Hi,
I am using Gumtree for first time to sell my car and since this morning getting sample text messages.
I think they are scammers, just want to reconfirm with you guys.
thanks…
Are These Spam Messages ?
smart78 on 10/06/2025 - 12:54
Last edited 10/06/2025 - 13:04 by 1 other user
Last edited 10/06/2025 - 13:04 by 1 other user
Poll Options
- 80Yes - Certainly a Scammer
- 3No
- 1Not Sure
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yes plenty of scammers on Gumtree
They usually respond almost immediately and dont ask questions about what you are selling.
So you can tell straight away…who buys anything without asking about it?They usually ask to arrange a pick up using Aus Post and we know Aus Post only delivers.
And Yes!- you can tell by the language used - often American style english
And yes, they try to move the conversation away from Gumtree.
They probably want your email address.
Dont give out your phone number either.
Ask for theirs and you call them to see if it is legitimateBottom line:
Stick to Gumtree messaging - dont be swayed into email communications
Only arrange face to face meetings
Do not agree to deliveries or pick ups by anyone other than the buyer.
Only accept cash or if bank transfer, wait until you see the money land in your account!
I see you're doing your old 'hang redundant comment off the first post' thing still, HeWho<Doesn't>Know.
True to form, you've said nothing that hasn't already been covered in the thread. A day later.
Keep up the good work.
Unfortunately, unlike his day trips out for lunch, his grand kids aren’t here to apologise for his behaviour.
It is truly odd how he’s telling you to wait for the money to arrive in your account, telling you to stick to gumtree messaging, etc.
Yes, they're trying to move the conversation off gumtree so their scam acct won't get deleted as fast and to get your email or phone number.
Anyone interested in your car would make the effort to at least communicate properly.
Very suspicious but, for benefit of the doubt, reply with something like "hey, are you in (your area's vicinity)? You can come take a look at (pick your nearby public space, like a Westfield)." If they keep trying to move the convo to email or even send some links, block and report.
My bet is on the latter tbh.
It's not even worth the mental load of verification, just ignore and move on.
If an item is over a certain amount, it'll attract scammers like flies to the south end of a north facing horse. A used car is certainly over that threshold amount.
No don't engage with this at all. Just ignore it.
Well if you're really bored you could mess with them for a bit - but just be aware it is 100% scam, no chance these are real buyers.
Yes, they're 100% scam attempts. If you were quite unsure of this, then maybe selling a car on Gumtree isn't the way to go. There's dozens of other scams coming up.
Only trust the ones who say they will send you payment via Payid and get their Husbands, sisters, dogs, neighbour to pick it up.
How else is an offshore oil rig worker supposed to get a used car? 😁
Via their Nigerian Prince.
Definitely turn the Internet off and keep your car if you need to seek this confirmation.
Thanks.. I've clicked on 'Report Spam' .. not sure even that works or not or how it works 😂
You need to ask?
Several surefire scam identifiers are:
Poor english
Immediately offering buy price without inspection or negotiation.
Wanting to contact outside whatever platform you are using (gumtree, facebook) immediately
Wont answer simple questions.
Wont take a phonecall.
Uses whatsapp to contact you.Theres more, but there's a good start.
yes
Please kindly
Only Nigerian scammers use the word kindly. Write back and ask which part of Lagos they're from. They'll quickly ghost you.
Wouldn't have said that. I reckon it's the "final price" phrase that gives it away.
Two first names is also a dead giveaway. John James, Carlos Frank etc.
Carmen Spinner
Yes of course this is a scam.
@pegaxs?
Is this still available?
(Side note; I don't list cars for sale on Scumtree ever since they started charging for it… I mean, why the (fropanity) would I want to pay to have people send me "Is this still available?" messages when I can get that for free elsewhere…)
Respond worth 'payment via apple got cards'
I am positive that most people already know this, but every now and then I come across people who don't, so, for those who don't already know, even though Gumtree now accepts PayPal as a payment method, there is still no PayPal buyer or seller protection.
Never was in the past and it's not available now.
I've found a good way to filter out iffy buyers is to look for basic English fluency (and no, this isn't a dig at your post title).
Even if they're not an outright scammer, someone who cannot be arsed to type real words into a message probably isn't worth the hassle of dealing with.
First impressions can count- when I buy stuff off Gumtree/Marketplace, I've sometimes been told that the seller decided to sell to me just because I took the time to write proper sentences.