I put an ad on Gumtree for a car, I got a text asking me to email her "husband" who is interested in my car. Ok so I replied to the text but that bounced "not sent touch to try again" - I think because they have a system to keep your number from the public so I sort of thought that's explainable. Anyway, I emailed the email and it did look like it was a proper name etc (it would I guess). Anyway the guy got back saying that he'd give me the asking prioce + £50 to take it off the market and he'd pay by paypal if I let him have my paypal handle and he'd arrange for the car to be collected. I've done nothing further. Has scam written all over it but how? anyone any experience of this? thanks.
I've seen this scam explained somewhere very recently (within the last week) but I can't remenber exactly where. You've already given away your email address (hence the text bouncing). I'll look further and see if can find the article.
no the text bounced before that bhg. Gumtree tend to not give out your number directly so the text from them to me passes through a system of some sort. I assumed that they'd similarly protect enquirers to the ad.
the guy might be legit, but if emails you to say he has a problem with his paypal and needs your bank details to transfer the dosh, run for the hills !!
TTT - you said you emailed them when the text bounced. That was when you gave them your email address.
I thought I'd read an article in a magazine but albaquerty's post makes me think it was on here.
its do with picking it up, they 'll send you either a fake or real receipt, from paypal but paypal hold the money till the buyer confirms receipt - they then tell you they need you to wire them money to pay the person who is picking the car up (they will tell you they will add this onto the purchase price blah blah)
Have been getting HMRC scams lately and sent to them to investigate and action. On first name terms now as they send message to you saying received, definitely a scam, and they'll action.
Forgot to say I think the scam works by them saying a problem has occurred just before transfer of paypal funds on THEIR side and ask you to transfer on Western Union .....you know the rest.
This happened to my friend selling a car. Luckily they realised, but the "buyer" was arranging to pay through Paypal- had offered extra for a quick deal and bombarded them with messges saying he needed extra information such as their PayPal identity etc. (He didn't) . When they told him he didn't need those details to pay, he quickly disappeared.
errm, its not a theory, mate tried to sell car on gumtree, seller contacted, they were overseas and wanted to pay by paypal immediately, mate (stupidly) accepted offer, then was asked to transfer money to pay for the collection agent. seller then cancels transaction with paypal.