Selling on GumTree

[Tysonator]

Hi,

I have put some items up for sale on Gumtree and have sold some, however I have had a few strange potential buyers e mailing me about my camera lenses I have for sale..

I am not sure if there is a scam going on or not !


One potential buyer wanted to 4 of my lens items at once and wanted me to send them a PayPal link, and was very instant I send a link and she will only pay via PayPal. She also stated she wanted the lens posted to a friend in the USA.


. However when asked for name and mobile number the e mails stopped !

The same has happened again with another buyer wanting to buy a camera lens me at asking price and very generous P&P value. What was strange as the buyer want me to send it to their nephew in Lagos, Nigeria.

When I mentioned that I wanted to send it to a UK address and asked for said address and mobile number the e mails stopped !


Is there a hack for getting the money back or is there some loop hole about sending goods out side the UK and PayPal. Would the buyer say they have not received the goods and claim a refund, what is the scam here ! ?


Many thanks


T

 

[Tysonator]

I have sold on Gumtree before and mostly it have been COD, only once was it bank transfer.

These last two buyers who want me to send the lenses aboard one to Nigeria and the other to USA. That straight away sets of alarm bells to me as these items should be cheaper there any way, especially the US !

What is the PayPal scam though, I mean if get payment then send the goods will the buyer just say they have not recieved the goods and ask a refund from PayPal ! ?
Or is it like mentioned above the buyers are using hacked paypal a/c's ! ?

 

[Tysonator]

Are you new to the internet?

That fact your first thought is “weird, because the lenses are cheaper over there” worries me. Lagos is one of the scammiest places on earth, unless you want to pay the Nigeria prince directly.

...and yes, you’ll sell via PayPal and they’ll say it was never received. You’ll be out of pocket as PayPal will deduct the money from your account and they’ll keep the items. Assuming they even use a legit PayPal account (could be using a stolen address).

Walk away.

Just new to selling on GumTree
The conversation I had with the buy did not start off with sending the item to Nigeria. It was quite a few e mails in to the conversation when overseas postage was mentioned.

I have now listed the items on ebay and will take the hit on the selling fees.