An iPhone Seller's Nightmare on Gumtree

LKnifeEnthusiastBoi on 06/05/2015 - 08:35
Last edited 06/05/2015 - 10:08

Hey guys,

Wasn't sure where was the beat place to post this, a mod can move it somewhere else if they know where.

I had posted an ad to sell my immaculate condition iPhone 5s, and was contacted by a buyer.

We met at a shopping center, but she asked to come to her car because she said she had to keep her car running or else they couldn't start it again.

Already nervous and untrusting, she asked to plug in the phone to the car, and I let her while holding the phone. As soon as she did that, she drove off but I was still holding onto the phone tightly and snatched it back.

Fortunately all I lost was a lightning cable. But I reported it to the police. However when the police contacted her, she said I made her feel uncomfortable so that's why she drove away. Without CCTV and 3rd party witness's, I could not press charges for theft.

I wanted to post this here so that other second hand phone sellers can know about this experience and just be careful.

My tips for avoiding theft,
Go to a public area in daytime and where you will be captured on CCTV
Bring a friend
Ask for bank cheque for amounts over $200 (recently people been laundering fake $50 notes)
Do not budge if the buyer demands you to go to an area where there is limited surveillance. If they do not comply with your demands, just walk away.

I hope that none of you have to go through what I did.

The girl was in her twenties, Caucasian and if you want to know more details you can ask me. She said she was from Croydon, drives a silver 4 door Mazda sedan rego starting with F. DO NOT EVEN NEGOTIATE with this buyer. Just say no

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Comments

  • tightarse on 06/05/2015 - 08:44
    +30

    Thanks for sharing this bairdajun.

    For what it's worth, I've sold 3 iPhones and 2 iPads via Gumtree and had no issues at all. Each time I clearly stated in the ad they must be inspected/collected from my home, and that shipping wasn't an option. Personally I would never meet a buyer elsewhere. Although it may limit your buying audience, this method has worked for me, with each item selling within a week of posting.

    • KnifeEnthusiastBoi on 06/05/2015 - 10:10
      +43

      There's a bit of a risk there ta, if they visit your house, your house could fall victim to a burglary. My cousin in the same day (yesterday) was robbed

      • KnifeEnthusiastBoi on 06/05/2015 - 19:17
        +24

        Found out that the thief that robbed my cousin's house was caught early this morning. My cousin turned on his Find my device app on, and his laptop pinged location as soon as they tried to turn it on.

        What we also found out was that my mums iPad was in my cousins house, and it too was stolen. So the police gave my mum a ring this morning.

        Decent folk win this time 2:0

        • UncommonName on 06/05/2015 - 19:24
          +7

          Why ur mum's iPad was at ur cousin's house? Time to get a new cousin? ;)

        • KnifeEnthusiastBoi on 06/05/2015 - 19:27
          +1

          @bargainaus: Oh she needed her to copy some stuff into her iPad… not quite sure.. In fact my cousin didnt even know the thief took my mums ipad. My mum found out when the police called her up lol.

          As the story goes the police raided his house, and probably found things belonging to/registered to other people, and police started contacting those who they could find out

        • UncommonName on 06/05/2015 - 19:47
          +33

          @nairdajun: I've bought plenty of items from Gumtree, have sold too, they came to pick up from my home and I never faced any problem.

          If they came back to rob my home, I'd join with them and start to look for valuable items! :P

        • KnifeEnthusiastBoi on 06/05/2015 - 19:53
          +4

          @bargainaus: I think if i did that, i would first install CCTV in my own home. Thats the goal when i move out of home.

        • anonymous01 on 06/05/2015 - 20:03
          +1

          Can you please tell us which area this is from? My friends house was broken into a while ago too. Hate those burglarise scums.

        • KnifeEnthusiastBoi on 06/05/2015 - 20:06
          +1

          @anonymous01: Sorry not disclosing specific information. All i will say that it is in the same suburb as where wellington village is.

        • anonymous01 on 06/05/2015 - 20:07
          +5

          @nairdajun: Damn you are more anonymous and paranoid than me haha. Thanks for that. I hope they serve jail time.

