Urgent suggestions please, is this another Gumtree fraud?

[Deactivated] on 06/06/2020 - 19:38

I had listed a camera for sale on Gumtree, a user sent me a message and said they want to buy it and happy to pay listed price (although my price was negotiable), and asked me if I can post it to them. This made me think its another fraud, as the user didn't even ask any questions about the camera and didn't negotiate the price. However I replied that I am happy to post it to them at their expense, and I asked them to pay me via bank transfer instead of Paypal (the user originally suggested Paypal). I deliberately asked their phone number to make sure its someone legitimate, the user sent me phone number happily and we started talking over text messages instead of Gumtree. I still had suspicisons in my mind, so I asked lots of personal questions, the user told me he/she is a backpacker and visiting Australia and wants to buy this camera for a road trip and that he/she doesn't know much about camera but his/her friend has a similar one and recommended it. I still had suspcisions, so I deliberately asked a very high price (almost 4x) to ship it interstate, the user once again happily agreed to that, and asked if I would send them a tracking number when I ship it. I told them that I would ship it after I receive money in my bank account, and instead of giving them my bank account I asked them to send money to my PayId whih is linked to my phone number. The user sent a screenshot of payment to me, which I thought was fake, and I didn't receive money either, that made me think the user has just gone away. However, I received another message after a couple of hours and the user shared a screenshot showing that the transaction was still 'pending'. I thought that's the end of story, however today I received their message once again that the transaction has gone through, I checked my bank account and I have actually received the money. I am still unable to think what could go wrong for me in this transaction. Can you please suggest if looks like a legitimate transaction? or is there something that I am missing and I am going to be another victim? Any urgent suggestions would be appreciated, as I have not yet shipped the camera to them.

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Comments

  • Slippery Fish on 06/06/2020 - 19:43
    +10

    Fraud. You frayed him 4x postage. Close thread ;) hahaha

    • [Deactivated] on 06/06/2020 - 19:47
      +3

      Haha, I going to send them a refund of the excess postage :)

      • barozgain on 06/06/2020 - 20:01
        -1

        I going to send them a refund of the excess postage :)

        and I definitely believe you OP 🤥

        • [Deactivated] on 06/06/2020 - 20:29

          You don't have to believe mate :)

  • PissLUR on 06/06/2020 - 19:44

    How much is the camera?

    • [Deactivated] on 06/06/2020 - 19:46

      Its roughly $2000 bundle

      • arkie0 on 06/06/2020 - 20:00
        -2

        So by 4x, you mean he sent you 8k?

        • barbarella on 06/06/2020 - 20:31

          4x the postage cost

        • [Deactivated] on 06/06/2020 - 20:32

          No, I asked them $90 for interstate postage which I thought was very expensive for them to accept

          • arkie0 on 06/06/2020 - 21:24

            @[Deactivated]: lol thanks

            To answer your question the money could have been sent from a hacked account or stolen credit card.

  • BuyoTheCat on 06/06/2020 - 19:47
    +3

    Ask your bank if the transaction is legit and if it can be reversed.

    You cant post it till tuesday anyway. pack everything up ready to be sent. call your bank ask them about it on tuesday. If they say aokay, post it.

    • OZBargainer in SA on 07/06/2020 - 08:22
      +1

      OP should be able to call bank help line 24/7

    • ozbjunkie on 09/06/2020 - 19:52

      I have heard stories where people checked with the bank and all seemed good, later the payment was revealed as fraud and seller was out of money.

      Take with grain of salt because stories I hear cannot all be true, although I believe this one is.

      • follow on 10/06/2020 - 02:21

        this happened to me too

        • wittyusername on 24/09/2020 - 08:38

          Can you elaborate a bit please? I'm in the same situation as OP except I haven't agreed to anything, told him I'd rather sell locally first.

          • follow on 24/09/2020 - 14:39
            +1

            @wittyusername: Only accept payID or beemit
            with deposit they can deposit a fraudulent cheque at an ATM that'll temporarily clear.

  • elgrande on 06/06/2020 - 19:47
    +10

    Classic fraud.

    Buyer sends money via bank deposit.

    You keep phone.

    No way to open paypal case.

    Do you even have a camera?

    • barozgain on 06/06/2020 - 20:03
      +2

      looking at all the past plot twists in Ozbargain scam forums: There's a good chance OP is the scammer and trying to make sure no way the poor buyer victim can take his money back

      • [Deactivated] on 06/06/2020 - 20:35

        I thought it was only me being overly scepticle, thanks for making me feel good :)

  • Earl of Lemongrab on 06/06/2020 - 19:47

    Maybe call your bank and see if the amount can be reversed?

    Don't go any further if you feel that you are being led into a scam.

  • [Deactivated] on 06/06/2020 - 19:54
    +4

    Just trasfer money to another account - stop over thinking it

  • thatonethere on 06/06/2020 - 19:55

    I've found that payid is often not instant especially for first time payers for largish amounts. Id do nothing until you have it in your account.

