Pending payment bank transfer - possible scam?

SkMed on 08/04/2019 - 11:52

Hi all,

Gumtree buyer has transferred me money for a laptop i'm selling. I asked him to use PayID for fast transfer but he has done a regular transfer. Its now sitting as a "pending" payment into my account but I cannot access/withdraw/transfer the funds. He's now thinking I am scamming him, however I just dont want to hand over a $4000 laptop when the payment is still pending.

Is it possible this is some sort of scam and he can cancel the payment from his end since its still pending on my end? I've never dealt with one of these kinds of "Payment pending" situations.

Thoughts?

Financial

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Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 08/04/2019 - 11:56
    +16

    Gumtree buyer has transferred me money for a laptop i'm selling.

    You must be new here.

    Nope. Member since 2012. Sigh.

    • SkMed on 08/04/2019 - 12:33

      So it is possible to pull back a "Pending" transaction then?
      I've just never seen one of these pending transactions before…

    • [Deactivated] on 08/04/2019 - 14:28
      +3

      Some people need to look for answers the easy way but learn their lessons the hard way.

      • [Deactivated] on 08/04/2019 - 21:59

        The Dalai Lama? 😕

  • spersephone on 08/04/2019 - 12:09
    +2

    PayID doesn't work for amounts over $1000 I think. You'll both just have to wait for the funds to clear. It should be done within a day or two, but the first payment from one account to another often takes a little longer for some reason.

    • SkMed on 08/04/2019 - 12:35

      Yeah NAB said it would take 2 business days to clear when i called them. They said its best to wait so i might just have to tell him he needs to wait until its fully cleared.

    • arahardja on 09/04/2019 - 10:39
      +1

      “PayID doesn't work for amounts over $1000” it is not quite correct. The maximum amount is depending on your bank.
      ANZ Bank, individual account, with PayID you could transfer, S1,000, $5,000 or up to $ 10,000 (with ANZ shield).
      Comm Bsnk and with PayID you could transfer max $1,000 per transfer but you could do multiple transfers in one day, recently I tried 5 x $1,000 without any problem.
      Ing Direct, with PayId, you could only transfer max $1,000 per day

    • tonyduffe on 14/04/2019 - 23:10

      That entirely depends on the banks implementation of the new payments platform.

  • hashtagbargain on 08/04/2019 - 12:20
    +7

    Why did you agree to a bank transfer for a physical good? You know you're going to meet him in person anyway. Gumtree <—> Cash only.

    • SkMed on 08/04/2019 - 12:32

      I agreed to bank transfer and only handing over the laptop once the transfer had gone into my account. I've never experienced a "pending" transaction before, usually the transfer just wont show up at all until its come through x amount of days later… so i'm a bit confused as to what a "pending" transaction actually is to be honest. Im happy to hand it over if there is no way for him to "recall" this somehow from his end and i have his ID/address etc.

  • QW3RTY on 08/04/2019 - 12:28
    +5

    If the buyer is getting antsy, then say you're happy to hand the laptop over this afternoon. For cash.
    Also, cash only for Gumtree. Always.

    • SkMed on 08/04/2019 - 12:36

      Except he has already transferred the money, so if he's genuine he wont have the money as its "pending" into my account.

      • QW3RTY on 08/04/2019 - 13:32
        +3

        Well until you can withdraw that into cold hard cash, you don't have the money either.
        So tell him to cool his jets and the laptop will be with him when the money is with you.

        • SkMed on 08/04/2019 - 14:45

          Yeah thats what im doing now after going into the bank on my lunch break! Thanks

      • arahardja on 09/04/2019 - 10:48

        In Australia, it is common if your payment (inter Banks) is “pending”. usually it takes 24-48 hours (weekdays) or longer if your transfer to a “new” recipient account (even to your own account but different bank) for the first time.

        • SkMed on 10/04/2019 - 11:07

          It does this all the time in my partners/my joint Commonwealth account however I've never had one of these pending payments in my NAB account until now. I was always confused when those pending payments were coming in using Commonwealth but its the only reason I realised it was one of these payments in my NAB. Not surprised people would be tricked into this scam.

  • carlJack on 08/04/2019 - 12:39
    +6

    $4000 laptop ? wow..

    • SkMed on 08/04/2019 - 14:45

      Yeah, top specc'd MAcbook pro which I no longer need for my new job.

