Gumtree scams.

denzzz28

Beware of someone selling really nice bikes from gumtree for a very low price!!!

two weeks ago i was looking for a mountain bike from gumtree and i found a good one so i contacted the guy. but then he said that he advertise the bike some time ago and that he is now move to Italy and hes not using the bike anymore because his son is unwell. he offered me a 50/50 for postage and that we can do the deal via escrow. but then i told him that i only pay by paypal and i dont know how to use escrow. he never replied after that so i moved on.

last week i saw a IBIS MOJO SL carbon FS MTB for only £600 in Gumtree, so even though o know that theres something wrong with the ad i still contacted the guy and he replied 3 days later. to my amazement he used the same exact words the guys used on the other bike that i mentioned earlier but the only difference it this time he went there with his boss to do some building and this time he used a different name.

this is the message from the guy:

Hi,
I have received an e-mail from you regarding my bike, are you still interested?
I put the bicycle for sale some time ago, but i do not know what happened with Gumtree, it appeard late on the site. I moved to Italy two weeks ago with my boss. We have some building to do here. I have the bike here with me, I tried to sell here, but I find it hard with the language and I don't have much time to wait for seller's. My bike is still for sale, if you're interested we can arrange shipping and payment through an escrow agency, i have used this method in the past and I am familiar, if we can arrange a deal, i will explain you how escrow works, it's simple and i can pay the shipping taxes.
The bike is in perfect condition, no dents, I never dropped it, if you want to see more pictures let me know. I'm sorry that i must sell this bike, trust me is a beautiful one, but i don't have time to ride it. I'll try to find and receipt from the bike, but please believe me that is a real disaster in this house with all the luggage .
You can try calling on my cell: 0039148294830, but I have a very weak signal here. I wait to get a land line, but I have not received any response yet.
Any other information you want, please tell me, I respond with the greatest pleasure.

Thank you for your e-mail.

Regards.

so as the saying goes, "if its too good to be true, it is too good to be true". best thing is meet up personally preferably where the seller lives so you can call the police and go to back that place if something goes wrong. there are so many bad people around preying on vulnerable buyer so beware guys you have been warned.[/i]

denzzz28

can all people reading this post spread the message and maybe post it to other bike forums. thanks!!

diy

Try this for a reply...

Hi mate I don't need to go through ESCROW, I trust you, just mail me your name, address, bank details and sort code and I will deposit the money directly in to your account.

I just need to verify your id, so if you can send me copies of a bank statement with an account number a copy of your passport and drivers licence, I can get the money to you

you'll need to give my you DoB and mothers maiden name too as I will get asked that.. also if you can give the 3 numbers on the back of your debit card that will help. Since I am taking a risk here I'm looking for you to pay the shipping and make sure its nicely packed..

Once you send me your details I will get a gentleman by the name of Mr Madu Frank to contact you. He is based in Nigeria and manages my money for me. If we get mr frank to sort the transaction neither of us will pay any tax. Mr frank is very good I have used him many times before.

Please let me know I am really keen to buy your bike.

Eyon

just got this exact same reply when i enquired into a real nice Scott Speedster S20 (good price, too!

Note to self, dont enquire unless there is a valid UK mobile number... shame, i really like scott speedsters

Shotsaway

Eyon wrote:

just got this exact same reply when i enquired into a real nice Scott Speedster S20 (good price, too!

Note to self, dont enquire unless there is a valid UK mobile number... shame, i really like scott speedsters

We all know that ebay and gumtree are full of stolen bikes, but a valid mobile number doesn't mean anything. People buy pay as you go sim cards for a £1 and use them once or twice. If anything you want to be looking for a valid UK land line.

For example this ebay advert for a Kona Kula has a mobile telephone number.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/kona-kula-deluxe- ... 45f70c904b

However this seller only has a feedback of 1 and the account has only recently been opened. Looking at the recent feedback, it is for a GT Avalanche. Looking at the listing for the Avalanche it has a DIFFERENT MOBILE NUMBER!!
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0487887493

And both adverts have different reasons for a sale:-
Kona Kula - "must go no longer use it and its just taking unecessary space"
GT Avalanche - "hardly used in great condition selling due to big clear out no longer needed as were moving property"

So where possible get a landline over a mobile number.

PS - I'm not saying all adverts with mobile numbers are dodgy but just be aware!

diy

anyone who says call xxx for details is likely to be dodgy..

You do know of course if you mail these scamsters they will stick you on a suckers list - so best to use a disposable email address when contacting them.

LjStronge

I agree you always need to be careful, but don't be completely put off.

I bought my Rock Hopper frame through Gum Tree from a really nice bloke. He was selling the frame as he had his bike locked up and thieves stripped it down and just left the frame locked up!

We had a good chat and he showed me his new bike that the insurance paid out on.

So there are some good experiences

cooldad

And some of us don't have landlines. I have a company mobile, and cable internet at home.
I'm relatively honest.

Eyon

the difference i meant is you can text/call someone up and as about a bike, they cant BS their way out if you start asking bike type questions that the average thief would not know. OK i know mobile numbers can be had anywhere, but you're certainly safer that way from scams. For example i texted another seller today, answered all my questions quickly and accurately, and i'm most likely going to go and look at the bike this weekend knowing that its the real deal. Emails, not always so easy!

Surfr

Damn. Just googled the mobile number I got in an email which was a verbatim copy of the one in this thread and I eneded up back here. I thought it was too good to be true and so it is. Email was from a Amelie Lewis and was for a 52cm CAAD9.

slimboyjim

It's quite commonplace for gumtree advertisers to ask for money up front and for the buyer to never receive anything. It's a nightmare to get your money back and/or get a conviction.

My advice is to meet seller at their home address and do not exchange money until you have at least seen the goods. Make sure that they have keys to their address and aren't just sat outside an innocent parties house, and ensure that you are with someone if you cannot afford to lose the amount of cash you are taking.

Most Gumtree sellers are clearly legit, but definately be wary...