I Got Scammed on Gumtree but I Have Scammer's Address. What to Do?

LDienk on 22/08/2017 - 17:11
Last edited 22/08/2017 - 18:47 by 1 other user

Hello guys. Long story short:

I transferred $310 to person, to deliver to me a TV 55 inch 4k (yes, I know, dumb behaviour).

This person should deliver the TV 2 days after what never happen. I only had his name, number account and phone number.

2 days after he reposted the TV and sell it to someone else.

After an exhaustive searching on internet I found his facebook, relatives and I found his address (around 25 km from my house).

Now that I have everything, what would you do if you were in my shoes?

General Discussion

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Comments

        • Dienk on 22/08/2017 - 19:36
          +2

          Guys! I saw the same tv on facebook market for 500 bucks and I sent a message to seller asking if he bought it from a guy at gumtree and explained I was scammed. He say "yes i did" and gave me his address. Are you convinced now?

        • Scrooge McDuck on 23/08/2017 - 14:07
          +3

          @Dienk:

          I sent a message to seller

          From the information you have presented thus far, the person who scammed you could be behind that account. This "seller" could be your scammer. Why would another person be on-selling the TV they bought? What are the time frames for these events?

          asking if he bought it from a guy at gumtree and explained I was scammed. He say "yes i did" and gave me his address.

          That person could've misdirected you. You could be barking up the wrong tree!

          Are you convinced now?

          No.

        • Dienk on 23/08/2017 - 16:13
          +1

          @Scrooge McDuck: People buy and resell stuffs on gumtree to make money. Common on you should know that. He did not mislead me he was worried about if I would say he was helping. Definitly he bought the tv.

        • altomic on 23/08/2017 - 17:27

          @Dienk: maybe it's the same dude.

        • swimmingtoad on 23/08/2017 - 23:16
          +1

          @Dienk:

          Omg this thread is rediculous. Borderline trolling.

          a. Instead of googling police and online fraud news articles, GO TALK TO THEM LIKE AN ADULT.

          b. You seem like the most gulliable person around. You still believe the deal is real. I'll bet that like your not going to learn a lesson from this.

        • Dienk on 24/08/2017 - 08:42

          @swimmingtoad: i have plenty of reason to believe it is real. After I got the address I sent it to his mother, she got upset when she saw that I had this information. She said he does not live there! Stop to figure other situation. He sold it to someone else and his mother confirmed.

        • swimmingtoad on 24/08/2017 - 09:44

          @Dienk:

          Irrelevant. Have you spoken to the police?

        • Dienk on 24/08/2017 - 11:18

          @swimmingtoad: Yes and they said to report it to ACORN. I did it.

  • [Deactivated] on 22/08/2017 - 18:57
    +53

    hey mate you owe the ATO $5600, you need to pay with itunes card, please PM me for further information, this is a real message, if you do not PM me you will be arrested in front of your boss and work mates.

    • xoom on 22/08/2017 - 19:05
      +7

      This is legit OP. You don't want to get arrested in front of your boss and workmates. They wilk shun you. Lickily for you. The guvment accepts itunes cards.

      • [Deactivated] on 22/08/2017 - 19:06
        +2

        its the GUVAMENT we dont LY 2 YOU

    • bdl on 22/08/2017 - 19:28
      +5

      "The cops have been to your house today address XXX and talked to XXX and they will go back randomly unless you pay me in 2 hours"

    • spackbace on 22/08/2017 - 19:33
      +1

      The said part is we had customers who actually believed they were getting $40k from the US, from some random person who msged them on Facebook…

      They had actually transferred these guys money…

      • garetz on 23/08/2017 - 00:45

        The scam is made to look fake, so only stupid people fall for it.

        • Scrooge McDuck on 23/08/2017 - 14:51
          +3

          only stupid people fall for it.

          Scammer's ethics.

        • garetz on 23/08/2017 - 17:34

          @Scrooge McDuck: It's got nothing to do with ethics, it is just real life, they typically make it obvious, so the lowest common denominator falls for it. Its just a fact.

    • Dienk on 23/08/2017 - 16:14
      -2

      So many people giving up votes do this shit.

      • LiMaaa on 23/08/2017 - 23:01
        +2

        If you got the address from the guy reselling the TV it is most likely a bogus address and that was the actual scammer. There is no way someone purchased the TV you were going to buy and is reselling it within a week, NO CHANCE! You are far too naive to online fraud. If i were you I would write up my own letter of demand, explain the scenario and send it to the address you received, this way you may get a reply stating something like "lol, who is this is this a joke?" in which case you can forget the matter because you have no leads.

