Scammed by Gumtree Buyer, Suggestions Required

LEducatedfool on 02/07/2023 - 06:49

I have sold my new phone to the gumtree buyer. I did not aware he is scammer until the payment disappeared from my bank transactions.

Bank is escaping from their responsibilities and will not investigate or dispute as they only do for payment going outside.

I have found from simple google searches,he is using the my phone on his no. he is not attending my calls.

I reported to police but waiting for them to take action. Thinking of contacting Current affairs and finanicial omsbudman

is there any way I can find his street address with the phone no ? or any better way I can approach to this issue. Ozbargainers please suggest.

I have asked my mobile provider to block the phone. but the service provider saying they may or may not do it. I am powerless. even though the scammer can be easily found and punished..

Video footage of him is everywhere.no one able to provide me due to privacy reason.

The system here is more of helping scammers than to the General public..

General Discussion

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Comments

              • moph on 03/07/2023 - 12:51
                +2

                @shockme79: It sounds like OP did not know they were being paid with a cheque. They were told they were being paid via Osko, and then the funds appeared in their app, so they assumed it was via Osko, however it was from a bad cheque.

              • burningrage on 03/07/2023 - 15:33

                @shockme79: I still do lol. Last time bought a car using personal cheque (waited 3 days to clear).

                or if I have to do a massive transfer from one bank to another in one hit (rather than max $20k online via online banking).

                I must admit I never got personal cheques as payment.

    • yippy on 02/07/2023 - 10:34
      +2

      I don't think it's instant unless you've transferred to that person previously. The cash appears as pending in your account for 24hrs before it's release.

      • WhyAmICommenting on 02/07/2023 - 16:29
        +3

        Depends on the bank. Seems to be instant from ING to new people.

        • snvl on 02/07/2023 - 17:33
          +1

          It wasn’t for me (ING). Maybe the amount could affect if instant or not

      • coffeeinmyveins on 02/07/2023 - 18:21
        +3

        Depends on the institution. First time I encountered this was when I sold a mattress for $50 to someone and he did OSKO from westpac, it didn't come in. 24 hours later to the second, it came in. I won't be doing OSKO again.

    • Twix on 02/07/2023 - 12:19
      +4

      They ask for your email and send a scam email saying you need to pay to upgrade your PayID account to a PayID business account. The scam email is written in bold text and usually sent from a @gmail.com account. More details and photos about this PayID scam can be found here and here.

      “It is also important to remember PayID will never send you an email, text or message directly. If you receive one of these, it is a scam.

  • try2bhelpful on 02/07/2023 - 10:29
    +1

    Just wondering if taking the person’s picture might help. At least you can plaster their image all over the local shopping centre if you get scammed. They used to call the “Trading Post” the “Fencing Post”. Maybe we can rename “Gum Tree” as “Scam Tree”. I just avoid all these services. If I have a phone to get rid of I use Monster Mobile. They might not give you the best return but they are pretty safe to deal with.

  • randomusername2017 on 02/07/2023 - 10:53
    +1

    have sold donated my new phone

    Was it an iPhone?
    Why sell a new phone on gumtree instead of returning it?
    What value was the transaction?
    Did you provide your account and BSB or just PayID handle?

    • Educatedfool on 02/07/2023 - 11:08

      True I feel the same. i donated or throw money in the toilet drain..

      • randomusername2017 on 02/07/2023 - 11:23
        +1

        Strictly for educational purposes… might be a way to get some value back.
        Post a link to their gumtree profile in the OP.

      • No on 04/07/2023 - 16:31

        throw money in the toilet drain..

        Don't do this. The drain next to the toilet will get blocked if you put money in there which could be costly to repair. You can try flushing the money in the toilet itself but since we moved to plastic bank notes they may not actually flush. Do you have a bbq or wood fired heater?

      • Grazz989 on 04/07/2023 - 21:37

        You didn't actually answer his questions, mate.

    • capslock janitor on 02/07/2023 - 18:33

      what u mean, returning it?

  • Educatedfool on 02/07/2023 - 11:04
    -2

    I provide him bsb and account no since he said direct transfer (OSKO) but he used cheque transaction in bank branch ATM. I asked bank to show me that the cheque. they can't show me.I could not understand what kind of cheque transaction it was that showed in my balance immediatly make me believe it was a osko transfer.

