PayPal scam on Gumtree - HELEN

[Emma892]

I had an ad on gumtree and someone called Helen messaged me asking if I can private email her and gave me her email address - <removed> I did so and I got a email from her that seemed fishy: 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 dont have time at all, but like i said i am 100% OK with the advert.However, i have a reliable courier that would help me to pick it up at your preferred location after you have received your money via PayPal 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. To start off with,please get back to me with suitable collection time so that i can inform the courier agent about it now. At first I didn’t think twice and replied to ‘her’ and she came back with this email: Regarding your PayPal email,sorry you will need an alternative email like Yahoo or hotmail account in order to be able to receive payment confirmation from PayPal as @btinternet email delays payment..i have had problems with them in the past..just create a Yahoo or hotmail account and attach it to your PayPal account..let me know once you have done that please so that i can proceed with the payment. I have never heard of such a thing about having a certain email address?! I have replied to say I will only accept cash and face on collection as it began to feel very dodgy! Since then they have not replied! Her name is Helen on gumtree and I am raising this for people to be careful as I very nearly fell for this!! <removed> Should be ashamed of themselves!!

[Ragnar_Lothbrok]

Good day @Emma892 

You really have done the right thing and I greatly appreciate that you post such a thing so whoever can read this will automatically be alarmed to that potential fraud.

In the event that you still have a copy of that email from "Helen"? Kindly have it forwarded to spoof@paypal.com at your most conveniennt opportunity.

For more information here:

How to spot fraudulent emails? 

How do I report potential fraud to PayPal? 

I am glad that you are staying safe and taking the correct steps.

***If you see a post that is helpful, kindly give the author Kudos or accept it as a solution. Thank you and keep safe!

[Dave4343]

Thanks for this. I had virtually the same story line only it's now a chap called Ethan who can't leave his house because of recent heart surgery but he can send his courier round.