        • eatwell365 on 08/05/2015 - 16:26

          @bargainaus: Steve Master American Pie

      • love2buy on 07/05/2015 - 15:45
        +1

        Just curious, which suburb did this take place?

      • Kempe on 09/05/2015 - 15:37
        -4

        People are not going to look through gumtree and make contact to get an address of people to burgle.

        It is a coincidence

        • KnifeEnthusiastBoi on 09/05/2015 - 19:12
          +1

          Houses that have been successfully burgled before often get burgled more times in the future. A friend of mine had their house broken into 3 or 4 times each time broke into safes because they knew exactly where to go. Even after the safes had been changed etc.

          Its probably a coincidence, but you'd be silly to tell people where your house was if you had been robbed before

    • Ughhh on 06/05/2015 - 13:10
      +15

      Each time I clearly stated in the ad they must be inspected/collected from my home,

      Good for the buyer as they can pretty much force you to refund them, whether you like it or not.

      • plague69 on 08/05/2015 - 13:58
        +1

        Wouldn't want a strainger knowing where I live…

        • Kempe on 09/05/2015 - 15:39

          Dp you think people dont see you coming and going from your home

        • plague69 on 10/05/2015 - 18:14

          @Kempe: that's why you keep on good terms with all your neighbours:)

    • dylanando on 06/05/2015 - 15:22

      Ive also sold various things successfully at my home. macbook air, iphone and a playstation. Have got the money instantly and theve left and never had any problems.

    • xuqi on 06/05/2015 - 18:06
      +10

      I would never sell anything from my house.

      I only ever sell from my workplace, where they have to be escorted in to a secure room on-site, to inspect whatever they are buying.

      They need to be swiped past 4 doors entering, and exiting so it leaves to space for shenanigans.

      I have come across potential dodgy buyers, who insist on picking up from my house late night, or want to be met somewhere. I just ignore them.

      There are also those that are 110% keen to pickup ASAP, etc. but as soon as they find out its a business, they're never heard from again..

      Generally most people are honest, but there is definitely a number of unsavory individuals, using the web to rip people off.

      • dd721411 on 07/05/2015 - 17:01
        +4

        Where do you work mate? You scared the **** out of me just describing your workplace!

        I wish I could sell my stuff at my workplace too. I work in the kitchen so if something goes wrong, I don't need to worry about which weapons to choose from.

        —> Fruit Ninja or Mortal Kombat. Let's begin!

        • abc on 08/05/2015 - 16:20

          A data center would have that kind of security.

          Then again general public would not be allowed through the first door.

      • lgacb08 on 07/05/2015 - 21:47
        +5

        yeah great, but what if your boss find out you've been using workplace for personal purposes.

      • pointless martyr on 07/05/2015 - 23:03
        +9

        Are you a prison guard?

      • easternculture on 08/05/2015 - 14:26
        +5

        They need to be swiped past 4 doors entering,

        in to an interrogation room

    • pointless martyr on 07/05/2015 - 23:00
      +4

      Sold heaps, bought heaps on GT. I always sell from home as i CBF meeting. I tell them to message when they arrive as i have to lock up my dogs. I do have dogs but even if you didnt, just say you do. Junkies who are casing places to rob wont even turn up. In saying that, ive never had a no show!

    • garetz on 09/05/2015 - 13:53

      I would never invite anyone to my home, i prefer a neutral 3rd party venue like a train station or library. Thats just inviting somone to scope you out and get robbed.

      • [Deactivated] on 09/05/2015 - 14:22
        +1

        Its not like your inviting them in for a cup of tea and biscuit and if they want to scope out your house they don't need an invitation? there's no reason why you have to let them past the front door.

  • dannyhc on 06/05/2015 - 08:59
    +3

    Did the Police get your lightning cable back at least?