    • randomusername2017 on 02/07/2023 - 11:15
      +4

      Future reference…most banking Apps allow you to click on the transaction details and have a payment method entry that should read osko, generally not available for pending transactions.

    • [Deactivated] on 02/07/2023 - 12:56
      +2

      I would look into the law, I imagine that could be some kind of fraud?

      Scamming someone, and then actually doing cheque fraud could be a big deal?

      • Educatedfool on 02/07/2023 - 13:38
        +1

        I think so and really hope, He committed financial crime/ fraud from bank ATM. I hope police will take action or report to the cyber crime may be.

  • Jetstream on 02/07/2023 - 11:09
    -1

    So many comments - yet the most obvious one has not been said…..

    Bikies!

  • umoddbro on 02/07/2023 - 11:39
    +7

    Your monthly ozbargain gumtree scam post…. Sorry for you mate but a quick search will tell you gumtree is only good for cash in hand transaction.

  • Educatedfool on 02/07/2023 - 11:56
    -1

    Dear Ozbargainers ,

    lessons learnt in a hard-way for me/

    if you are buying/selling anything , do it in front of the local police station under video surveillance. check if their profile and ratings in the website.
    obtain his Facebook / social media profile.contact number, car rego,take pictures, videos and create the evidence. take one or two friends with you. offer to take only cash. unless you are entirely sure that money is in your account never ever exchange it.

    • cdaddy on 02/07/2023 - 12:16
      +26

      All you had to do was write: Only accept cash

    • CyberMurning on 02/07/2023 - 12:18
      +9

      No, payid is fine.
      Thr point is we need to make sure the money come is settled, not pending.

      Cheque will seen as pending. Then dont pass the item. Doesnt matter what. This can be reversed.

      Payid will seen as settled. This cant be reversed.
      Pass or ship the item.

      • coffeeinmyveins on 02/07/2023 - 18:23
        +1

        As some others have said, some banks will have osko transactions to new payids pending for 24 hours as a safety measure. this could be problematic since the originator of the transaction could reverse it later.

        • moph on 03/07/2023 - 12:58
          +3

          Right, but in that case, the transaction doesn't appear in the recipient's account.

      • gromit on 03/07/2023 - 21:07
        +4

        Payid can be reversed if it was a fraudulent transfer. I.e. they had obtained access to someone elses account. Safest is cash only.

    • [Deactivated] on 02/07/2023 - 12:32
      -1

      And the standard reply to own OP summarising lessons learnt

    • SBOB on 02/07/2023 - 12:39
      +1

      if you are buying/selling anything

      There's being aware and cautious to being scammed, and then there is the list of requirements you just spelt out. No one needs to go to that kind of overkill effort and if those requirements were put on me dealing with you, you'd quickly end up in the blocked message pile.

      Overkill for what should be simple precautions if you're going to deal with private gumtree/Facebook marketplace selling and buying

    • Moneyinthebank on 02/07/2023 - 15:04
      +2

      Becareful of ratings as well as some people use fake accounts to boost there own gumtree ratings

    • coffeeinmyveins on 02/07/2023 - 18:22
      +2

      offer to take only cash

      This is literally the only thing you should be doing. All of your other suggestions are useless.

    • kaleidoscope on 02/07/2023 - 19:05

      None of this… Just cash or payid only. No cheque / bank transfer / paypal/ screenshots etc. Keep it simple.

      word about payid, i checked with my bank and they said it can only be used for receiving and anything received can’t be reverted and it’s instant.

    • No ONE on 02/07/2023 - 19:45
      +2

      Paranoia gets the best of you. The scammer wouldn't care if you are transacting in front of police station or at the back street.

      You were just to gullible to see someone pulled a scam on you and you easily fell for it.

      Tip:
      - PAYID/OSKO is all good as long as it is immediately available in your account; always check the details of the transaction.
      - Cash

      If you are going to take pictures and videos, you are just driving away genuine buyers. They will think you are a stalker.

    • Protractor on 02/07/2023 - 21:06
      -1

      I "learnt the hard way" isn't exactly a glowing reference when applying for an advisory role.

