[nospam]

Be careful out there.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8222087.stm

I *really* wish Gumtree would take some advice and add IP addresses to all ads. It would help to get rid of a load of scammers, and certainly the overseas ones.

[jonin60seconds]

Showing IP addresses won't work for two reasons:
1. We are not allowed to publish people's private data
2. The more IT literate people can mask those IPs

We are working on longer term solutions that can improve this.

[rockyoulikeahurricane]

It very dangerous selling to the public. A man in Texas ran a ad on kijiji for dogs he interviewed alone at his home . His wife found him dead and dogs and the mans van missing .

[ToxicD]

LOL @ the Gumtree Spoekeswoman's reply We urge ppl to Meet in Daylight in a Public place (Which the poor sod did) and take a friend (Yeah so they can be stabbed also) Nice one Gumtree Spokeswoman LOL

[montyzuma]

and what would your recommendations be?

[ToxicD]

lol monty we have spoke before on other post's and i can see once again your attitude hasnt changed always a smart answer no matter what is posted,Im surprised you kept my post you usually delete anything i post,
I dont have a solution But taking a Friend or Friends inst going to make any diffrence if that was a set up it dosent matter who you take with you it was still going to happen!!

Maybe there is a solution in other ways other than those previously stated in the post,Myabe like making the Site a full on sign up site both for forums and to post an add like an Ebay sort of setup if you want to post an add maybe something along the lines of Bank card info on sign up For proof of Who you are before Buying/Selling Or something along those lines Or simmilar To that,Maybe that way it may deter Scammers Faruds and the Like There is bound to be something Gumtree can do to stop the Scams Frauds and other things that go wrong,Im not saying that the Bank card registration is the way Because it most probably isnt,But there has to ne someway of making sure who you are meeting is Legit and has been vetted through Gumtree already.

[montyzuma]

Have we? sorry I cant remember. why would i delete your posts unless they deserved it ie abuse obscene etc

I didnt think I was giving a smart answer on the contrary, you seemed to be giving the usual complainers post without giving any idea of how to make things better. it's easy to criticise.

whats wrong with taking a friend, I dont think they were suggesting they be tied together waving bunches of fivers and shouting come and get it.
It doesnt take much thought to work out a scenario such that you are round the corner and if he doesnt phone in 10 mins you contact the police or you phone him with a code word he has to say if he is being held under duress.

99.999% of trades go off with no probs

The other stuff you suggest means a radical change which I cant see happening.

Doing anything involves an element of risk given the amount of trades that gumtree does perhaps they think they have done enough.
every year you have a number of people injured by tea cosies for instance

you cant wrap people in cotton wool and you will always have someone trying it on in any situation.

[BulldogUK]

[montyzuma]

Hi Bulldog welcome to the forums

loads of things to chat about

the poster toxicd has 5 posts
now while im not suggesting that he has no experience
PERHAPS he might not have some here?

only a suggestion

try and think of gumtree as a modern version
of a newsagents window but cheaper

ie you can mostly stick a card up in there advertising for free
but is the newsagent responsible for what happens there after?

buyer beware and all of that

you cannot switch off your common sense and assume someone else is responsible

we are not yet in a nanny state

[BulldogUK]

[montyzuma]

I am not really following you

which valid points did he/she make?

and im not following your last three lines at all

[BulldogUK]

yeah sorry i did notice my mistakes im dog tired and its very late i did try to pm you but i could'nt find that funchion.
I did try to correct it aswell but could'nt find the edit button neither feel free to add me to msn and i will explain when ive had some sleep.

[BulldogUK]

[montyzuma]

no pm function and no edit function




yes i know



Ill email you

[jonin60seconds]

I think the best thing you can do (and I have done this the last 3 face to face transactions I've been involved in) is to discuss the payment situation up front. Say that you will do a bank transfer / paypal at their house or that you will draw the cash after seeing the item if you are happy with it. That way if the seller has one groan, just don't go through with it.

Also, google their phone number, name, and email and see if anything dodgy about them comes up.

Also always be street smart, no-one can guarantee what happens in the real world and unfortunately there are some bad people out there but it is such a tiny percentage as Gumtree creates 100s of 1000s of transactions every month so 99.999999% of people on here / in England are good people.

Also I know it might sound like there are a lot of scams about when you read the forums but remember it is human nature to come somewhere to complain rather than to compliment so you never hear the 1000s of positive experiences Gumtree creates. If it didn't we just wouldn't be in business, simple as that!

[wf]

[montyzuma]

The phrase 'explain why' comes to mind.