    • KnifeEnthusiastBoi on 06/05/2015 - 09:29
      +1

      No. The buyer denied that they ever got a cable (obviously)

      • dannyhc on 06/05/2015 - 11:39
        +13

        That's $31.95 down a meth pipe

      • Randxyz123 on 06/05/2015 - 12:59

        How did she explain the fact you could grab the phone back then?

        • KnifeEnthusiastBoi on 06/05/2015 - 14:55

          She denied even been given the cable. As I said without witnesses or evidence from surveillance, from the police perspective, its just you (me) claimed she tried to steal your phone and managed to steal the cable, and she saying that she didn't get a cable from me. It was my word against hers and she had a friend in the car who would obviously back her up with that lie

  • gawky on 06/05/2015 - 09:06
    +11

    Thanks for sharing.

  • UncommonName on 06/05/2015 - 09:20
    +24

    Protip: Meet at the parking lot/public area of a police station, those are always under surveillance, plus the psychological upperhand.

    • zeomega on 06/05/2015 - 16:46
      +9

      I like fast food joints. Instant gratification of crappy food after a sale. :X

      Oh yes… and there's surveillance and people around.

      • paloverde88 on 06/05/2015 - 16:58
        +5

        actually people have been known to get king hit in the head in fast food joint in the prescence of CCTV, staff and customers. And worse of all, no one will help.

        • [Deactivated] on 06/05/2015 - 19:43
          +9

          Too busy licking fingers.

        • gimli on 06/05/2015 - 22:08
          +4

          at burger king

    • KnifeEnthusiastBoi on 06/05/2015 - 19:18
      +3

      Thanks. I was thinking that last night. If they're not willing to deal in front of a police station, they're probably not legit.

    • [Deactivated] on 08/05/2015 - 10:09
      +1

      THIS is the best idea.

    • chrismor on 08/05/2015 - 14:56

      I would say always make sure there is sruveillance…this happened at a police station parking lot and there was no CCTV

      http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/law-order/man-shot-dead-two…

  • [Deactivated] on 06/05/2015 - 09:23
    +1

    she asked to plug in the phone to the car, and I let her while holding the phone. As soon as she did that, she drove off but I was still holding onto the phone tightly and snatched it back.

    How does that bit work? She got into the driver's seat and shut the door with the engine running, and you leant in with the phone?

    • UncommonName on 06/05/2015 - 09:26
      +1

      OP, was she a hottie that you skipped the alarm?

      • KnifeEnthusiastBoi on 06/05/2015 - 09:32

        No. It was my first time selling a phone second hand. Thanks to truecaller ID I got her name from the phone number.

    • KnifeEnthusiastBoi on 06/05/2015 - 09:31
      +11

      She was in the driver seat of her car and asked me to go over. Alarm bells were ringing but unfortunately I didn't actually think she would try to run off with it. She wasn't hot at all

      • [Deactivated] on 06/05/2015 - 09:42
        +4

        Ah, ok - she never left the car. Good you didn't loose your phone.

        • dojomojo on 07/05/2015 - 07:50
          +5

          Yes, the phone wasn't loose, it was held tight.

        • [Deactivated] on 07/05/2015 - 08:38
          +3

          @dojomojo: It's annoying when you spot the mistake after the ability to edit has expired, but nothing to lose sleep over.

      • ChillBro on 06/05/2015 - 11:10
        +95

        She wasn't hot at all

        I am no longer interested in this story.

        • DARK KHAOS on 07/05/2015 - 08:00
          +7

          just add alcohol.

  • Blottski on 06/05/2015 - 09:32
    +6

    Take a powerbank with you and show the seller that it charges via that method. Problem solved.

    I always meet out the front of a petrol station. (sold my LG G watch only last Friday via this method) Always lots of people coming and going etc.

    • neonlight on 06/05/2015 - 21:45
      +1

      No use. In my workmates case, the thief wants to check if the iPhone is unlocked excuse was to use another SIM

      • toliman on 08/05/2015 - 00:17

        it's a pity you can't use the IMEI code to check for network locks, or if you can, why it's not part of the iCloud Activation lock screen when you do a lookup.