    Some banks hold payment for 24 hours for the first transaction.

  • Melb69 on 06/06/2020 - 19:57

    Are similar cameras priced more than yours even with the loaded postage. Personally I wouldn't even consider postage. Even as a buyer. I might be sent a brick. Cash in hand. Face to Face transaction. GT & FB 101.

    • [Deactivated] on 06/06/2020 - 20:01

      No its a reasonably priced camera, some other users asking higher than me even their cameras have more wear n tear

  • Axelstrife on 06/06/2020 - 20:09
    +1

    Ive bought things without asking questions many times, either cause i know about the item and don't need to ask anything or the listing answers all possible questions and further questions would be pointless.

    Since you've taken the time to type all this forum post up im going to take a guess that you made a good attempt at a description of the item and put good photos up for the item which tells me you're a good seller and if the description is thorough enough no further questions is needed.

  • mbck on 06/06/2020 - 20:10

    I have a feeling they can reverse payid transaction

  • Tatanga on 06/06/2020 - 20:15
    -1

    Pretty much every time I didn't trust my gut feeling I've been sorry. You've got lots of reasons for your misgivings:
    1) An untraceable "backpacker" for a customer - especially now, where is this @#&%@#& supposed to be backpacking?!
    2) A buyer who doesn't know the value or specs of what they're supposedly buying;
    3) Possibly fake screenshots of payment.

    I will bet you dollars to doughnuts that your payment either came from a stolen account or there's some way it can be yanked back, like the famous scam involving checks that are supposedly cleared. It's not worth the hassle mate.

    • Axelstrife on 06/06/2020 - 21:48

      you got a point with 1.

      But 2. How do you know they don't know the value or specs, OP listed the item ofc they know what the item is and would know what it's worth.
      3. Well they received the payment, clearly they weren't fake.

  • thatonethere on 06/06/2020 - 20:17

    Another thing is that Gumtree is not like Ebay. If you dont want to send the item you don't have to.

  • [Deactivated] on 06/06/2020 - 20:18
    +4

    Here is some new development.
    I just noticed in their transaction description they are talking about Mark II version of this camera. I just texted them and told that its not the mark ii version, and asked if they want their money back or want me to drop the price a bit (there is some cushion for price drop, thats why I listed it as negotiable). Got their reply that they want their money back as they really wanted the mark ii version.

    I know I am being overly sceptical in this case, but I think this could be the only possible 'trap' that if I send their money back in a new transaction then they could ask for reversal of their original transaction after receiving my money (I am not sure if its possible to reverse a PayId transaction though). So, I have just told them that I am going to contact my bank for a reversal of their transaction.

    I really appreciate prompt support from this wonderful community.

    • barbarella on 06/06/2020 - 20:34
      +8

      sounds like a scam scam to me…

    • arkie0 on 06/06/2020 - 21:26
      +4

      Leave the money in your account, tell the buyer to initiate a reversal with his bank.

      • [Deactivated] on 06/06/2020 - 21:29
        +2

        That makes more sense, thank you…will ask the buyer to call their bank

  • barbarella on 06/06/2020 - 20:32
    +10

    no backpacker is going to pay $2000 for a camera

    • Melb69 on 06/06/2020 - 20:39

      This is exactly what I was thinking. The backpacker story is the new I'm out on an oil rig scam. Can't check the car. I'll pay just ship it over to Perth and I will get it when I fly back in from rig.

      • Bypass on 06/06/2020 - 20:55
        +2

        I've seen plenty of backpackers with $2000 iphones, why not a camera?

        • BuyoTheCat on 06/06/2020 - 21:00
          +2

          Must be the same backpacker

          • Melb69 on 06/06/2020 - 23:27

            @BuyoTheCat: They wouldn't need a $2k camera then as they could just use their phone camera. Seriously though. You just wouldn't do this transaction. Not when it's not face to face.

  • Muzeeb on 06/06/2020 - 20:43
    +9

    Who is backpacking in covid19 times?

    • barozgain on 06/06/2020 - 20:55
      +1

      I just packed my back with warm towels for warmth so guess I count as a backpacker

  • BuyoTheCat on 06/06/2020 - 21:05
    -2

    Tell me what you are selling and I will tell you how likely it is a scam.
    And also there the buyer is located.

    • [Deactivated] on 06/06/2020 - 21:18

      Its a camera bundle with some lenses etc, roughly $2K worth, and the buyer is asking to post it to a far off rural area in QLD

      • BuyoTheCat on 07/06/2020 - 08:20
        +1

        If you tell me exactly what you are selling, i can tell you how likely it is that they will want to risk paying some random person money hoping that they will send it to them. If you are selling a a7riii with a 24-70 and 70-200 for 2k or selling a nikon 5300. It changes the scale of likely hood

  • Davo1111 on 06/06/2020 - 21:44
    +5

    It seems odd to me that you didnt just say "sorry, not posting interstate", but instead make them jump through hoops. Now you've put yourself in a situation where you look like the scammer.