  • franco cozzo on 02/07/2023 - 12:40

    …if youd used cash for the transaction instead….

  • Educatedfool on 02/07/2023 - 12:42
    +3

    Yeah.Stupid me…If i was read forum posts regularly Particularly the Scam posts before I would not fallen victim. I am really not bothered about the money that I lost. but this experience really kills me day and night everyday and that the reward for trusting people blindly..

    • SitarBoy on 04/07/2023 - 23:19

      We recently had a phone stolen when we were selling the phone too. Felt the same way afterwards and stuck with me for a bit. But as someone mentioned before, a small price to pay in the grand scheme of life.

  • [Deactivated] on 02/07/2023 - 12:57

    I never knew of this scam, but I don't use that payment system.

    I would only do cash, or PayID these days. I mean every banking app has PayID setup I believe now.

    • SnoozeAndLose on 02/07/2023 - 13:19
      +1

      PayID sometime not instant for 1st time sender

      • CyberMurning on 02/07/2023 - 13:42

        then wait for it to clear.
        The main thing is settled. Doesn't matter what way.
        If you getting cash but the buyer still holding the money and you give the item and they run away its the same as this thread

      • BrunoBear on 02/07/2023 - 13:43

        Yep from westpac new payid has 24 hour hold even for amounts as low as $30 as i found out recently when selling QF passes.
        From CBA i think they hold it for large amounts. Not sure other banks.

        If you release the goods while payment still on hold, buyer can call bank to get it reversed.

        • WhyAmICommenting on 02/07/2023 - 16:41

          What’s the pass worth to sell? Can you get banned for doing it?

          • BrunoBear on 02/07/2023 - 16:46

            @WhyAmICommenting: I sold them for $30 each but have seen them for up to $40 on the classifieds. Unlikely to get banned for passes I would say, because you're allowed to gift them to strangers and they can't prove it was a sale

  • plmko on 02/07/2023 - 13:08
    +2

    If you don't want to be scammed when selling a phone, just don't buy Apple or Samsung. Other brands don't have enough information or aren't liquid enough in the black market for them to target, leaving only the fans out there that genuinely value that phone you have to buy it.

    • manbearpig on 03/07/2023 - 08:03
      +1

      Xiaomi baby.

    • SitarBoy on 04/07/2023 - 23:20

      People dont buy phones on the basis of potentially being safe from scams when selling

  • puglix on 02/07/2023 - 13:17
    +1

    I would only take cash or crypto transactions on my Dex wallett and all scammers disappear BOOM!

    • capslock janitor on 02/07/2023 - 17:59
      +1

      what cryptos are you acceptin?

      • puglix on 03/07/2023 - 05:08

        Bitcoin and Ethereum

  • Educatedfool on 02/07/2023 - 13:17
    -1

    In my case,the scammer is using the phone with his active sim without any fear of getting caught.

  • snvl on 02/07/2023 - 13:25
    +4

    Sorry to hear that. As other have said. Cash only, never osko/payid.

    Never sell to new (2023) accounts.

    • CocaKoala on 02/07/2023 - 21:10
      +3

      Osko/payid works perfectly fine. But it becomes a problem if you don't know how it works or don't know how to spot a scam.

      That said, someone coming out to ask for your payid without even seeing high value items may be a huge red flag.

  • FoxJump on 02/07/2023 - 14:30

    i sold a car with payid once.
    everything went fine.

    • coffeeinmyveins on 02/07/2023 - 18:24
      +2

      I also sped once and it was fine.

  • Joxer on 02/07/2023 - 14:42
    +3

    You can block the IMEI of the phone just for fun.

    although they'll probably ship it overseas or resell to some unsuspecting buyer.

  • Protractor on 02/07/2023 - 16:38

    Perhaps reading the advice GT gives to avoid scams, or read the dozens of posts here advising the same. Or installing a better stable door BEFORE the horse meanders off with such easy pickings.