    • skimp on 09/05/2015 - 10:30

      There should be a power point somewhere in the shopping centre to prove that the phone is charging.

  • bhm133 on 06/05/2015 - 09:35
    +1

    Wow…. that is nuts.

    What state is this in? I have also had some negative experiences on Gum Tree. It is just full of idiots. 10 idiots to 1 real person. Mind you, I have never had an experience like that. Makes you wonder if you could get assaulted while selling and have your product stolen. Never used to be worried buying and selling on good old Trading Post in the 90's.

    • KnifeEnthusiastBoi on 06/05/2015 - 09:42
      +5

      Victoria. Yeah a shame that nobody can do much about it. I reported it to Gumtree and they're gonna try to blacklist her. A shame that someone would even try it. Since phones can be bricked and blocked remotely

    • bhm133 on 06/05/2015 - 09:44
      +1

      Scratch that… Croydon. I am presuming Vic.

      I'd be careful publishing her name and contact details here… Might be best to delete it.

    • Baysew on 06/05/2015 - 16:12
      +2

      Never used to be worried buying and selling on good old Trading Post in the 90's.

      Tell him he's dreaming

      • bhm133 on 06/05/2015 - 17:16
        +3

        That iPhone was going straight to the pool room.

      • garetz on 09/05/2015 - 14:00

        Actually trading post was rife with scammers, i had seen several attempts of people trying to scam me when i sold stuff there, but 90% or so was legit.

  • Cave Fire on 06/05/2015 - 09:36

    Hmm… wouldn't there be some cctv footage from inside the shopping centre or the carpark? Unfortunately, if police do not want to investigate your case little can be done to access this. If the buyer admitted driving away, wouldn't this prove that she still has your property? Or did the police fail to ask her about this? Seems strange, overall.

    • KnifeEnthusiastBoi on 06/05/2015 - 09:39

      No the buyer had a friend in the car and said I was making them feel uncomfortable that's why they drove away. Which is horseshit. Without photographic or surveillance footage its he said she said. It was a carpark around the corner from the entrance. Not sure if they had cctv

      • cypher67 on 06/05/2015 - 09:53
        +2

        Yeah considering these buyer had a friend in the car, why couldn't the friend just stayed with the car and met you inside. Good on you for picking up something didnt smell right. Could have ended much worse, so just chalk this up as a learning experience.

      • Cave Fire on 06/05/2015 - 09:58

        ok, if they had two people in the car it makes it seem even less likely. You may want to check with the centre management if Cctv was available in that area. Good to get this done asap so the police can then access it. I'd probably put the name and shame in the gumtree section you sold in, but without her name and details. This so other people are aware and she is less likely to try this again.

  • CyberMurning on 06/05/2015 - 09:56
    +1

    one time i got buyer who insist to come to the my house for just an ipad. i said train station.

    what? why would you let some stranger comes to your house? well, if i am 2.5m tall 120 kgs with tatoo, i will welcome random people to come…

    • cypher67 on 06/05/2015 - 10:09
      +45

      If you were indeed 2.5m tall and 120kg your BMI would be 19.2 making you extremely skinny & your mobility would be extremely compromised due to a lack of muscles. The fact you have tattoos means nothing to your ability to defend yourself. I would see you as a very easy target :D

      • Gnostikos on 06/05/2015 - 22:35

        I'm picturing Robert Wadlow in a 3-piece suit with a couple of tribal tattoos trying to strong-arm someone for an iPad.

        • sparkles on 08/05/2015 - 10:20
          +2

          I'm picturing Slender Man. Tip: don't go to that house!

  • KnifeEnthusiastBoi on 06/05/2015 - 10:20
    +9

    I sent this text to her after the cops rang me back and pretty much said there was nothing more they could do.

    "I'm not sure why you would want to steal a phone, regardless I forgive you for trying. Just FYI if you did steal it I can have it blocked and report it stolen to apple not to mention you would be charged. Best you don't try it again"

    What amazes me is someone would even try to steal a phone. Had she been successful I'd have contacted telstra to block the phone and report to apple as stolen. Then she would have a brick and risked a criminal record for it

    • Randxyz123 on 06/05/2015 - 11:55

      did she reply?

