[donkeykong]

It's the all too familiar story in my case. I sold a phone on ebay and used paypal thinking I would be "getting around" providing my account details to the purchaser. I was suspicious of sending a phone to Nigeria but thought that because my account details weren't being provided, it would be ok. I didn't think to be cautious of fake paypal emails and was asked for a tracking number in order for pal pal to release the funds. Luckily, I cottoned on in time to stop the shipment to Nigeria, however, I lost $220 in shipping fees, a very expensive lesson.

I feel disappointed in myself because although I was suspicious from the very outset and although all the alarm bells were there, such as poor grammer and poor use of the English language, incorrect information etc, I wasn't thinking sharply enough.

Pay pal really needs to put proper warnings on its site as soon as you log in. I had never used paypal before, so was not aware of the paypal protocol. I didn't know that paypal never asks for tracking/shipping numbers. Although it is not paypal's fault, better warning mechanisms need to be put into place.

[ShallWeDanceTonight?]

Not being rude, but when you withdraw cash out from an atm, they don't have massive flashing signs up, saying "don't wave your cash about in the middle of the street at 2am on a friday, when drunk".

I think people make the mistake of thinking the interent is some kind of friendly happy place, and just don't think.

There are warnings - just like there are on here about scams (at the top of every "buy it" page), as well as on ebay - yet every day, there is another new thread in here (well, usually, feedback) about someone being scammed from an add on this very site - that would have been directly under the warnings on what not to do.

[montyzuma]

they dont put signs on bacon slicers saying not to put your boabie in it either.
some people shouldnt get let out alone

[louisehart]

I have been scammed by a bloody nigerian. Sent computer after the PayPal email that they use, selling due to emigration and computer belonged to my son, he is devistated. Contacted Ebay and Paypal who were worse than useless and just said go to the police. Now I am getting abusive emails from the little shit who defrauded me. Going to the newspapers with this surely ebay/paypal should protect us more. My son is now out of pocket by £399.00 he was going to use the money to buy another for school work!!! I am so cross, I like to think I am not naive but they well and truely got me.

[Dirty Boy]

How did you pay?

[Realist]

For those who don't yet know, you can determine the actual origin of emails especially those from major companies - see details in http://forums.gumtree.com/viewtopic.php?p=2001993#2001993

Unfortunately, for most people and especially new users they are only likely to investigation after being a victim. Anyone else think it would be worth Gumtree putting another link on its posting reply emails to a page outlining all the currently known scams and fraud issues?

[kathveg]

I have just had the same email from a guy claiming he wanted to buy my projector, advertised on facebook. He gave me a fake email address, and then forwarded me an email from 'paypal' claiming he had deposited £350 in my account. This email contained this message at the bottom, along with all the 'paypal verified' logos etc

"This PayPal® payment has been deducted from the buyer's account and has been "APPROVED" but will not be credited to your account until the shipment tracking number is sent to us for shipment verification so as to secure both the buyer and the seller from possible fraud. Here are the necessary information needed from you before your account will be credited.The tracking number of shipment,your PayPal ID,
Send tracking number to us through this mail contact.pay.manager@consultant.com and our customer service care will attend to you.
**PLEASE NOTE**
Once the tracking number has been sent to us and shipment verified which is within the next 5 hours
You will receive a "CONFIRMATION EMAIL" from PayPal® informing you that the Money has been credited.
Thank you for using PayPal!
The PayPal Team"

I am lucky I read the small print - this is a major fraud and BEWARE this happened to me though FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE not even ebay!!

His name is Gorge Mich, provided email was gorge.micheal123456@yahoo.com (none existent), the delivery address given was
Scott Lanre
20, muyiwa oni avenue,Road block
City: Akure
State: Ondo
Country: Nigeria
Zip code: 23434
Tel: +2348066709095

[iwannabe]

There is a Nigerian organisation that deals with these problems - which the scammers don't want you to know about. Their website is :http://www.efccnigeria.org/ and they ruthlessly pursue these complaints.

[gs_asdf]

omg that's the exact same person that scammed me!!! but good thing i caught it early on..

[gs_asdf]

and btw this person must create millions of different accounts. he found my ad on facebook and posed as bode lanre and said she wants to get a phone for her husband who is abroad in nigeria.

[emzee]

can somebody please help me i put my phone on ebay and some1 from nigeria said they want it but they tld me 2 reply to there hotmail not there ebay account so i did. n now iv have been readin ppls msgs and there sayin ppl send there paypal thing sayin they have sent the money and then u send it owt n its not tru n stuff im totally confused n new 2 paypal so i dnt no wat to do they lady seems genuine n nice sayin she does want the fone its a bit over priced for the money she has offerd me but she has included p&p. i really dnt no wat to do can nebody help me?

[the_tidy_kiwi]

[jamie_leeds]

hello, ive recently been victimised concerning the scams, someone saying they will send me £250 for an item which i have to send the item first, he is constantly on at me on msn and emails, i always have been a bit cautious saying i want the money in my hand before i send the item, he refuses constantly, so i refuse to send the item.
then the scammer threatened me with legal action along with a slightly suspicious email, also threatening me with legal action.
at first i was a bit worried because i have a family to uphold and cant be dealing with any sort of legal action.
must i worry about any sort of legal action being taken against me if i dont send the item? or is it simply just a false threat?
thankyou.

[Realist]

As the seller you make the terms, no money no item. If they don't like it they can go elsewhere. Legal action is almost certaintly a hollow threat. In the UK the cheapest would be to go via the small claims process and even that would cost them money and their time (and I am not even sure they could come up with a law that had been broken). I seriously doubt whether a real buyer would bother when they could get another elsewhere. For scammers anything that will get the item in their hands without actually having to pay money is a pay day.

Checking email origin might give some info (see earlier item in thread). If abroad just laugh.

Hope this gives you some peace.

[montyzuma]

Hi Jamie, yes, he is at it, trying to browbeat you into sending the item

forward his email to abuse@hotmail.com. yahooo or whereever it comes from

there is absolutely no danger

[jamie_leeds]

thankyou very much i have confronted him and told him and i have reported his email to all significant website: ebay, paypal, hotmail, yahoo etc.
thankyou

[madrider1961]

one of the worse places for these scam is on meet your messenger ,seems they get on there all the time ,why carnt they just go away n either get a proper job or DIE.!!!!!