    • [Deactivated] on 06/06/2020 - 21:58

      Well definitely I want to sell it and happy to post it interstate especially when I am getting my asking price…however at the same time I don't want to be another victim of some scam, thats why being extremely careful and asked here for suggestions if I am overlooking something. Yes I asked them way more postage and I was expecting them to question it, would be charging only actual postage and refunding excess amount anyway.

      • Hardlyworkin on 07/06/2020 - 08:40
        +1

        If you are ok selling it interstate via bank transfer why on earth are you advertising on Gumtree? Gumtree is for cash sales in person at your local Maccas.
        Accepting full price via bank transfer means accepting the risks. Think with your head and not with your wallet.

  • follow on 06/06/2020 - 22:21

    i thought payid was instant?
    call the bank's fraud line and ask them what was their method of payment.

  • Fredfloresjr on 06/06/2020 - 22:43

    had same incident with you. Commbank told me once the money has been cleared there is no way they can take it back from you. So yeah. Thats my experience after I sold 1800$ laptop over gumtree.

  • garetz on 07/06/2020 - 05:32
    +2

    Use the extra postage cost to fully insure it instead of refunding ? Probably a better use of the funds.

    it could still be a scam, if the money is reported as a fraudulent transaction

    • Melb69 on 07/06/2020 - 06:25

      Could the payid payment be made through a credit card transaction. Maybe the funds for purchase from stolen funds.
      Then maybe the buyer can say to card company fraudulent transaction or daughter made purchase without approval. Gumtree sales are like cash sales. Just 2 ppl doing a transaction. No protection.

  • manu on 07/06/2020 - 08:17
    +1

    I have bought a DSLR and many lenses over gumtree from interstate sellers. Some amounts closer to $1000.

    But if it's over $200 I usually call the seller and do few checks. But if I am selling I have no hesitation to post it once funds are cleared.

    Everything has a risk. It's what is tolerable to each of us. Please don't scam the buyer for his trust on you. Either send the camera or return the money ASAP.

  • Hardlyworkin on 07/06/2020 - 08:42
    +2

    If you google the address you might be able to reverse look up the landline linked to it. That may help. Also google the mobile, see if any scams reported using it. Also how long has this person had a gumtree account?

  • living4music on 07/06/2020 - 09:10

    If Paypal transaction, yes, the buyer may be a scammer. But bank transfer, it’s very unlikely the sender can get back the money if the receiver refuses to reverse it. So I think the buyer is very naive to send you $2K, or you might be the scammer wanting to know if there is any consequences if you keep the money and don’t send the camera.

  • DiscoJango on 07/06/2020 - 09:27
    +1

    Ask yourself this, if you were a backpacker, and money is relatively tight, and you knew you needed a camera, why would you:

    a) Decide spend $2,000 which is quiet a bit of money
    b) buy sight unseen from a stranger interstate, which is a 1 to 2 to 3 week process including shipping delays due to covid
    c) not just walk into any local camera shop and get a point and shoot camera straight away for $500 which lets be realistic, will take perfectly fine photos for a backpacker.

    I stopped using gumtree ages ago for this same reason. I was selling a high end watch and got some woman from interstate saying she wanted to buy it for her husband who is dying of cancer blah blah blah, even offered to do a bank transfer. All the time i thought, why doesnt she just walk into a store and buy one, than spend the time talking to some random interstate person about it.

  • Tigercjn on 07/06/2020 - 14:40

    Tell him the bank has refused to release the funds and see what he says, does he go quiet?

  • Patchy01 on 07/06/2020 - 14:55

    You could just wait till money clears, withdraw it at the bank, contact the buyer and ask them for their account details so you can deposit the refund. If they go silent then report it to bank so they can investigate if it was stolen money.

  • [Deactivated] on 08/06/2020 - 18:59
    +2

    Here is an update. The buyer told me that they called their bank but their bank said it cannot be reversed. I called my bank and they told me that the transactions cannot be reversed without raising a dispute, and if there is a dispute I will have an opportunity to explain my side of things. I asked them to reverse the original transaction but they said its not possible, and I have to send them money in a separate transaction. I also called the buysers bank to reverse this transaction but they also said it can't be reversed and I cannot simply reject this transaction. However both banks said they cannot 100% guarantee that I will be safe if I just transfer the money back in a separate transaction (there could be a dispute, and there could be chances that I lose in that dispute).

    Its strange that you cannot just 'refuse' money if someone deposits into your account. However the lady at NAB (my bank) said she was pretty sure that its safe to send the money back into buyer's bank account although she couldn't say it with 100% guarantee.

    If the buyer had to go through a dispute process it could take up to 45 days, and it could cost them money as well. I am going to send the money back to their bank account and hope for the best, I think its better to take some risk instead of making them go through a lengthy process. I will keep you updated if something happens after I refund money. Thanks again for all the positive help.

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