Gumtree Car Buying Scam - "Deployed in The Middle East"

Rescue 26 on 08/04/2019 - 17:19
Last edited 08/04/2019 - 17:48 by 1 other user

Just advertised my car for sale on Gumtree and received a variation of the oil rig response:

Thank you , I'm happy to read back from you. I'm a member of the Australian defence force and our Australian personnel are also currently deployed to the Middle East Region for the Force Support Element (FSE) till August. I will not be able to meet you for inspection and collection, but I have a personal representative courier agent that will meet you for collection after payment has been made, the courier agent will also handle and sort all paper work or registration if needed on this purchase when they meet you for collection.

I cannot take calls or make one during this mission because it is prohibited, we are allowed to use internet facility only and I squeezed out time to search for the advert because I want the courier agent to deliver it to my new house in Riverton before my arrival. I am ready to make the payment so get back to me with the details below :

Account number:
BSB:
Name:
Final price:

That is all I need in order to make the payment through a secure online bank transfer from my bank to yours. I will transfer the money to your account and my personal representative courier agent will meet you for the collection and deliver it to my new house in Riverton after you confirmed the payment.

Best Regards
BIG Georgeina Whelan.

Automotive

Related Stores

Gumtree
Gumtree

Comments

  • Rescue 26 on 09/04/2019 - 09:01
    +9

    So I tracked down the real Georgeina Whelan. She is head of the ACT SES. Spoke to someone in her office who said they are well aware that her name is being used in this scam. And just to be sure I confirmed with him that she doesn't want to buy my car.

  • vinni9284 on 08/04/2019 - 17:25
    +3

    Typical Gumtree scam.

    Always sell in person and get a Bank Cheque.

    Cheers

  • nocure on 08/04/2019 - 17:25

    lol

  • GangGang on 08/04/2019 - 17:25

    Yeah it's a popular scam.

    • Topdog on 09/04/2019 - 08:32

      Popular SPAM

  • spackbace on 08/04/2019 - 17:26
    +5

    Just advertised my car for sale on Gumtree and received a variation of the oil rig response:

    And…?

    • EightImmortals on 08/04/2019 - 17:32
      +2

      lols. :)

    • Rescue 26 on 08/04/2019 - 17:39
      +2

      Well spotted. That was quick. Maybe I should contact her and see if she's aware of her name and image being abused.

      • oscargamer on 08/04/2019 - 17:57
        +3

        Is she a BRIG or a BIG ?

      • Seedy seed on 09/04/2019 - 07:37
        +1

        Do it.

  • Rescue 26 on 08/04/2019 - 17:36
    +7

    So I responded as Richard Head and added $3k to the asking price. Gave a fake account number. Received 2 emails from "Westpac" stating that the full amount plus $2k for the courier was deposited into my account.
    "Westpac" doesn't want me to phone them:

    "We do not appreciate any calls due to attending to many customers, we advise you to get back to us via this email to get full details of this transaction because this message is the only channel you get get through us for details about your pending payment. Be informed that this transaction is only available and can only be tracked and traced via email, reply back to us if you have any question about the transaction and not via phone call."

    I suspect that Georgina Whelan is a real person who doesn't know that her name and image (there was a photo of a woman in Army uniform accompanying the emails) are being used to add credibility.
    After a few more emails I got bored and sent the predictable if unimaginative response.

    • John on 08/04/2019 - 18:18

      My friend fell for this. I can't believe how many people are still uneducated enough about risk of trading in Gumtree via bank transfer or paypal.

  • SBOB on 08/04/2019 - 17:36
    -2

    Congrats..you and every other gumtree seller

    Don't feel too special ;)

    • Rescue 26 on 08/04/2019 - 17:41

      Yeah yeah I know. Just feeling a bit pissed off that I actually responded to the first email asking for my email address.

