Security Warning for GumTree users:
I want to bring to peoples attention a warning of a SCAM on Gumtree and I have the perfect example of what to look out for. Its sad that we now live in a world that people are getting ripped off or scammed into giving their money away. As part of the Whatever Networks blog, I will also be including some ways how to protect yourself against fraud and online scams. It appears GumTree is the latest to fall into this category.
So I’m clearing out junk from my recent house move and have an oven, TV and other bits and bobs to get rid off that are too big to post. After advertising the oven on Gumtree in the normal manner. Many hours later I receive a text message showing interest in the cooker and asked me to email them. The message has no phone number and I just thought this is a Gumtree feature. A little curiously I write the email saying “Yes the cooker is available” . This was the response.
- Notice how keen they are to buy my second-hand cooker.
- A disabled deaf person is buying a cooker for their cousin? (Should it be the other way around? ALARM!)
- They want to arrange a courier for collection. (OK, its possible they don’t have a car)
- Pay today! Asking Price? Who does that?
The next email:
I play along to see where this goes and provide my paypal email. so far no harm in the information provided. But it should be noticed when I asked where this person lives or what address it was being sent to I got no direct answer.
Yay I got PAID! (or did I ?)
I Immediately suspect money laundering and reply back to cancel the order. but in the meantime, I get another email from PayPal!
Notice the email address, that doesn’t seem to be Paypal. However, the email is very convincing.
Why would anyone pay £265 for shipping for a cooker worth £170. Might as well buy a new one!
Paypal will never request you to send money via Westen Union. Western Union is a business that allows you to send cash anywhere in the world instantly. Very handy service if you need to help your friend aboard, but scammer take advantage of this service. Its also not in PayPal’s interest to use another money service provider as they are one themselves. The click here link is a reply back to the fake email address.
Finally the detail of the email:
New Paypal policy that funds cant be refunded back the buyer? That’s not how PayPal works. The Scam is simple, it wants you to pay for the fake courier sending money to a person in France named Joel Phillips who is the real scammer. Once they have the MTCN Number your money is gone and you never hear from them again.
I wrote back rejecting the scammer stating the Paypal email was indeed fake and that was the end of that, Until…..
I advertised on my TV on Gumtree… And received the similar text and email but much less convincing about being on an oil rig.. Be careful out there. I will follow on with more web safety advice in future blogs.