  • capslock janitor on 02/07/2023 - 17:58
    +1

    contacting Current affairs and finan

    Please do, and keep me posted

  • Breno785au on 02/07/2023 - 18:06
    +4

    Only Tracy Grimshaw can solve this one…

    • coffeeinmyveins on 02/07/2023 - 18:24
      +1

      Too bad she left ACA :(

      • DASHCAM NOW DUDE on 02/07/2023 - 21:40
        +3

        Well deserved retirement.

        Also, Ally Langdon is very attractive.

        • Munki on 03/07/2023 - 12:38

          That jawline can cut apples.

      • Protractor on 02/07/2023 - 21:41

        Good riddance. They should have given her the show as a going away gift.Win/win

  • Aap Ke Papa on 02/07/2023 - 19:22
    +1

    I am still amazed as to people still get scammed. Desperation for an extra $50 or $100 makes you do stupid things I guess.

    • CocaKoala on 02/07/2023 - 21:09
      +4

      Desperation for an extra $50 or $100 makes you do stupid things I guess.

      It is not fair to reduce it that. Unfortunately a lot of people are not very savvy when it comes to how technology works, and they get taken advantage of.

  • DASHCAM NOW DUDE on 02/07/2023 - 21:39

    The lastest edition of "The Little Black Book of Scam" has released.

    https://www.accc.gov.au/about-us/publications/the-little-bla…

    • Protractor on 02/07/2023 - 21:48
      +1

      Thank the taxpayers for this. Another KPI delivered!
      It should keep thousands of their paper shufflers in jobs for decades more. Maybe they could publish a 'fictional' one called ;

      How we took on the fuel cartels, and delivered a just outcome for consumers

    • ArskinF on 06/07/2023 - 17:14

      I see the "The Little Black Book of Scam" makes no mention of the Lottery Ticket Scam.

      That must mean the very professionally presented 3rd prize winning lottery ticket ($177,000US) I received in mail from Malaysia, and tore up, might have been the real deal.

      Oh dear……

  • dcep on 02/07/2023 - 22:45

    No bikies so far?

    If OP only after justice and don't care about money, then hire a PI to identify the mobile number owner / cctv face.

  • jaffar on 02/07/2023 - 22:58
    +3

    RIP but it's honestly pretty bs that the best advice we can give OP is tough luck and the scammers get away scot free to scam the next chump.

    • digitalbath on 03/07/2023 - 09:05

      When people stop doing stupid things, we won’t have to give bad advice.

  • drfuzzy on 02/07/2023 - 23:14

    "Hello Mr Scammer, would you like to buy my iPhone from the Gumtree?"

  • Tomcruise on 02/07/2023 - 23:19

    I can't even swap Coins for Notes anymore at the BANK. It has to go through my account or put cash into somrone elses account without showing my 100 points of ID.

    • Randolph Duke on 03/07/2023 - 08:47
      +1

      Sounds like a shit branch.

      • Davo1111 on 03/07/2023 - 10:08

        No, there were changes in the money laundering laws like 2 years ago and they’ve implemented blanket policies to protect themselves

  • digitalbath on 03/07/2023 - 09:04
    +2

    If people are still being scammed when they sell items. It’s their own fault.

    • SpainKing on 03/07/2023 - 15:30
      +1

      I'd consider it largely the fault of the scammer. Without them behaving criminally it wouldn't have happened

      • digitalbath on 03/07/2023 - 16:31

        Yeah but the scammer isn’t posting their story of how they did something stupid.

  • newjerseydamo on 03/07/2023 - 09:26

    If you can track them, confront them, send bikies, or lodge police report.
    If you don't want to do that, then call your carrier, report your phone as stolen and get them to block the IMEI.

    Considering the amount of posts on here about people being scammed, you'd think people would learn by now that it's cash on pick up only, especially when it comes to something like phones that have always been a scammer's paradise.
    Hard to have sympathy at this stage.

    • SpainKing on 03/07/2023 - 15:32

      OP only found out about the forums for this post so it's hard for them to learn when not presented with the information

      • tooblue on 03/07/2023 - 17:48
        Educatedfool

        Member Since
        18/04/2014

        • SpainKing on 03/07/2023 - 18:36

          You can be a long time member and not know about the forums. You'd just be missing out on a lot of entertainment

          • newjerseydamo on 04/07/2023 - 08:25

            @SpainKing: I find that hard to believe when forum posts appear on the main page. They've also posted deals back in 2016.