      • MeesusEff on 11/04/2019 - 14:04

        Ive got two of these so far from a listing I posted up yesterday. Guy was from NT and has family there and would courier. I said, what a coincidence, my brother lives in NT. Send me the address and he can pick up the cash on Sunday so this gives you enough time to transfer. Don't worry about this being a scam, hes a police officer so very trustworthy!

        No response yet.

  • SmiTTy on 08/04/2019 - 17:40
    +7

    U should setup a time and place to meet, just for the heck of it and waste their time

  • 13 on 08/04/2019 - 18:06
    -3

    Certainly looks legit..but tread carefully

    • vinni9284 on 08/04/2019 - 18:19
      +6

      lol are you drunk?

      • [Deactivated] on 08/04/2019 - 18:29
        +4

        I am. Drunk on Gumtree humor.

  • Ocker on 08/04/2019 - 18:57
    +9

    Just tell the prospective buyer you cannot pass the transaction through your bank account as you are trying to conceal the transaction from your soon-to- be ex wife.
    Tell him you will offer a 15% discount for payment via Western Union.

  • Findo on 08/04/2019 - 19:02
    +2

    Could be legit. Tell the BRIG that you’ll trade your car for 100 overpriced AAFCANS ‘coffees’ and something from the fat truck, and see if she knows what you’re talking about

    • MountFranklin on 09/04/2019 - 12:03
      +1

      I once asked for PMKEYS as I can look up the details myself at work and they had no idea what I meant

  • vinni9284 on 08/04/2019 - 19:05
    +8

    1 - Tell them that you are currently in the Middle East.
    2 - Ask him exactly where he is so you can meet him for a transaction

    You'll never get a response after that lol

  • CyberMurning on 08/04/2019 - 19:08

    Just said you received the money thank you please collect the car at xxx (police station address).

    • pegaxs on 09/04/2019 - 07:30
      +1

      Doesn’t work like that. It’s a fee forwarding scam. I love replying to these scammers. It’s the same spiel every time.

      They over pay you and either want you to refund the over paid portion, or they send you the payment + the courier fee and want you to pay the courier portion direct to the “courier”

      Of course they don’t send you any money but will send you a lot of very badly made/photoshopped banking papers to try and convince you they sent too much. They then try to convince you to return the “overpaid” portion or forward a portion to their nominated “courier”

      I usually send them back the same very badly photoshopped bank statements with the refund amount on it or fake western union paperwork. It just wastes enough of their time that I find it hilarious when they start getting angry and threatening.

  • pegaxs on 08/04/2019 - 19:15

    Just the BSB? Hahaha :D

    • [Deactivated] on 08/04/2019 - 22:35
      +1

      No the account number has been requested - above the BSB.

      • pegaxs on 09/04/2019 - 07:22
        +2

        I am such an idiot. So used to seeing it the other way round. That and didn’t see it from possibly laughing too much.

  • [Deactivated] on 08/04/2019 - 19:31
    +3

    Hey, that's my email to you. I thought we have a deal?

  • Cartman2530 on 08/04/2019 - 22:01

    Interesting twist on the oil rig scam. Also somewhat believable because they used a real persons identity.

    • DazMon on 09/04/2019 - 10:00

      somewhat believable?

      • Cartman2530 on 09/04/2019 - 15:46

        yes, its believable to a moderate extent, particularly if someone isn't familiar with the scam, and it uses a real persons details which would add credibility.

  • MountFranklin on 09/04/2019 - 12:04

    So what happens when you give someone just your bank account number?

    • Chandler on 09/04/2019 - 16:46
      +1

      Read on another thread on OzB that they can often use the details to setup direct debit/s from your account. Businesses are supposed to have a signature, check ID etc, but not all do.

  • Micko179 on 10/04/2019 - 05:23
    -3

    Mummy must be so proud! 🤔

  • HeWhoKnows on 10/04/2019 - 19:10

    You gotta love these scams.
    They are so obvious and so entertaining

  • fl360 on 10/04/2019 - 21:53

    get him to deposit his money to your western union account.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join