replied. Although from reading other experiences, I probably would have clicked at the next step if I'd gone ahead.

Welcome to Scamwarners,

In this scam the scammer is NOT interested in your sofa. He wants to steal your money. No one will ever come to pick up the sofa. It is all a scam with the scammer playing all roles. .

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. 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,courier 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.