            Plus all of their "solutions" such as ACA and ombudsman won't do anything, blaming the bank when it's a civil matter.
            Sounds like someone attempting to take responsibility for their idiocy to me.

  • swagkage on 03/07/2023 - 10:02

    if you can track him, why not just go get your phone back?

    • Educatedfool on 03/07/2023 - 23:12

      My family worried and advised to leave this forever. I thought lot about this and think it is like jumping into the muddy water. I will leave it to the law and karma and pursue through law agents and bank.

  • Davo1111 on 03/07/2023 - 10:07
    +1

    Gumtree and facebook. Cash only, in person only

    Learn and move on

  • gimme on 03/07/2023 - 11:11
    +4

    Sold 100+ items on gumtree over the years with zero issues (other than having to deal with the usual inbred tyrekickers!)

    3 Simple Rules.

    1. Only deal via the app - Do not provide phone number
    2. Don't meet at your own address, find an aptmt block nearby and give them the street address and pretend to 'come down' at the scheduled time only OR meet at convenient 3rd party location. Why? Firstly because I don't like giving strangers my address or any personal details and I don't need them to come back if something 'breaks' 3 months later saying it's my fault.
      2b. Only give them the address when they tell you they're on the way. Yes this isn't full proof but it has worked for me 99% of the time for people to show up to say when they're going to show up. I don't deal with idiots who never turn up after sitting at home all day or turn up whenever they feel like it.
    3. CASH CASH CASH - This should be obvious but hey that's the reason we're here.
    • [Deactivated] on 03/07/2023 - 12:55

      other than having to deal with the usual inbred tyrekickers!

      Can you ask them for a copy of their Ancestry.com family tree at the outset so as to not waste time?

      • gimme on 03/07/2023 - 13:46

        gumtree should do that, in fact that should be included for a license to procreate

        • [Deactivated] on 04/07/2023 - 01:34

          Or if someone could build a chrome/browser extension allowing people to flag buyer profiles and see previous flags when they start a conversation. I would honestly pay to access something like that.

    • aerona on 06/07/2023 - 07:02

      I once bought something from gumtree and the guy insisted i meet him at mcdonalds. This was probably one of the most weird transactions i have experienced. Now if people suggest to meet at shady places that isn't home. I don't just deal with them anymore.

  • Brianqpr on 03/07/2023 - 18:15
    +1

    Ombudsman cannot help you, only deals with complaints against businesses that are members.

  • Dogs on 03/07/2023 - 18:36
    +1

    Go back to the police speak to the detectives passing a bad cheque is a criminal offence they will find him

    • ahara on 03/07/2023 - 22:17
      +1

      Technically they never passed the Cheque to seller, but rather to the bank. It’s the bank that needs to push police to investigate and take action that will benefit the seller.

      But considering the bank did not incur a loss, they likely will not bother.

      I agree that automatically this person should be investigated by police, but at same time, police resources are limited.

      OP, if you know the persons name and address, you could instigate claim in small claims court for theft, or deceit of product “sold”. Assuming you have time and wish to bother with the legal aspects.

      If you win, you could then seek enforcement etc.
      My 2 cents, keep pushing the bank to take action with Police against scammer.

      • Educatedfool on 03/07/2023 - 22:57

        I tried, i spoke to bank branch manager.they were helpful till they setup the meeting with bank scam investigation team.but the scam investigation team straight a way told they only investigate if the money gone out the bank,not the one coming in. he asked me to get better educated on this kind of scams. It was a like slap in my face.I could not even react for his response. but the bank manager taken my feedback about this cheque method of scamming the customer. Bank did not even show me how the cheque looked like. is there anyway I can push bank to take action. May be I will try it again with bank. I am not going to leave them( both bank and scammers). They got the footage and the physical evidence of cheque.

  • Educatedfool on 03/07/2023 - 22:39
    +5

    I am happy now that I spoiled further scammers party. my fellow ozbarganizers will be more immune to this kind of scams.

    I am very confident that these scammers will be caught and will be punished soon.

    I will post soon how these scammers caught.

    I have submitted phone imei code to my service provider to block. Atleast no one can use in Australia

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