      • KnifeEnthusiastBoi on 06/05/2015 - 12:04

        Nope

        • Randxyz123 on 06/05/2015 - 12:58
          +25

          Send one saying "The police found out there was CCTV at the centre" and see what she says haha

        • neonlight on 06/05/2015 - 21:53
          +1

          Do just that and say police is on the case. Don't think you can away.

    • Letrico on 06/05/2015 - 17:30
      +5

      I guess the one who negged you is the friend or her personally.

    • anonymous01 on 06/05/2015 - 20:14
      +3

      sorry to say but there are always ways around to unbrick a phone. So since you have her mobile number, and unlimited texts, you can also get your sweet revenge (at least some mental satisfaction) like this guy:

      http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/10706403/Man-text…

      • whoopdeedoo on 07/05/2015 - 16:47
        +1

        please put her number on craiglist's m4m pages.

        btw, bank cheques are reversible

        • [Deactivated] on 07/05/2015 - 21:44
          -2

          I had an item for sale on Gumtree. Someone messaged me at 12.15AM wanting to know if it was available. I ignored the message and scheduled a message to them for 4am the following morning to tell them it was no longer available. Before I did that though - I added them to my contacts with a silent ring tone, as well as adding their number to my spam list.

        • Marty131 on 08/05/2015 - 17:12

          She also has the OP's number too…. sweet revenge revenge is sweet.

  • iWouldDie4u on 06/05/2015 - 10:24
    +7

    Maybe strap a go pro to your head so you have had video evidence from now on!

    • cypher67 on 06/05/2015 - 12:01
      +32

      Nothing says "Trust me, I am not a predator" like a go pro on your head at a gumtree transaction

      • UncommonName on 11/05/2015 - 07:21

        I would choose Predator over Alien any given day!

  • racerm911 on 06/05/2015 - 10:53

    She goes for Hawthorn - you're lucky you didn't cop an elbow to the face!

    • bhm133 on 06/05/2015 - 11:05
      +3

      Imiagine if she were a Collingwood supporter!!

      • Randxyz123 on 06/05/2015 - 11:48
        +14

        She would be identifiable because she wouldn't have teeth :P

  • smodahf on 06/05/2015 - 11:34
    +2

    So I just recently installed a dash cam and set it on record mode if I have to do deals like this in shady places, just park my car opposite the place or parking spot as stated here, set my camera in that general direction and bam I now have video evidence

    • paizuri5 on 08/05/2015 - 03:35
      +1

      So you would keep your car running with the keys in the ignition, unattended?

      • WatchNerd on 08/05/2015 - 23:39

        Why would you want to do deals like this in shady places?
        A mobile phone in your hand set on record is a lot more portable than trying to line your car up in the correct position to capture the dodgy deal.

      • No on 09/05/2015 - 00:05

        Most dash cams have a battery so you can turn it on without the car running.

  • MITM on 06/05/2015 - 12:25
    +1

    Sounds like the perfect story for ACA as a community warning - unless Gumtree are an advertiser on channel 9

    • KnifeEnthusiastBoi on 06/05/2015 - 15:00
      +4

      Even though it sounds great to make an article on a sensationalist program such as those, I think if this escalated upon those lines, the media could spin the story in her favor. Although I like your idea about publicity, I'm just warning people to be careful. I didn't even consider that people would consider such dishonest conduct.

      Without video evidence, couldn't prove anything. But I might ring wellington village to see if they have CCTV on that side of the building

      • Domingo on 06/05/2015 - 17:51
        +14

        Wellington Village on Wellington Road? I live nearby.

        We should totally run a sting operation, get her to buy steal something from me, film the whole thing, have a gang of bikies ready to chase her down etc.

        • KnifeEnthusiastBoi on 06/05/2015 - 18:52
          +4

          i like your idea. lets do it. With bikie gangs, a car crew and some ninjas. Full on stakeout

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