Gumtree warns of new online scam
If you buy items online, please take note of a new scam doing the rounds.
We've been tipped off by Gumtree that this scam targets prospective buyers on major classifieds sites by pretending to sell high value items, particularly cars or caravans. Once an interested buyer replies, they received a response from the seller who claims that he is currently not in the country but would like to use a third party to facilitate the transaction.
The “seller” also requests a name, address, phone number and copy of the buyer’s passport to supposedly register them on the site. They also claim that a 14 days refund policy will be applicable. A UK phone number is provided for queries.
Gumtree says shortly after the interested buyer provides more information, they receive a fake invoice from Gumtree (typically from a safrica.com domain – such as [email protected], usually with a scanned copy of an ID or passport attached and the word “Verified ID” printed on the page. The buyer is also urged to send a query to [email protected] to verify the sale. None of these email addresses belong to Gumtree or any of their affiliates. The scanned IDs and passports may have been obtained through the fake “registration” process.
Gumtree says it does not and will not “hold” money on behalf of buyers or sellers. Sales on the site are concluded directly between the buyer and the seller or through their endorsed safe transacting partners, Shepherd and Motofinn. Neither of these parties will ever ask a buyer to deposit funds into a PayPal or Western Union account. Similarly, Gumtree does not facilitate transactions between buyers and sellers on OLX or JunkMail, as these scammers claim. The companies operate wholly independently from one another.
Please do not fall for this scam! Gumtree can be contacted directly via their helpdesk, help.gumtree.co.za.
Car stolen from Durban beachfront
Finally, a white Yaris NKR 42329 - was stolen yesterday morning from the parking lot by Mini Town, Durban between 6:45am and 7:05am. The car was covered in Battery Centre advertising. Our listener's daughter had left her car keys in a friends car while surfing. The friend's car was broken into and his daughter car keys stolen. Needless to say they stole her car with the keys they stole out of the broken-into car.
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