GUMTREE - PAYPAL SCAM timvid68@gmail

I also have the same situation, where timvid68@gmail claims to be at sea and wants to pay via Pay
Pal for furniture that I have listed on Gumtree. There are several inconsistencies in the email chain. He claims to have rented an apartment, then it is for his son then when I suggested an alternative carrier he talked about the car being delivered to the Northern Territory. My neighbour alerted me to this potential scam and I found Scamwarners with almost identical scripts.

Welcome to Scamwarners Papepe,

It appears that your scammer has messed up with his scripts. Scammers/thieves are not often known for the intelligence. Please do not tell him about his mistakes. Hopefully, he keeps making them and other victims will see the clues. Just stop all communication with him eventually he will go away.

In this scam the scammer is NOT interested in your furniture. He wants to steal your money. No one will ever come to pick up the furniture. It is all a scam with the scammer playing all roles. The scammer is using a free email address and a fake name.


The scammer wanted to send you a fake Paypal payment. He has a fake Paypal address from a free email provider. The payment would look real. Its a screen shot of a fake payment. He then will instruct you to pay a mover, shipper or agent. The fake Paypal email from the scammer would say that your Paypal funds will be released when you send the scammer (mover,agent or shipper) money via Western Union or Money Gram. In reality Paypal would never hold your funds.

Log into Paypal directly without any links to check for monies received or call Paypal directly from the number on their site.

If you are selling electronics, Cell phones or computers then the scammer is trying to steal your "item". Your fake funds will be released when you send the scammer a scan copy of a receipt showing you mailed your item.

This same scam works with fake check and money orders. You and your bank will think they are real. After you cash the fake check. Days or weeks later your bank will inform you of the fraud. Your bank will have you repay the monies. Possibly close your account for fraud and report you to Law Enforcement.

The best thing to do is to sell in person face to face in a public place.

Hi

[email protected] contacted me last night expressing interest in a couch.

I am suspecting he is a scam.

any suggestions to report it; seems like he is still persisting?