        Whenever paying for something on gumtree you pay with paypal so you can reverse the funds if something like this happens. Personally me, I would stalk the account, wait for another sale, show interest in the new item listed and offer to pay via paypal @ pickup, when the guy agrees I would ask for pickup address never pay and go to the address myself to resolve it.

        We are all different, but in the end, you didn't lose a lot, you lost $300, in hindsight well worth the lesson learned. P.S. Your grammar sucks.

        Best of luck in the future with buying online!

        • Dienk on 24/08/2017 - 11:21

          English is not my main language. That's why my grammar is sucks. Impossible to be the same person. The guy that gave me the scammers address has his facebook since 2009 (the tv was in facebook market and not at gumtree).

        • [Deactivated] on 24/08/2017 - 11:29
          +1

          @Dienk: mate why don't you get it? You've been scammed, and hooked in hard with a fake trail. You will never get your money back. Nobody sells 4k tv's for $300 even used. If there was a tv it was stolen. Let it go, learn, and be thankful they didn't take you for more money.

        • eug on 24/08/2017 - 11:33

          @The Land of Smeg:

          Nobody sells 4k tv's for $300 even used.

          It really depends on what brand it was. A brand-new Kogan 55" 4K tv has gone for $549, so if it's a brand like that, $300 is possible if the seller just wants it gone (e.g. moving away). Good deals do exist. My friend bought a ~$1k bike for $500 because the seller just didn't know market prices, or just wanted it gone.

        • Dienk on 25/08/2017 - 15:10

          @eug: exactly. This tv was VIANO was sold for 420 at big w brand new some time ago

  • djones145 on 22/08/2017 - 19:38
    +7

    U have their address and phone number…. spam them away on spam websites

  • H32k on 22/08/2017 - 19:54
    +8

    Calling in an Air Strike seems like the obvious answer, does it not?

    • [Deactivated] on 22/08/2017 - 20:48
      +4

      you might find a bargain on PyongyangBargain.com for that air strike.

      • H32k on 22/08/2017 - 22:59
        -1

        is it weird that I actually followed the link before reading?

        • [Deactivated] on 22/08/2017 - 23:45
          -1

          i did get it as a free .com from ozb

      • Lil B on 23/08/2017 - 14:52
        -1

        When is the official Launch?

    • [Deactivated] on 25/08/2017 - 00:22

      A bit of the old gorilla warfare.

      • eug on 25/08/2017 - 16:27

        Like.. this?

  • Ryanek on 22/08/2017 - 20:04
    +14

    Sure there are a lot of politically correct suggestions here, but honestly if I were in your shoes… I'd rock up with all my cousins.

    • aussieprepper on 22/08/2017 - 22:04

      When i was younger id get the boys together and do the same. We done this to get back a stolen amp and sub back in the days. But what is the chance of him having the cash on him? Or having any thing of value? You bash him its all good as long as he doesn't tell the cops? Its not like he owes you cash for some thing illegal. OP has no proof of why he transferred the money. Throwing him in the car to go to an ATM is whole other charge of kidnapping/abduction if he decides to go to the cops?
      The kent isn't even hard enough to go and rob some one house. He is simply scamming people.

      • Dienk on 23/08/2017 - 08:34

        I have proof. All the conversation

      • Scrooge McDuck on 23/08/2017 - 14:16
        +1

        We done this

        🤦

    • Scrooge McDuck on 23/08/2017 - 14:18
      +1

      if I were in your shoes

      As opposed to your Nike TNs?

      I'd rock up with all my cousins.

      Hectic uleh!

  • Gronk on 22/08/2017 - 20:13
    +2

    ITT: OP Learns not to trust internet strangers.

  • John Kimble on 22/08/2017 - 20:34

    I saw an article today about people scammed into "paying for NBN with iTunes gift cards"…sigh.

    http://www.smh.com.au/business/consumer-affairs/nbn-scammers…

    • [Deactivated] on 22/08/2017 - 20:48

      pretty sure i trolled it.

  • lainey13 on 22/08/2017 - 20:46
    +2

    Just tell his friends/family what kind of person he is.

    • jwb1981 on 23/08/2017 - 22:44

      They might be either A/ Oh he wouldn't do that,he's a working class man. or B/ So? We'd do the same also.

  • Ughhh on 22/08/2017 - 21:50
    +1

    These kind of scams on gumtree have been going on for ageeeesssss, Despite the number of people warning others on gumtree=cash on pick up, people ignore and gamble. $300 is pretty good free money for the scammer.

