Scam?

[htid]

I'm selling my dslr and having had no luck on another forum I decided to put it on gumtree. I got a responce saying the following:

Hello XXX,
Thanks for the reply.Unfortunately,I cant be able to meet you.Having gone through the item,I want you to know that,I am satisfy with condition and the price of the item.I live in Oldham,but I wouldnt be able to meet you for collection due to the nature of My Job and moreover I am buying this item for My boy friend as a Valentine gift abroad.Due to this,I have made inquiry from Royal Mail the postage cost of the item abroad and I was told £35.I will appreciate if you can help Me send the item directly to him.I have set up a PayPal account so I can pay you with.Kindly Request thepayment to:sebastiansuarez69@gmail.com
As soon as I receive the request I will get payment done.
Thanks.
Sebastian.

Now this definitely sounds like a fake to me (although scammers don't usually have their forename in their email address and actually sign off with that name), but for now I want to give them the benefit of the doubt, as it COULD be legit. So if I get them to transfer money into my paypal account, which I then transfer into my normal bank account, is there ANY WAY that I can lose out? Can they somehow backtrack the payment or is it a case of once I have the money I have it?

If the address abroad turns out to be somewhere like Nigeria then I'm definitely out, but I don't want to lose the sale when there's a (very slight) chance it's real.

Cheers

[finlay666]

So if I get them to transfer money into my paypal account, which I then transfer into my normal bank account, is there ANY WAY that I can lose out? Can they somehow backtrack the payment or is it a case of once I have the money I have it?

It's paypal, they will rule in the buyers favour 99% of the time.

Also a Nigerian buying a camera for his boyfriend, sounds... convenient for proving identity to say the least

If you have to ask yourself if it's legit, it's 99% sure to not be

[Rob_B]

Poor English
"I'm buying for my GF/friend/dad"
Random capitals
'Abroad'

Sounds dodgy to me, I'd avoid it personally. Drop your price by a tenner (or similar depending on your current price) for someone you can meet.

[htid]

Yeah thanks for the replies, I think I will...guess I'm just too tempted considering I've been trying to sell for a week and desperately have the upgrade bug!

[GoNz0]

do not fall for it.

[Domestic_Ginger]

Paypal can get the money back from you. You could insist on paypal gift which offers them no portection and they are unable to see your details.

Ask for their address and home phone number (landline) and give them a buzz. Would be the best way of telling if they are legit. They fob you off; then end the

"live in Oldham,but I wouldnt be able to meet you for collection due to the nature of My Job and moreover I am buying this item for My boy friend as a Valentine gift abroad." mmmmmh.

Sebastion is a boys name btw too.

edit: just searched for "I am satisfy with condition and the price of the item" line and came with this from gumtree. Pull up pull up! Just search sentances and they have usually been used before.

[Domestic_Ginger]

In an effort to keep the community safe on Gumtree, we will update you with any new scamming methods we come across on the internet so that you are aware when dealing in a free market environment.

One popular scamming method currently being used is where the scammer offers to pay the amount via PayPal. When the amount comes through to the seller, it is £0.00. The scammer then states that PayPal is holding the funds until you send the goods to the buyer. You may even receive emails from PayPal that look real, but they are actually fakes. Please forward any suspicious emails to PayPal.

How to avoid this scam:

• PayPal does not hold funds until an item is sent.
• Beware of fake PayPal emails – always check with PayPal if you are unsure.
• Always trade face to face when buying items on Gumtree.

Above all, go with your gut. If you don’t feel good about this transaction, just walk away.

From the Gumtree. I think that is Modus spamerandius.

[TheAnimus]

Erm don't nigerians badly beat up gay people? If so I'd have thought that you wouldn't be telling a complete stranger even if you are buying the camera from them about such un-required information which could land you in hot water.

Just say "oh no problem I go to Oldham most days, I can meet you"

[Domestic_Ginger]

Erm don't nigerians badly beat up gay people?

thats not his real name; silly!

[scaryjim]

edit: just searched for "I am satisfy with condition and the price of the item" line and came with this from gumtree. Pull up pull up! ...

And gumtree's trackback has already linked this thread to that page - gotta love the interwebs

[htid]

I never said anything about him being Nigerian, I only said "if" Anyway I've just told him that if he insists on doing it this way, I want a goat and 2 chickens as downpayment (sorry I shouldn't stereotype Nigerians!). No, I've just told him it's no longer available so it's all good.

Cheers again!

[aeonf242]

Golden Rule of Paypal/ebay:
1. Only post to a registered address marked as 'eligible' by Paypal (this can include work addresses).
2. Used signed for postage unless it's uneconomical. Recorded delviery is normally 75p extra.
3. At least get a proof of posting. 1st Class mail is covered up to £41 and 2nd Class up to c£32 (100*value of standard stamp).
4. Check that your item is covered for postal insurance e.g. check T&C's, maximum coverage limits, etc.
5. I never post outside the UK, not worth my while.
6. Be nice to buyers even if they are scammers as they can leave unwanted negative feedback. Doesn't mean you can't be honest and say sorry no!

[finlay666]

Erm don't nigerians badly beat up gay people? If so I'd have thought that you wouldn't be telling a complete stranger even if you are buying the camera from them about such un-required information which could land you in hot water.

Just say "oh no problem I go to Oldham most days, I can meet you"

Ugandans eat the poo poo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1wwe9-be2Y (nsfw on content)

So I wouldn't be surprised

I'd offer to meet in oldham, provided he shows a pic with his name and email on it, while holding a fish on his head and kissing his boyfriend...... just for a laugh

[TheAnimus]

oh fin on that link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=On3etueeGIg&NR=1

Simon Cowel has competition.

[htid]

Ah well so much for gumtree! 5 replies and all of them are spammers...*expletive*!

[finlay666]

Ah well so much for gumtree! 5 replies and all of them are spammers...*expletive*!

If you're in London it shouldnt be too difficult to find a decent 2nd hand shop that buys cameras or a mag that lets people list stuff