help, i was conned!

leoniedelt · Joined: 30 Jul 2009 Posts: 9

Birmingham forum, phones/telecoms section

there was a post for a brand new N97 for £200

it taken taken down some hours later by gumtree i suspect

I got in contact with him and we negotiated a deal, i sent him money through paypal and he apparently does not intend to send the phone to me

i was so stupid but it was such a good price and i fell for it Sad

what can i do? i need to know what the advert said, especially the phone number. can anyone contact me and let me know what was in that advert?

what else can i do? how can i fix this? i am so hurt, so upset, i was lied to and duped, i trusted him and all he wanted was my money Sad

montyzuma · Community Moderator Joined: 25 Jul 2007 Posts: 7556

immediately get onto paypal

leoniedelt · Joined: 30 Jul 2009 Posts: 9

i paid him last evening at 7pm.

i got onto paypal this morning and filed a dispute

but i'm afraid i wasnt fast enough Sad

he's still communicating but getting more and more shirty and rude with each text or whatever. claims i'm more or less pestering him, but for god's sake, its my money!

he claims paypal won't let him access the money but i dont buy it. he reminded me i have paypal buyer protection.....

paypal wont tell me anything. and as it was outside of ebay, the buyer protection only goes so far as to cover if the money is still in his account - so i suspect he moved it as soon as i sent it Sad

ironheight · Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Posts: 3 Location: Glasgow, Townhead

i am afraid he might have already got awy with it.

Try getting onto to paypal again. if anyone metions ebay or paypal while getting into a deal, never trust.

leoniedelt · Joined: 30 Jul 2009 Posts: 9

I may be able, once the paypal dispute is over and it is awarded in my favour (but the money wont be there, he TOLD me to use my paypal buyer protection against him in a text message, ffs, so he is a scam artist and knows very well what he is doing), to use Visa debit chargeback scheme to get my bank to reclaim the entire £200, since paypal is covered under visa debit chargeback scheme, and also £17.69 of the payment came out of my bank via my visa debit card.

I will keep you guys updated. sigh.

I really wish i could get ahold of his original advert. the phone number within and the contents would help in my claim.

montyzuma · Community Moderator Joined: 25 Jul 2007 Posts: 7556

have you followed the gumtree help buttons to report the ad?

they may be able to retrieve it.

leoniedelt · Joined: 30 Jul 2009 Posts: 9

the ad disappeared the same day he put it up, the 29th of July... i dont know how to try and retrieve it...

Tammera · Joined: 07 Jun 2008 Posts: 13

Miso Soup · Joined: 29 Mar 2009 Posts: 209

I thought Paypal only covers items bought on eBay only?

Gumtree is supposed to be a place for local trade. You meet the person, inspect your item and if it's okay you pay by cash. You really shouldn't be buying an item you've never seen.

Ah, sorry I didn't mean to sound insensitive. I do feel for you, leoniedelt. E-mail Gumtree to gather some evidence then contact the police. They may be able to trace the IP or something.

leoniedelt · Joined: 30 Jul 2009 Posts: 9

Tammera - read the Ts & Cs on paypal#s accpunt.

Miso - Paypal covers anything bought using their service as a means of exchanging money. His original ad stipulated local collection as soon as the phone was paid for, which i expected to do that evening.

Good news - might've been the vaguely threatening answerphone messages i've left about recovering my money one way or another, or possibly the paypal dispute i initiated which locked his funds until i cancel it upon receipt of the phone, or who knows, maybe he was telling the truth?

He phoned up last evening and gave an address for local collection. I'm going over this afternoon with a very big burly mate for protection (!!) and we'll see if i get my phone or not.

montyzuma · Community Moderator Joined: 25 Jul 2007 Posts: 7556

keep us posted

leoniedelt · Joined: 30 Jul 2009 Posts: 9

Nope, another bloody scam. Me and mate go over to Selly Oak, and as requested, phone him ten minutes before so he can make sure he is in.

no one home at address. I phone him, he says its his mate's address, his mate should have the phone, ask the neighbours, etc. Gives me 2 phone numbers for his mate, neither of which work. Says he can't get there, he's in CHELTENHAM!!

I decide i'm not waiting around any more, come home, and phone paypal to give them all the information, including 3 different names, phone numbers, address, etc. They think it is fraud and money laundering, in which case they should have caught the money before it left his account, and in 5 days when the dispute is ruled in my favour, hopefully my money will be returned.

Thanks everyone for listening.

leoniedelt · Joined: 30 Jul 2009 Posts: 9

He confessed by text message last night, to being a scammer in a ring of scammers, and passed on the name of the supposed head scammer.

He also told me 'not to use paypal any more, it isnt safe' - so i assume he knows exactly wha he is doing, and will get away with taking my money.

Who do i take this information to? Gumtree are not responding to my emails, and I need to know what to do. The police say it is a civil matter, therefore not their problem. The time runs out for him to respond to Paypal re proof of shipping, on 9 August.

leoniedelt · Joined: 30 Jul 2009 Posts: 9

Ok paypal dispute closed.

£8 of £200 recovered Sad

visa chargeback initiated with bank.

police alerted. they need more info, really. i have emailed and emailed gumtree to no avail.

help.

leoniedelt · Joined: 30 Jul 2009 Posts: 9

PLEASE gumtree - please get in touch?!

montyzuma · Community Moderator Joined: 25 Jul 2007 Posts: 7556

ill pass your message on
jon is pretty good

~Thally~ · Joined: 04 Jun 2009 Posts: 2780