  • prinsenhof on 22/08/2017 - 22:10
    +4

    try to get the money back reasonably without harsh threats. If that fails, id figure tyres are worth $100 a pop, plus 1 for interest, make sure you get it near the wall so it cant be repaired. It helps with the emotional loss of loosing $300, just convince yourself that you bought this guy in need 4 new tyres to help him out. You'll feel better about yourself.

    • Ozpit on 23/08/2017 - 09:43
      +2

      And after the slashings x 4, pour half a litre of brake fluid on the paintwork as a farewell gesture. Then move on with your life.

      • Scrooge McDuck on 23/08/2017 - 14:20
        +1

        How does any of this get OP his money back? 🙄

        • prinsenhof on 23/08/2017 - 19:06
          +1

          charitable tax deduction for buying a poor guy 4 new tyres?

    • wukachuka on 24/08/2017 - 01:45
      -1

      Just for the record, you really don't want to go poking/slashing sharp things at pressurized containers.
      You might get lucky and have it not explode in your face 1000 times in a row, but you may also get unlucky…

    • Dienk on 23/08/2017 - 08:36

      Thanks man. Looks like you never did a mistake in your life.

      • Scrooge McDuck on 23/08/2017 - 14:22
        +3

        Looks like you have never made a mistake in your lifetime.

        FTFY. 🙂

    • Scrooge McDuck on 23/08/2017 - 14:23

      Can we remove the OP's Ozbargain access? Anyone so inept in buy sell transactions should not be …in fact remove OP's internet access altogether.

      But how will he learn?

  • FeRGan on 23/08/2017 - 01:41

    Keep threatening police action and pester their family, like everyone else has said.

  • vicosads on 23/08/2017 - 08:21
    +6

    play some friendly pranks on them, like barricading their doors, windows and firebombing the house

  • mbck on 23/08/2017 - 10:30

    Please update this post OP when you can.

    • Dienk on 23/08/2017 - 11:44
      +1

      Updated. See comments bellow.

  • [Deactivated] on 23/08/2017 - 10:33
    -1

    Troll?

    • Dienk on 23/08/2017 - 11:44

      ?

      • eug on 23/08/2017 - 11:54
        +5

        I think he's just announcing his presence.

  • Dienk on 23/08/2017 - 11:43
    +2

    I went to the police and they said to report it at ACORN. His mother answer me at facebook giving me his full name and birthday (i dont know if i would trust on it or if she is just misleading me). I talked to his cousin and she said that in fact they have a bad relationship. So my only option is ACORN and wait.

    • nomunny on 23/08/2017 - 12:13
      +8

      Stop talking to his family? Contact him directly saying police have been notified and are investigating the CRIME currently. Please refund money ASAP.

      • whirlpool_guy on 23/08/2017 - 13:45
        +8

        Not if his cousin is cute

        • Pricebeat on 23/08/2017 - 17:53
          +2

          But they are in bad relationship

        • nomunny on 24/08/2017 - 15:08
          +1

          @Jimmy007: Sorry my mistake, potentially get his grandfather on board, a gentle word from a wise elder may simply resolve this problem.

    • Duram on 23/08/2017 - 13:09
      +11

      Useless pricks. Do 5KM over the speed limit and they'll bring the entire force down to stop you. House invaded? dead before they come, ipad tracked to a thieves house? nope, address of a scammer? nope.

      • Make it so on 23/08/2017 - 14:10

        The trick is, tell them you will take the law into your own hands. Watch them jump into action!

    • kiitos on 23/08/2017 - 13:11
      -2

      Ask the mother to pay you back?

  • Mrgreenz on 23/08/2017 - 12:30
    +2

    At lease you can claim the tax back on it as a donation.

  • Seni0r El Cheapo on 23/08/2017 - 12:42

    I am selling a Mac Book Pro (built 2015), 16GB RAM, 1 TB SSD, i7 for $500.

    Interested? If you transfer today, I will ship it tomorrow.

    • Baysew on 23/08/2017 - 15:14
      +3

      I'm working on a oil rig at the moment, so I will pay you more.

    • Dienk on 23/08/2017 - 15:44
      -3

      Too old sorry

  • smashed on 23/08/2017 - 12:42
    +6

    Use same bank details to set up a lovely big charity direct debit

    • [Deactivated] on 23/08/2017 - 13:00

      Not bad at all!

    • Scrooge McDuck on 23/08/2017 - 14:29

      Use same bank details to set up a lovely big charity direct debit

      Surely the account holder would need to personally authorise that with their bank.

      • smashed on 23/08/2017 - 14:36

        I don't know about Australia but in the UK you could go online and fill it out for a charity. How would they verify that you are who you say you are (same as a bank card).