  • Topdog on 08/04/2019 - 12:47

    If it is in your bank account as pending, it should be fine. However as you said do not hand over the laptop until it clears, as the buyer could still cancel it…

  • Scope on 08/04/2019 - 12:54
    +1

    Tell him that his payment is on "pending" and that you'll hand it over when it clears. If the pending amount disappears, he was probably trying to scam you

  • spiff on 08/04/2019 - 13:06
    +6

    You're in the position of power here having not given up the laptop yet. The buyer has trusted you enough to transfer the money so they're the ones that have all the risk. Just hold onto the laptop until the funds clear, and explain this to the buyer.

    If buyers want to purchase via EFT then I explain that I'll accept, but will only post the goods once the funds clear, which could be up to 3 business days after the transfer. I also refuse to accept Paypal payments. I've received hostile responses asking how that's fair to them and I respond with I don't care, these are my terms if you don't like it, move on.

    • dust on 08/04/2019 - 13:13
      +1

      Yes. Don't hand over goods until funds have cleared.

    • SkMed on 08/04/2019 - 14:44
      +2

      Yep, holding onto the laptop and waiting for funds to clear. Went to the bank and it was a cheque deposited at an ATM so could bounce. Told him I wouild be happy meeting at the police station with some ID and signing a stat dec. No response to that yet.

  • follow on 08/04/2019 - 13:11
    +4

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/375710

    ask the bank if it was a cheque deposit at an ATM

    • pegaxs on 08/04/2019 - 14:14
      +3

      Came here to say this. Deposit cheque that bounces, but will initially show up as pending, till the cheque clears.

    • SkMed on 08/04/2019 - 14:38
      +1

      I went to the bank on my lunch break and it definitely was a check deposited at a bank. Now looking even more suss.

      • follow on 08/04/2019 - 18:12
        +2

        it may even clear like it did for me, so just ignore the the person. 100% scam.

        did they send you a foreign ID?

        • SkMed on 10/04/2019 - 11:08
          +3

          No the ysent a local ID, and a house address and phone number. The payment and person have now disappeared so im considering taking this info to the police.

  • DogGunn on 08/04/2019 - 13:14

    Some banks hold new PayID transfers in non-available balance. CBA and NAB are known to do this.

  • bzbt on 08/04/2019 - 13:39

    They could have deposited a cheque into your account. They can cancel the cheque any time before it clears. I had it once before when I was young and handed an item over then all of a sudden the money was reversed from my account. Just wait until it clears, might be a few days.

    • SkMed on 08/04/2019 - 14:37
      +2

      Yes, I have just been to the bank and they have confirmed it was a cheque submitted at an ATM. So it could be linked to an empty account and the funds may not clear.

      • ronnknee on 08/04/2019 - 14:44
        +5

        Yep there we go. Hold onto the laptop.

    • Micko179 on 10/04/2019 - 05:51

      Have had it happen selling a car, accepted Bank Cheque, deposited into the bank a couple of days later, 5 days later Cheque bounces(they stopped it) I got dishonour fees, lost car… Never ever again will I accept a Bank Cheque.

  • Tee Rex Arms on 08/04/2019 - 16:05

    How does it work with a bank transfer for something like a vehicle? I wouldn’t expect to pay someone via EFT then wait a few days until it’s officially cleared they hand the keys and paperwork etc over

    • follow on 08/04/2019 - 18:10
      +2

      get a bank cheque

  • [Deactivated] on 08/04/2019 - 17:03
    +5

    He will risk $4000 of his money to you. Either he is stupid or its a scam.

  • altomic on 08/04/2019 - 17:43
    +8

    This screams scam.

    Who deposits a cheque via atm for something they will meet up to recieve???

    If they have the money then why not EFT? Or cash.?

    Total scam.

    I'd be going to the police.

    Attempted fraud.

    • SkMed on 08/04/2019 - 20:17
      +4

      Yeah I actually messaged him saying I'd only be comfortable handing over the laptop at the police station with ID at this point.dndt hear back and now the phone is off 🤣

      I may report it tomorrow. He sent through some ID so either he's dumb and sent his own, or has someone else's and they should probably be aware.

      • jdee87 on 09/04/2019 - 02:20

        Phone's turned off? Guy is not helping his case which is good for you in case he really is a scammer.

