Common scam examples - sources

[mokumoka]

Other good sources of information to read about common scams on the net are:

1. Know the Scams New Zeland - great information on a wide range of online and offline scams produced by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs - Manatu Kaihokohoko (although this is a New Zeland site it should be useful for our South Arican Gumtree users).
2. Department: Trade and Industry Republic of South Africa - Fraud Hotline.
3. Get Safe Online - is an online safety guide with top 10 safety tips – well worth checking out.

[Bradup]

Another daily updated site is www.fraudwatchinternational.com

[justin_dbr]

I recently got scammed by a lady 'Karen Davids' - cellnumber 0742054092 and email address karen@journalism.com. Unfortunately like an idiot i also received bank confirmation sms and pdf files which i took as legit, but clearly all scammed. Met with her to hand over the goods, well dressed fat, short, blonde white lady - extremely friendly - but her day will come. Wait until the money is in your account, or strictly cash before you release anything of value.

[liebenberg.vicky]

I got a call from a guy responding on my iphone ad. He also send his proof of payment via sms and then mailed me the pdf
Im still waiting for the funds to clear, it was paid in yesterday. He was quite upset because I dont wanna release the phone to him untill the money shows in my account.

I read this page and decided no way Im gonna give him the phone. I sms him this morning and told him that the banks advised me to hold back. Havnt heard from him back again.

Thank you for sharing your experiences and i am really sorry to hear of the guys that had been conned.

I will keep you up to date. if it is a scam I will release his name and email address so that he wont scam some more gumtree junkies.

[Bradup]

That's the way the scammers operate. They will send you the fake ''proof of payment'' and then they want the goods before they get caught out.

Getting ''upset'' is all part of the scam and that should immediately make you suspicious as they will always try to put pressure on you to part with your goods immediately.

Any honest buyer will understand that it is normal procedure for the seller to wait until the money reflect in your bank account.

[H-Bomb]

Good advice Bradup. Please people make sure the money is in your bank account before parting with the goods you are selling. Even go the extra mile and phone your bank to confirm. An honest buyer will understand your caution because of the numerous scams out there. If, on the other hand, the seller wants confirmation that you will deliver after ligitimate confirmation of payment then he/she must do the same thing. Don't part with money or goods until the financial transaction is complete. Be careful people - it's a 'dog-eat-dog' world out there !!!

[Tasmyn]

something i think the community of yeoville should be aware of as these guys are living in your area and causing alot of grief, and perhaps if you had a community forum where we could post such things these guys would be caught
- Hide quoted text -



ATTENTITON: SAPS CONST. Z SIKHOSANA
Case Number: CAS 496/1/2011
Good day Constable and thank you for taking the time to handle my case. I would like to assist you as much as possible. Here is further information that I have been able to find out with regards to this case, this guy obviously knows what he is doing and has scammed many people out of their money and goods. He uses various names, cell phone numbers and email addresses, I have managed to gather these contact details in hope that through your systems and RICA you will be able to catch this ----.


Andrew kalala 0797391595 andrewkalala@yahoo.com
Phillip cooper 0790791614
Leigh Eaton 079 730 4550 0795583945 leigheaton61@yahoo.com.
Gerald 0834248026
Other numbers that he is believed to be using
0716959712
0790791614
0712907230
0783013249
0728727637If you can please go to this link from your web browser
http://forum.gumtree.co.za/post-18827.html

I have taken the opportunity to contact Vodacom as well, I am not sure wether or not they will get back to me but maybe they can help.

Thanks again for your assistce i really appreciate

[Marklar69]

This guy just tried to scam us as well, wanting to do bank transfer from Nedbank to FNB but insisted on immediate delivery.

We called the other number listed in this forum and the same guy asnwered.

WATCH OUT

[lizrh]

Hi

I have a feeling the person who contacted me is a scammer.

However, I have emailed him my bank details in good faith and will definitely NOT hand over any goods until the funds are cleared...

BUT have I put myself at risk by giving my bank details?

[dvdmrx9@gmail.com]

Tasmyn

he also tried to scam me i am worried about the way they use the nedbank name as netbank and get away with it,i have systems that will trace this guy right to the spot,CONST. Z SIKHOSANA give me a call and i will help u 0716771604 david

[rvheriwa]

I met one of these guys a while ago.. I was in an internet cafe somewhere in Yeoville and this guy was sitting next to me. He phoned a couple of customers from gumtree and other websites. He is from Zimbabwe (i know because he was speaking in my venec) but fakes an American accent though when speaking over phone. He also dresses like these american rappers and lies that he stays in Sandton. He is of medium height and a little bit slim. Watchout for this guy!

