Gumtree.com.au Buyer Fraud ScamTransaction ID: 5X472815E1267

posted below is the fraudulent scam i was led into over 6 emails with a fake buyer from Gumtree.com.au - i was alerted by the necessity to pay western union an up front fee to initiate the deposit. These scammers are getting good - the paypal forms looked very real....

when in doubt check scamwarmers as i did with the Transaction ID code...
As Gumtree suggest try to always meet the buyer....

check this out - unreal...

Important Information on how to complete your recent transaction (Transaction ID: 5X472815E1267414M)?

29/09/2010
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service@pa?ypal.com.au
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To deleted personal email



Dear Deleted personal email,

You have received a PayPal Payment of $26,600.00AUD from Ronald Makoon([email protected]).

A temporary hold has been placed on this transaction!

As mentioned in the receipt of Payment and as per New PayPal Payment policy, we have fully debited the total amount (above) from the buyer's account which includes the buyer's shipper's pick up fees.

In order to complete this transaction and get the funds approved in your account. We advice you go to nearest Western Union Office,and send the $1,600.00AUD to the Agent and send us a Scanned Copy/Photograph of your Western Union Transaction Receipt (in .JPG Format).

NOTE: This is important as a security measure to ensure safety of this transaction.


Please, find below the name and address of the Transport Agent where the Funds would be sent via Western Union Money Transfer.

Click Here Locate Nearest Western Union Office

Transport Company Allseas Global

Address:
Clive Bridges
Northfleet Hope House
Tilbury Freeport
London RM18 7HX
United Kingdom.


Address Status: Confirmed

Your Account will be credited accordingly upon the receipt of details requested. It should either be sent in JPG format or send type details as:
Sender's Name; Receiver's Name; MTCN; Amount Sent;

You may Click Here or reply to this message directly using the reply button in your email to submit the required information or to contact the PayPal Customer Verification Department and include either transaction ID or reference number (PP307) quick recognition of this transaction.
Thank you for using PayPal!
The PayPal Team
Sincerely,
PayPal

Yes - there's never any reason for you to have to pay a third party any money that you receive from a buyer.

That's the first red flag.

The second red flag is when they ask you to use Western Union.

The only real money in the deal is what they want you to send to the fake shipper, which is just them.

The rest is smoke and mirrors.

Any time a buyer asks you to make any payment to a third party you can be certain it's a scam, and it's a sure sign that you need to double check whether or not you really have received the money. It's either a counterfeit cheque or spoofed fraudulent mails that aren't from who they say they are.

I'm glad you were able to avoid being scammed! Posting this information may help others to avoid being scammed too.

A couple of points you should be aware of when using paypal:
-Paypal transfers are instant. When the money leaves the sender's account, it is put directly into the receiver's account. Paypal is not an escrow service, and there is no situation in which paypal "holds" money until something is completed. ANY email you receive telling you that money has been withdrawn from the seller but is being held pending some kind of activity is fake. This INCLUDES any "paypal" email saying the funds will be released once you provide a shipping tracking number.
-Paypal is a money transfer service--paypal gets a fee for every transaction processed through them. Western Union is also a money transfer service--if you send money via WU, then WU gets fees, not Paypal. It would not make sense for Paypal to send customers to WU for any reason!

This identical scam is coninuing, using Gumtree.com.au. The only detail change was the name of the shipping companies' recipient. Ronald Makoon is still operating as such and using the "I have forwarded several thousands of dollars to your paypal account which cannot be credited until you have provided confirmation of money sent to a shipping company, via Western Union to a fictious paypal address ".

I actually authorised the transfer but was able to revoke it after reading this page.