Scammed on Gumtree -- what to do

Hamlet on 08/09/2017 - 20:17
Last edited 09/09/2017 - 09:17 by 1 other user

Hi everyone, so recently I got scammed on Gumtree by this person named "Elizabeth Beyer" (apparently one of my friends also got scammed by the same person).

Long story short, I was selling a macbook air and this scammer contacted me and told me 'she' had sent payment through. Sure enough, I received an email from "[email protected]" (actual email was actually '[email protected]') shortly after. Given how busy I was during the week I never bothered to check my actual Paypal account and assumed that I received the payment.

I only got to realise that it was a scam one day after I posted it so I quickly called Aust Post to intercept it before it reaches the stated destination — which was a parcel locker in Oatley NSW. I even had to pay $27 for this service and Aust Post said they should be to stop it.

The next day, tracking shows that the item has got to Oatley Delivery Centre. I called Aust Post's Customer Service team again and they tried repeatedly to call the Oatley Delivery Centre but nobody picked up. So they sent a 'high priority' message instead, but by the time the Oatley Delivery Centre guys saw the message, it was already too late — the item had been delivered into the parcel locker. I called Australia Post again and told them that since it was a scam, surely they could get the guys to open the parcel locker and retrieve the parcel before the scammer collected it. They said they will try their best but once again, I only got bad news that they couldn't retrieve it.

Now what else can I do and what should I do? I could report it to the police but would that do anything?

I seriously don't understand why people would resort to such dishonest ways of earning money. Sigh.

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Comments

  • Savas on 08/09/2017 - 20:19
    +16

    wtf australia post

    • Hamlet on 08/09/2017 - 20:22
      +5

      No longer a fan of Auspost. The terrible communication systems in place between centres pretty much allowed the scammer to successfully get away with the scam.

      • [Deactivated] on 08/09/2017 - 20:42
        +7

        Yes, 100% Australia Posts fault. Those bloody bastards!

  • Nutrino on 08/09/2017 - 20:34
    +9

    you better put on your flame suit.

    • Hamlet on 09/09/2017 - 08:17

      I'd rather forgive, but never forget. Lesson learnt.

    • Hamlet on 09/09/2017 - 08:17
      +1

      :(

    • Hamlet on 09/09/2017 - 08:18

      Another Elizabeth Beyer case. This scammer is everywhere!

      • Kangal on 09/09/2017 - 16:51

        She get's around like the village whore ; )

  • spackbace on 08/09/2017 - 22:07

    sigh

    • Hamlet on 09/09/2017 - 08:18

      major sigh :(

  • ronnknee on 08/09/2017 - 23:05

    Nothing you can really do. You can report it to the police but it's very unlikely they will investigate. Let it be a lesson. Don't post anything until you receive an actual payment or meet in person.

    • Hamlet on 09/09/2017 - 08:20

      Thanks for the kind words. I reported it to ACORN anyways. Hope others can benefit from that… somehow

  • dcep on 08/09/2017 - 23:25
    +5

    didn't know it is that easy to con ppl…

    • Hamlet on 09/09/2017 - 08:20
      +1

      Yeah in an ideal world, we're all smart enough to know. But when you're having an especially busy week at work, you get careless :( Not going to be careless with such expensive items again…

    • Savas on 09/09/2017 - 09:16

      It's always good practice to check my PayPal emails, even when i buy 10 cent products on GearBest.

  • teacherer on 08/09/2017 - 23:37
    +1

    Cry and learn

    • Hamlet on 09/09/2017 - 08:19
      +5

      Crying and learning.

      • Kangal on 09/09/2017 - 16:52
        -1

        Bikies…

  • oscargamer on 09/09/2017 - 07:59
    +2

    Airtasker . Get someone local to the parcel box to sit and wait for the scammer to collect it.

    • Hamlet on 09/09/2017 - 08:21
      +1

      Hah. That's creative. If only I had this answer yesterday….The scammer was probably checking the tracking information and waiting by the parcel box…

  • ShannonN on 09/09/2017 - 08:17
    +6

    Sorry to hear this happened to you. Seeing you know they use this parcel locker send a small parcel with new 30 dollar phone in it boxed etc.

    But have it already turned on with a tracking app etc active and locked hopefully you'll get a ping and an address etc once you know where and id them as a person well anything can happen to their possessions hey?