    • Tech and cars on 23/08/2017 - 17:34

      Love this idea lol

    • smashed on 23/08/2017 - 18:36
      +1

      Happened to Jeremy Clarkson

      https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/money/20…

  • HeWhoKnows on 23/08/2017 - 13:01
    +1

    Tell him you have his details and that the matter will be handed over to the police.

  • Shame on 23/08/2017 - 13:21
    -2

    1) Go to a shooting range and get trained on how to use a gun and what the laws are.
    2) Sit test to get a gun licence.
    3) Photocopy your gun licence and post him a copy of it in the mail to his home address.
    4) Wait…

    Or just go to the police?

    • Dienk on 23/08/2017 - 14:52

      The police does not care…so report and nothing more. That`s it

  • Donaldhump on 23/08/2017 - 13:22
    +12

    write tv on his front door with your own terd

    • Lockieasy on 23/08/2017 - 20:34
      +1

      I was going to suggest something related to poop too. It's the only way.

  • berry580 on 23/08/2017 - 13:33

    Call police. It's fraud. Make sure you have supporting evidence.

    See whether your bank can reverse the transaction (don't hold you breath on it though)

    • citygal on 23/08/2017 - 17:22

      I doubt the bank will do anything about it. After all the OP authorised the transaction and that's what the bank concerns when it process reversion.

  • woz on 23/08/2017 - 13:34
    +4

    See the shiny car in his driveway? Me neither. Funny thing, but when you add gasoline and a flame, things don't stay shiny for long. Your money is gone. But revenge is always attainable.

  • Tech5 on 23/08/2017 - 14:13
    +1

    Small claims court after police report. Police aint gonna do shit

    • Lil B on 23/08/2017 - 14:23

      Agreed.

      They couldn't even track an Elephant through he snow…

  • momov3 on 23/08/2017 - 14:13
    +4

    I was scammed on Gumtree too, reported to ACORN. There were enough reports on this same scammer for the police to take action, so I heard. You never know, but I never got my money back. Even contacted his bank manager reporting the illegal money receipt, the Manager wrote back but said all they would do is request politely for him/her to return it! Of course he/she didn't. I had traced the account and found the dirtbag made me pay into his home loan offset account. I hope you reported (first thing) to Gumtree so they remove his/her account immediately. There is nothing to prevent scammer from setting up a new account under false name. After that happened, I became obsessed and everyday scanned Gumtree to see if scammer had listed under a different name. Would you believe it, he did! Basically I looked for the same items list that I had notated and copied down, pretended to 'search' and there I found them all under a different name and false location. Once again I reported him and the account was immediately terminated. I couldn't go on doing this forever it was taking too much time, so I had to stop. I'm sure he/she persisted and probably went about scamming others further. Another suggestion: I have seen Gumtree ads where the scammed victim put up an ad with the title 'Beware Scammer etc….identifying scammer name and the false item for sale. The content of the listing had full detail of the scammer/location etc and what happened as well as beware this seller message. That really catches attention and Gumtree did not remove that ad. You might try this in revenge. Another thing - sorry for waffling on and on, you can almost bet the scammers are looking into OzBargain daily, and most likely members of this forum. (No offence meant to OzBargain)

    • jsediv on 23/08/2017 - 14:30
      +1

      too
      many
      words

      • Scrooge McDuck on 23/08/2017 - 14:35
        +10

        He was scammed out of his ENTER key.

        • xuqi on 23/08/2017 - 16:56
          +3

          And the thieving bastard never returned it!

        • rompastompa on 24/08/2017 - 00:02
          +4

          @xuqi: Give the guy a line break!

    • Scrooge McDuck on 23/08/2017 - 14:34

      you can almost bet the scammers are looking into OzBargain daily, and most likely members of this forum.

      What do you base that on?

      • Munki on 23/08/2017 - 14:43
        +3

        I'm one of them. (¬‿¬)

        • [Deactivated] on 23/08/2017 - 15:43

          OoOoooo… the plot thickens.

        • Munki on 23/08/2017 - 16:13
          +2

          @tshow: How else am I going to be able to afford these high yield investment European cars?

        • lachhelix on 23/08/2017 - 17:57

          @Munki:
          Have you checked Westpac Careers?

        • [Deactivated] on 23/08/2017 - 21:36

          @Munki:
          I hear the underground used fruit tree market is very lucrative.

  • jsediv on 23/08/2017 - 14:30
    +5

    Invite him to a 1v1 on Rust and settle it like adults.

    • Lil B on 23/08/2017 - 14:42

      I'll 1v1 you mate, Scrapyard? I'm the Spawntrap king.

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