Beware of this gumtree scam!

[Bekigeexo]

Thanks for your response,I want you to consider this a deal as i am willing to pay your full asking price! i actually want to buy it for a family member who is urgently in need of it, i have checked through your posting and i'm fully satisfied with it. Unfortunately, i would not be able to come personally to view/collect, i work offshore as an instructor on a oil rig so i don't have time at all, but like i said i am 100% OK with the advert.However, I will pay you via PayPal once you are ready and send my courier agent to collect after you have fully received your money as that is the only means of payment available to me at the moment. I would also appreciate if you could remove the advert asap.I will contact the courier agent now so please get back to me with a suitable collection time. From Jeremy Thompson When I told him I was unable to get packaging and send it his reply was- The courier would package it so you don't have to worry about that ok....That shouldn't be a problem ok Everyone be careful using gumtree!

[kernowlass]

@Bekigeexo

This scam has been ongoing for years and is all over this board and the internet, glad you were not scammed.

The scam is that they send you a ''spoof email'' that looks as if its from paypal telling you that you have to pay the courier via western union or moneygram BEFORE paypal release the funds. They don't want your item just that payment.

[Bekigeexo]

Do they not actually put any money in my account?

[kernowlass]

@Bekigeexo

No, it works like this   >>>

THIS IS A TYPICAL PAYPAL SCAM.

They encourage you to use paypal.

You will get/got a "fake" email that looks as though it is from paypal.....it isn't.

It will say the buyer has paid ...you won't have been paid.

If the item requires shipping they will tell you that they will pay you extra and you must pay the agent via western union / moneygram BEFORE paypal will release the funds to you.

They are not interested in the item, they just want the western union etc funds and you will never see money in your paypal balance.

They also threaten legal action...have a laugh at that one and ignore it as its rubbish.

Paypal NEVER tell you to send an item before the payment is showing in your paypal account.

Paypal NEVER expect you to use a rival money transfer service eg moneygram or western union.