[foldvari]

I buy&sell expensive watches world wide and do most buying from U.S Ebay,im disturbed that gumtree dont have a site to report frodulant activity like Ebay!Not even talking about junkmail there only foreign scam artist operate selling and buying!
All i can tell you dont respond to any sms those not matter how desperate you are!! RULES TO STICK TOO!!
1.Dont respond to sms interest.
2.NO transfers or deposites!
3.Cash only.
4.Do not deliver any where or let a so called delivery company collect or deliver!
5.Dont fax or give out copys of your ID or Passport!

This city is swarming with scum!!!

[Blake1]

Hello everybody,

Thank you for alerting us to these issues.

We always advise our users to be careful when dealing with prospective buyers (and sellers). Please conduct all Gumtree transactions face to face in person using cash only. Remember Gumtree should be used for local, face-to-face buying and selling.

If you have not already, please submit a ticket to support with the following link and provide them with as much information as possible;

http://info.gumtree.co.za/help/index.php?a=add

If you haven't seen it already you might want to take a look at our Safety Tips information under Help:

Safety Tips - http://help.kijiji.net/za/knowledgebase.php?article=26

You may also want to look at SCAMwatch, an Australian government site, it has the latest on internet scams:

http://www.scamwatch.gov.au

Once again, thank you for letting us know about this problem. I hope that your future experiences with Gumtree are much more positive.

Thanks,
Blake, The Gumtree Team

[arslancisco]

I recently got scammed by a guy 'Thobaan Rajies' - cellnumber 0794972496/0835159794 .This man called me to his flat to buy my iphone in port elizabeth (water front apartments)and like an idiot i went there with my cellphone not knowing he's a profesional fraudster, he threatened me and abused me but luckily i managed to get out of his place with my phone but he kept the box and accessories of the phone, next day i went to his apartment along the police but he was gooone... so please peoples be carefull, this guy is very friendly and looks descent but in real he is a thief by profession.

[topdog41]

Yet another scammer using fake EFT confirmations, this time from ABSA. He also sent a SMS confirmation that money had been transferred. I wasn't born yesterday and did a check on all his details including cell number, address etc. Came up with the same cell number as another scammer on Gumtree that was operating under the name "Mark Webber". This time he is using the name "David Miller". The details I got are as follows:

DAVID MILLER
macindustrial@executivemail.co.za
MAC INDUSTRIAL
NO.14 JUTA STREET
BRAAMFONTEIN
JOHANESBURG
Cell (071) 597 9715
Fax (086) 606 6825

His method of operation is that he sends the fake EFT confirmation from ABSA (if your account is with ABSA I bet he'll use another bank) then does a cheque deposit for the same amount into your account. At first glance it looks as if the money has been transferred by EFT but if you check properly with your bank you will see that the funds have not yet been cleared and that it was actually a cheque deposit and that there is a 7 to 10 day period for the cheque to clear......by that time the cheque will bounce as its probably stolen.

When he phoned to check if I had received the money I told him I received his confirmation but that I was waiting for the funds to clear before I sent anything. He started to stammer and stutter and tell me that it wasn't convenient and that he needed the item (I'll bet it was inconvenient for him!!! ha, ha, ha) - I just told him I would be in contact the next day to send him the courier details. The money reflected the next day BUT on closer inspection the "EFT" showed as uncleared funds and as a cheque deposit with a reference that is was deposited by "Frank 0736111322 ". By this stage my suspicions were confirmed and I obviously didn't send anything. He called about 10 times the next day. He's given up now!!

I have sent all the details to ABSA and NEDBANK fraud divisions and have also sent his details through to an investigator I use in JHB to track down people who don't want to be found! who knows I might get lucky.

Gumtree should get with the program and arrange for payments in a more secure environment like Pay Pal or something similar.

These guys are very convincing and slick operators so its easy to be complacent and get caught out as most people are trusting and honest.

I'm sorry for anyone who has been caught out by these criminals but the best advice is still NEVER LET THE GOODS GO WITHOUT CASH IN HAND OR CLEARED FUNDS IN YOUR ACCOUNT - DONT RELY ON THE BUYERS WORD OR EVEN DOCUMENTATION!!

There are so many easy ways to check people out nowadays that its foolish not to do a bit of homework before you risk anything!

BE CAREFUL.......