Seller beware

*** SCAM ALERT ***

I've sold a few cars over the past 15 years or so without any problems.  These sales have only been advertised locally - poster in the car windows, work notice board or newsagents windows.

I'm selling another car now but as we are looking for a quick sale, we have decided to advertise it on the usual websites, AutoTrader. Gumtree, etc.

Within ten minutes of posting on Gumtree I received a phone call and two text messages.  My first reaction was this was going to be an easy sell.

Despite the text messages being quite similar in asking for replies via Email, I thought this was how Gumtree operated.

The first didn't show a number, just SMS...
"[car], is it still available for sale? kindly get back to me in my email (jessicawalter125@outlook.com)

The second did have a number, 0019512617895 - I was suspicious of this as it is clearly a foreign number.

The text read "I'm interested in your CAR listed on Gumtree and what is your last price?kindly get back to me at ryanharrington05@gmail,com. thanks"

(I have purposely left their Email addresses in as I don't believe they are genuine.  Even if they are, they deserve a few Emails from a Nigerian Prince or two)

I replied back via Email stating the car was still available with the asking price.

'Ryan' was first to respond with..

Thanks for getting back to me i have check the listing and am okay
with it so I'm satisfied with the Price. I really want to purchase it
for my friend.i have a shipping agent that do pick
up for me, they will be the one to pick it up for me after the payment
has been made to your account. I will be paying you through PayPal
which is a fast, safe and reliable method of payment. .If you don't
have a PayPal account just logon to http://www.paypal.co.uk and setup
your PayPal account, after setting up your PayPal account you locate
the request money button located at the top of your PayPal account
home page, use it to request money directly from my PayPal account
which ryanharrington05@gmail.com once once I receive your money
request from PayPal, I will submit payment to you immediately via
PayPal asap.

Thanks

Yeah, right.  Who buys a car without looking at it first?  So we started looking into it and found this on a PayPal forum...

https://www.paypal-community.com/t5/Sending-and-receiving-money/Advice-about-selling-a-car-recieving-payment-via-paypal/td-p/273176?profile.language=en-gb

'Jessica' was less suspicious with her first Email...

Thank you for getting back to me. how long have you owned it? Can you assure me that  its in good condition and that i will not be disappointed with it.
whats your asking price.

Again, I replied and answered her questions.  Three minutes later, she responded...

I Agree with the price you willing to sell it , i will be happy to paying directly into your paypal account without any delay. I would have prefer to see or inspection it but am busy, i work long hours everyday,i have gone through your advertisement and i am satisfied with it.

As for the payment..i will be paying you with the fastest and secure way to pay online(PayPal).

 I have a private courier agent that will come over for the pick up at your door after the payment have been made, .You can now send me your PayPal email so i can pay in right away and also include your address in your reply.If you don't have a paypal account, you can easily set up one...log on to www.paypal.com and sign up. its very easy.I await your reply asap

You'll have a long wait for my reply, love.

Looking into 'Ryans' number a bit more I found this...

http://www.tellows.co.uk/num/0019518883614

Not the exact number, but the first six digits are a match and the people posting are saying the same.

So, if you're selling on Gumtree be aware of what seems to be a very common scam.  PayPal may be safe and secure but it's only as secure as you want it to be.