Is this a gumtree scam?

sawyer

I've had three texts now regarding a guitar I have for sale asking is the guitar still for sale? Can you email me back on this email. Then there's an email address. Two had phone number that couldn't be replied too so seem obviously dodgy. Just had another one from genuine looking mobile number but again asking if guitar still for sale?can I pick it up tonight please reply to 'email adress'. Is this a scam. If so hows it work? Why text someone then ask to reply via email? Especially when they could just respond to my advert via my email through gumtree?

SteveRobinson

I'm going with "yes, it's a scam"

Funkfingers

Bypassing the advertisement service provider communication channels is usually dodgy.

Likeliest explanations;

1. an attempt to avoid fees 
2. hoping to beat the vendor down on price by offering cash and hectoring.
3. in extremis, a precursor to a burglary.

If the person discovers that you still have the guitar, where your home is and when it is unoccupied, you lay yourself open to theft.

If Gumtree has a Report Shady Behaviour button, now might be a good time to click on it.

gringopig

.

mikeyrob73

If you reply to the email address provided they will tell you it’s for their blind lesbian dumb cousin who is in a wheelchair and possibly also Irish, they will say that they can’t pick it up as they live in Mozambique with work but will pay you and then arrange a courier. Bye bye guitar and no money 





*no blind lesbian deaf dumb Irish people were insulted in the making of this post 

JezWynd

One word: Avoid.

ICBM

It's a phishing/identity theft scam to get your email address, combined with your physical address when you give it to them, and possibly your phone number as well. They can do quite a lot with that information. Even a confirmed genuine email address by itself is of value to spammers.

Hence why Gumtree have a mailbox system for replying to genuine buyers, so you don't have to give your own address.

sawyer

Bizarre! It's only a £200 Ibanez. Obviously I'd never respond to theses people but just couldn't see what they would get out of it. As I say its just a £200 Ibanez. Nowt exotic or mega value. 

skunkwerx

sawyer said:

Bizarre! It's only a £200 Ibanez. Obviously I'd never respond to theses people but just couldn't see what they would get out of it. As I say its just a £200 Ibanez. Nowt exotic or mega value. 

Probably not the guitar theyre after. 

vale

gumtree has a perfectly functioning message service. it also serves as a timed/dated back-up of any correspondence/interactions between you and the buyer/seller, should an issue arise.

why go commando?

webrthomson

Yes it is - do not respond.

jonnyburgo

Yes I get them all the time. If you can be arsed you can have some fun with these dickheads. 9 times out of ten they’ll claim to be female and say something like “is item still for sale”

skunkwerx

jonnyburgo said:

Yes I get them all the time. If you can be arsed you can have some fun with these dickheads. 9 times out of ten they’ll claim to be female and say something like “is item still for sale”

So is item actually still sale? 

I email. 

professorben

skunkwerx said:

jonnyburgo said:

Yes I get them all the time. If you can be arsed you can have some fun with these dickheads. 9 times out of ten they’ll claim to be female and say something like “is item still for sale”

So is item actually still sale? 

I email. 

I only reply by carrier pigeon now. 
Weeds out the trouble makers. 

usedtobe

My favourite recent reply went something like: Lovely guitar, and worth every penny of the 600 you’re asking. However, I’m looking for a guitar for my son, who’s grandmother has recently died and left him 500 to buy a quality instrument. With that in mind, would you take 500?

paddyb

On gumtree, I always stick to gumtree messaging which they can reply from their email to. Sounds a little dodgy to me as they could just update their email address in gumtree and that address would get the emails

WezV

usedtobe said:

My favourite recent reply went something like: Lovely guitar, and worth every penny of the 600 you’re asking. However, I’m looking for a guitar for my son, who’s grandmother has recently died and left him 500 to buy a quality instrument. With that in mind, would you take 500?

 ask about the other grandmothers health

usedtobe

WezV said:

usedtobe said:

My favourite recent reply went something like: Lovely guitar, and worth every penny of the 600 you’re asking. However, I’m looking for a guitar for my son, who’s grandmother has recently died and left him 500 to buy a quality instrument. With that in mind, would you take 500?

 ask about the other grandmothers health

I wish I’d thought of that at the time!

DefaultM

Say yes, but only if you can go through the deceased's belongings to make up the difference.

Moominpapa

Sat yes, but only if the grandmother is an 'eater'

Kebabkid

I took my ads down within a day as I had the same thing. A barrage of "Is it still for sale" and all supposedly female buyers who would PayPal me and send their courier instead because of 'their location'.

I think Reverb, this place and BassChat are about all that's open to most as decent selling platforms. I don't like Ebay and their charges and policies and commission sales are too much in shops (average is 20%).