    • Hamlet on 09/09/2017 - 08:22
      +2

      Wow haha cool idea. This should be a movie.

  • ShannonN on 09/09/2017 - 08:28
    +1

    Run the name through Facebook and look for any location around that po box area some scammers aren't all that smart when it comes to hiding their identity also report to police and ask if they can force aust post to reveal who paid for the parcel locker as in name and address

    • Love a bargain on 09/09/2017 - 12:27
      +1

      can set up a parcel locker in anyone's name (doesn't even have to be real, e.g. "mickey mouse" would be accepted)

      the delivery would be accepted as long as the parcel the recipient's name match with the registered name

      they do ask for physical address when registering but they don't really verify it… it could well be a fake address of the address of the local macca's/ rsl/ etc

  • charzy on 09/09/2017 - 09:23
    +1

    Sell another laptop, rock up to auspost locker in other state, set up camping tent.

    • Hamlet on 09/09/2017 - 14:38
      +2

      This should also be a movie.

  • AlienC on 09/09/2017 - 10:11
    +2

    Serious question couldn't OP report this to the police along with all the details and the police just check surveillance cameras later?

    Wait am I mixing up PO with something else. That box you keep at the post office with a key like a locker type system. These places have security cameras no doubt?

  • peterpeterpumpkin on 09/09/2017 - 10:56
    +5

    You can't setup a parcel locker without an Australian mobile number, so if they used a SIM registered in their name they could be caught.

    And secondly, the fact they've done this more than once let alone with the same name (I think I've dealt with an "Elizabeth Beyer" on Gumtree before as well!) makes them easy to catch in the act if Australia Post plays along. It reminds me of Western Union's complacency with Nigerian scams.

  • Baebs on 09/09/2017 - 11:17
    +2

    Plot twist: it was an inside job.

    • Hamlet on 09/09/2017 - 14:40
      +3

      Yeah, free macbook air for the Auspost men haha

    • peterpeterpumpkin on 09/09/2017 - 15:42

      Plot twist 2.

      The customer was real and paid for the goods.

      But a scammer duplicated the ad and told the customer to pay via Western Union (to a destination he/she are currently "abroad on holiday") after the goods have been received.

      • Kangal on 09/09/2017 - 17:21
        +1

        Plot Twist 3.

        The OP (Hamlet) is the scammer. And he/she is using this thread to find out how the victim may react.
        So they're doing their homework, to avoid the OzBikies

        • Hamlet on 10/09/2017 - 10:31

          Haha nice one mate. You should write the next Inception-esque online fraud thriller.

  • Some Human on 09/09/2017 - 11:24
    +2

    Go to nsw. Wait outside parcel locker for prick to show up (byo muscle/bikies). Teach him/her a lesson.
    Or see if the cops can find out whose parcel locker it is.

  • KaTst3R on 09/09/2017 - 12:07
    +2

    Damn Auspost…what the hell is a phone for when nobody picks it up. They might as well stick to using birds and telegraphy like the old days.

    • Diji1 on 09/09/2017 - 12:36
      +1

      Don't worry, the CEO is being paid millions while the service levels plummet. Malcom Turnbull claims he's outraged by this despite the fact that he runs the Government that owns Australia Post.

    • Hamlet on 09/09/2017 - 14:45

      I even asked the AusPost customer service team if they could pass me the delivery centre's number or even better, the manager's number. But nope, it's all internal and there doesn't seem to be a better way to communicate between centres.

      Also, who knows how many times the AusPost customer service team called the centre. Maybe they gave up after 2 minutes of ringing… Now, the most frustrating was probably the fact that everytime I called the AusPost customer service team, it was a different operator. When asked to transfer to my previous operator who actually knew my case, I was told that it was not possible. So I end up speaking to a number of operators, which did nothing to help progress my case further than what the previous operator did…

  • bumluffa on 09/09/2017 - 12:13
    +1

    Threaten her with an application in the small claims court

    • Kangal on 09/09/2017 - 17:22

      Dear <insert real name here> you are now called upon to…. … ….

  • garetz on 09/09/2017 - 12:55
    +3

    I wouldn't really call this a scam, since you had every opportunity to prevent this from happening. Who doesn't check to make sure the money has been transferred before sending something to a buyer.

    • bghunter on 10/09/2017 - 00:08

      It is a scam but was easily preventable

  • o53djz7qTPY4der on 09/09/2017 - 13:03
    +1

    How much did she "pay" for the MBA?

