Selling something on Gumtree or similar ? Scammers- be warned!

Image via CrunchBase

Dear all,

We are selling a table/chairs on Gumtree and have been approached by two scammers – got suspicious and realised with a quick search online that they were both frauds! What are the chances of two scammers responding to our ad one after the other? But it happened… hard to trust people nowadays. 🙁

Their emails will change but their stories don’t, from what I can read on victims’ blogs/forums. The best way I can help reduce their chances of taking advantage of someone else is to share my experience. These are the stories they emailed me – please be warned and pass this on to your family and friends to be careful if/when they are selling anything online.

SCAMMER 1
From ‘Sue Mike’ – email mikesuiee@yahoo.com
Hi thanks for reply, i am a marine engineer, i am at sea right now. I am buying this for my dad as a surprise gift. I can only pay through paypal at the moment as i dont have access to my bank account online(i dont have internet banking with it), but i have it attached to my paypal account, and this is why i insisted on using paypal to pay,all i will need is your paypal email address to make the payments, and if you dont have a paypal account yet, you can set one log on to www.paypal.com.au it cant take you less than 3mins to do that, i will be expecting your paypal email so l can pay. I have a pick up agent that will come for the pick up after payments has been sorted, l will be waiting for your reply asap……
…………..
Thanks so much for getting back to me and for concluding about selling this item to my dad,i really appreciate it,i am going to transfer the money into your account right now but before i do that,i will like to add the sum of $250 to the amount we agreed on and i will like to know if you would help me to transfer it to my shipping agent via western union money transfer here in West Africa.I would ve love to do this myself but currently i am very busy on ocean because i am a sailor and there is no where on the sea i could send the money and the only payment method the shipping agent accepted is western union.I would be very happy if you would help me and i want you to get back to me with your reply so i can transfer everything together and get back to you as soon as POSSIBLE will also pay all the paypal charges

SCAMMER 2
From Danny Clone – email dannyclone01@yahoo.com.au
Thanks for the swift response and do as well advise on the least amount you will like to give it away as i am buying this for Dad and due to the nature of my job and location…i will not be able to come for inspection,am a very busy type as i work long hours everyday,i have gone through your advertisement and i am satisfied with it.
As for the payment..i can only pay via the fastest and secure way to pay online(PayPal) here.
I have a private courier agent that will come for the pick up after the payment have been made …so no shipping included and With the issue of my details,transferring the name of ownership and signing of all paperwork will be done by the courier services company agent so you don’t have to worry about that.
You can now send me your PayPal email so i can pay in right away and also include your address in your reply.If you don’t have a paypal account, you can easily set up one…log on to www.paypal.com.au and sign up its very easy… i would have loved to talk to you on phone but i work mainly offshore, our phone is down on the rig right now due to bad weather, that was why i sent you a text, i even wonder how my message deliver to your phone but for now we can only communicate through the same mailing channel.await your reply asap.

You might be interested in reading this article from the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission
https://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/1040045/fromItemId/142

Regards
Caroline Z.
pet******@*****.com