  • SBOB on 08/04/2019 - 17:44

    Paying via cheque into an ATM

    99% chance of scam

    • altomic on 08/04/2019 - 17:45
      +4

      You left off the ".999999"

      • SBOB on 08/04/2019 - 17:50
        -1

        ;)
        Was giving it 1 percent chance it's some deranged old person who still uses a cheque book (though they would likely be unable to deposit a cheque via an atm, so maybe you're right ;) )

        • 88mph on 08/04/2019 - 18:00
          +2

          Or be likely to spend $4,000 on a laptop. The desktop in the study running Win XP still works fine…

  • Samsungnote10 on 08/04/2019 - 19:08
    +1

    So he thinks you are scamming him!

    Good for him, what's he going to do, come beat you up because you didn't give the goods within 4 hours of payment.

    Just tell him once the payment clears , you'll send it out, if he thinks it scam, then let him think that

  • Samsungnote10 on 09/04/2019 - 09:18
    +1

    Please keep us updated.

    I want to hear the scammers butthurt feelings after the payment bounces

  • 13 on 09/04/2019 - 10:18

    Yes scam for sure..pending payment my arse…go to the police. I am sure they will be interested in this pending payment scam

    • SkMed on 10/04/2019 - 11:09

      yeh im going to as soon as i have time.

  • kiitos on 09/04/2019 - 14:43

    So how does the scam work? Wouldn't they need a legit cheque from a bank account, so you could easily report them to the police for attempted fraud?

    • follow on 10/04/2019 - 01:12

      personal cheque (pretty sure) deposited at an ATM using other person's details

  • Micko179 on 10/04/2019 - 05:43

    It's no different to selling a car, accepting a cheque & letting them take it before it clears. I told about 10 people to f off that wanted to buy my SS Ute & pay via cheque/EFT(actually said, don't care how you pay but car stays where it is until I have the cash in my hand, so if you want to take it today you best come back with foldies)

  • spersephone on 10/04/2019 - 08:48

    Just wondered if there was an update to this yet - if it's a cheque it probably hasn't cleared yet. I don't know why they would assume you would receive the funds quickly if they deposited a cheque at an ATM. That's one of the slowest ways to transfer money - assuming that there is nothing suspicious about this transaction.

    But as they've chosen to do it that way, they have to sit tight and wait for clearance. Don't be bullied into handing it over before then.

    • SkMed on 10/04/2019 - 11:13
      +8

      Yes! I went to the bank and they confirmed the payment was submitted via check at an ATM and advised me to wait until it clears as it could be linked to an account with no money etc.

      I called the guy out and asked him to meet me at a police station and I would hand over the laptop with some ID etc.

      Didnt hear back and today the pending $4000 is now gone from my account, so 100 percent a scam. Sucks because a lot of people could easily fall for that, esepcailly if you never receive these pending payments etc.

      I'm considering taking all the info to the police as he gave me his phone number (and I spoke to him on this number), the ATM has a location and time stamp, he gave me his address to drop it off at, and sent through some ID.

      • QW3RTY on 10/04/2019 - 11:39
        +3

        Well done OP. Successfully avoided the scam artist!

        As for trying to hammer this guy, do it for all those who have fallen for these tricks previously. Because he's only going to try and do it again.

      • Samsungnote10 on 10/04/2019 - 16:38

        Is the address a residential?

        You could arrnage to meet up next to the police station so he doesn't get spooked

      • jdee87 on 14/04/2019 - 09:16

        Just saw this update. Good on you OP! At least a portion of people on here who are unaware could learn from you.

  • spersephone on 10/04/2019 - 15:45

    Definitely. It sounds like they were at least attempting to obtain property by deception, if nothing else.

  • HeWhoKnows on 10/04/2019 - 19:04

    Call your bank

    Most importantly
    Wait for payment to clear into your acount

    • Samsungnote10 on 10/04/2019 - 20:08
      +2

      Suggest you read the 15 updates op has made

  • SkMed on 12/04/2019 - 16:58
    +5

    Lol, I just had another genuine buyer on gumtree call me.

    Sounded suspiciously like the last guy who called me also overusing "bro" and "yeah seems like a good laptop".

    He told me to eat a dick when I explained he would have to wait for the transfer to clear first before picking up the laptop.

    Gumtree = worst people on earth.

    • MarsTitan on 14/04/2019 - 00:25

      Put it on Ebay. They have a special $1 deal for this weekend.

  • trapper on 17/04/2019 - 12:42

    100% scam

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