  • Gronk on 09/09/2017 - 15:10
    +2

    Yeah Aus Post are an absolute disgrace at the moment, it's as though the concept of customer service has been completely erased from their teeny weeny brains.

  • [Deactivated] on 09/09/2017 - 16:29
    -5

    lolol sucked in
    you didnt check your paypal and thats the issue.
    stop finding others to blame, you are to blame not the scammer or auspost.

  • Rifraf on 09/09/2017 - 18:26

    In Dog we trust……
    All others pay cash ;-)

  • TheBilly on 09/09/2017 - 22:05
    +1

    Im not having a go at OP so sorry in advance, but who the hell sells things via paypal, outside of ebay? Like the only reason paypal exists is because of ebay, otherwise its the biggest nuiscance and outside of that nobody actually wants to use that crap. Lesson learnt. Cash on pickup or EFT when selling.

    • Hamlet on 10/09/2017 - 10:06

      Indeed, lesson learnt :/

    • Love a bargain on 11/09/2017 - 16:17
      +1

      Strictly cash only for me
      EFT can be clawed back too

      • TheBilly on 11/09/2017 - 16:23

        Learn something new errday !! Ty

  • Scot on 09/09/2017 - 22:12

    It is not "scammed" it is theft- report it to the Police and insist they pursue it!

  • bigticket on 09/09/2017 - 22:40

    I believe that even if you did receive the funds in your account, the scammer could still dispute it with paypal who may side with you or the scammer depending on circumstances. If that fails, then the scammer initiates a charge back out of paypals account, which they will most likely win and paypal then takes those funds from you account. Similar case on OzB - https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/278643

    Net result you loose. My advice, if you can afford it, then certainly take the risk.
    Otherwise Gumtree = cash or cleared funds directly into your account.

    Don't forget that rarely some scammers, once they have your name and address could threaten you and your family. Just something to consider.

    • Hamlet on 10/09/2017 - 10:09

      Yeah, thanks for the reminder.My brother told me about this too. The internet is not as safe as I thought, even with 'secured' payment systems like PayPal…

  • onetwothreefour on 10/09/2017 - 11:54
    +4

    Get in a box and mail yourself to the PO box then when she comes to collect you jump out and demand your laptop back.

    • Hamlet on 10/09/2017 - 14:07

      And the next thing you know, Elizabeth Beyer is selling 'Hamlet' as a slave on Gumtree and Airtasker.

      • altomic on 11/09/2017 - 00:03
        +1

        Would she accept $30?

  • jerjergege on 11/09/2017 - 11:19

    I'm sure that post had insurance on it?

    Since they lost your parcel, you can claim insurance in payout.

    EDIT:
    I know they didn't lose it, it was going to initial post location, however your urgent priority intercept was not therefore they failed you and lost your parcel.

  • phocus on 11/09/2017 - 17:46
    +1

    did you get your $27 back for the "service"?

  • Empharand on 11/09/2017 - 17:55
    +3

    All Parcel Lockers have surveillance cameras, from memory there's a hidden camera placed above the touch screen which can be used to get a clear photo of someone's face.
    if you report it to the police they will contact Australia Post and demand the footage and investigate.

    • Hamlet on 11/09/2017 - 21:21
      +1

      I have just reported it to NSW police online. Hopefully they are able to do that yeah. Thanks for the suggestion.

    • ascorbic on 13/09/2017 - 22:00

      That camera is right in plain sight - most lockers even highlight the fact with a "constant video surveillance" sticker above it.

  • seraphim2017 on 13/09/2017 - 23:25

    "Elizabeth Bayer"! I can't find my crying laughter emoji fast enough!

  • treblig on 22/09/2017 - 10:42

    Hey, did you hear anything back from the Police? same thing just happened to me.

    • Hamlet on 09/10/2017 - 20:21

      Hey mate, sorry to hear the same thing happened to you. Police didn't do anything but tell me to report to ACORN…. I think they frankly couldn't care less when it's a $1k item. What did you lose?

      • treblig on 11/10/2017 - 10:26

        Yeah I figured the police wouldn't really care unless it was at least $1000. I lost a MacBook Air that I sold for $700.

  • Hannah Syd on 28/09/2017 - 22:13

    Someone should sell to this scammer and have a current affair stake out the locker…

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