Scammed on Gumtree (Sent $950 Seller Didn't Post Goods) - Police Don't Seem to Care?

Hey all,

Mostly just need to vent, but was recently ripped off $950 from a seller on Gumtree which is annoying, but I am more disappointed in how little the police care. I have the persons mobile number and bank account details (Australian Bank) and basically when I tried to report it they basically said don't bother there was nothing they could do.

I mean, surely they should at least do a basic investigation with the bank to try and prevent this stuff happening again or at least get the bank account closed? I was able to report it at scamwatch (although they do nothing) and I reported it to my bank who basically said it had been more than 24 hours since depositing the funds, they weren't able to recover any money or help in anyway.

Anyway, guess the lesson is to not trust anyone in this country any more :(.

Comments

      • Looks like someone pushed your button.

  • +1

    This is Labor's fault.

    • Anything bad happening during Liberal rule = Labor's fault
      Anything bad happening during Labor's rule = You better believe it's Labor's fault

  • +2

    Wanting the police to act on nothing but your word seems very odd too me. Sorry you're too trusting but that doesn't make it a police case, you willingly transfered money to someone's bank account, even with texts you have no proof, what's to stop you having bought that $1 sim and sending yourself messages then claiming the guy scammed you to get them in trouble with the police?

    If the police acted just on he said she said nothing would get done.

    Expensive life lesson mate but your common sense has to kick in at some point.

    • what's to stop you

      If you used your brain, the thing stopping them would be the fact that your elaborate fake con will be immediately unraveled by the prosecution when details don't line up with OP testimony

      • will be immediately unraveled by the prosecution when details don't line up with OP testimony

        Which is why police often refer people in OP’s situation to go through tribunal.
        People like OP needs to assume responsibility for their own naivety and finance. There is only so much bubble-wrapping the rules and laws can do to deter bad things from happening.

        Here’s an example: people b!tch and moan about “revenue raising” regarding fines and tax for e-scooters. I’m in healthcare and the amount of e-scooter accidents have gone up significantly in the last month or so. Riders almost exclusively never wear helmets, one person from memory was in the hospital for the 3rd time in 2 months because of their own e-scooter(s). Another was crying about how they wouldn’t be able to afford his surgery etc. you get the picture.
        TL;DR: be an actual adult and assume responsibility of your own decisions instead of blaming the systems and others.

        • one person from memory was in the hospital for the 3rd time in 2 months because of their own e-scooter(s)

          Are you allowed to share your opinion to the patient that they should wear a helmet, or is that considered unprofessional? One thing that is taught over and over again in school is to wear the dam helmet, and we'd get in trouble by the teacher if they saw us touch the bicycle without a helmet.

          • @Blitzfx: I guess it could be considered unprofessional depending on how it’s delivered and the patients’ mental state at the time.
            However I feel like most people know they should wear a helmet, they just choose not to ¯_(ツ)_/¯
            Just like most people know they shouldn’t blindly transfer $950 cash to some randos (when you phrase it like this), but sometimes a supposed “bargain” can get the better of them.

  • +2

    So like I'm not sure how the scam would have worked if I went to the address to pickup?

    You could have ended up in an empty lot/given you an address that doesn't exist.
    Then they cut all communication or say "sorry was in a rush so I typed out the wrong address I meant XYZ road not ZYX street (you sure aren't driving back there now after waiting your time once already) then an life emergency happens that very second. I had to go look after my sick parent/grand parent. But I can post it to you for free though to make up for it and maybe a small discount to sweeten it if you pay by bank deposit now?" < That is way more common then you think and how these things generally ends up.

    The issue is he is like a 4 hour drive (8 hour round trip) away (he didn't know where I was from.)

    is the place you are at a known by most people?
    I had a scammer years ago not know where Brisbane was other then it had an airport and assumed everyone lived at the airport.
    Yet in my case i had upwards of 20 red flags at one stage. Wouldn't send photos, location wrong, just 200 people odd lived there. The item I wanted which was a bird friend for my male pet birds.
    From their location to here required forms to be signed for and approved by two states and even if the seller was legit the permit would have been denied.
    They needed to sign the forms first then send to me to fill out the receiver part then 2 copies needed to be sent to our state governments for approval. They claimed to live in kakadu national park you can't capture native birds there.
    They didn't know all these things but I did.
    Then the final LMAO moment was I was taking so long to send the money via western union only that I needed to hurry because they where going to be snowed in for weeks. 75kms away from Darwin NT during spring/summer. Yep can't think of place that gets more snow then Darwin NT in any season really. lol

    the $1 sim card still require an Australian Drivers license to activate.

    I don't have an Australian Drivers license or a passport yet I have multiple sim cards. A photo less Medicare card is all they really required to ask for pre paid. More ID is only required for a post paid plan.
    Optus pre paid just required a verified Paypal account those have never been stolen or made up with fake details have they? Make an account get sent a letter or get an item delivered and verified.
    Telstra is the only one that does ask for more ID points then required. But their system was/is intellectually challenged (they had me as I was born in 1960's for like 2 years everything else was correct name, address, day and month just year was out by over 2 decades.) So it doesn't cross check the ID numbers as long as it looks legit it will accept it.

    again they've obviously set-up an Australian Bank Account

    Most of the time they aren't set-up by the scammers but owned by mules that are blinded by love/attention that they crave. Some have had police at the door saying your part of a romance scam the person isn't real. Yet gone no Bob would never do that to me and deny it for months or years.

    AFAIK that names on bank accounts transactions could be sent to "penguin the cat" or "Smelly Scammer" and they would be processed.
    If we required a name verification check then 99.99% of scams involving bank transfers would instantly fail.
    Banks only go on BSB and account number only. Any sort of name requirement is for your use only. Yes I paid bob the builder on the 12th of May but not Steve from Minecraft.
    Send a willing family member/friend $1.01 or something and see what name you can put and have it work. :)

    • +2

      "AFAIK that names on bank accounts transactions could be sent to "penguin the cat" or "Smelly Scammer" and they would be processed"

      I have often written random bank account names (like ridiculous shit) when sending money to friends as a joke. can confirm it doesn't form part of the transfer. all they use is bsb and account number.

  • +1

    I've been done for $50 once and totally my fault as I new better, was to put a hold on a iPhone to pick up next day in a town I was going to for work 2 hours away, spoke to him on phone same as OP, got to the address and guy there said nope no one here that name or selling iPhone. Seller ghosted me, I chased him for awhile for fun but then gave up.
    LOL $50 o'well lesson learnt.

    For years I have been buying iPhones/iPads a few Samsungs off gumtree and flipping to mobile monster or on ebay, or back on gumtree, some have kept for me and family, only do if i's a $150 plus profit, good way to try different phones too.
    So always pay cash on pickup. Never had a issue with anything I have bought or sold on, or any buyers/sellers except for this one time haha.

  • If you know which bank, maybe you can try to ask any friend who works in the bank to look up the details and secretly give them to you. Then you can go and confront that guy.

    • +4

      No one will do that if they want to keep their job

  • If you don't want to get cash, bank to bank instant payment/PayID on pickup. I always ask, and when I'm happy with the goods I put in their BSB/Account number OR payID in my bank app and instantly transfer the money to them. Pretty much every Aus bank supports instant payment/PayID and as along as the recipient has internet/phone banking they can see the money in their account in under 15 seconds of me sending it.

    • Until the buyer calls his bank and says that it's a mistaken internet transfer and asks for it to be reversed.

      • ever tried that? lol, I worked in the PayID space, I think you'll find your mistaken.

  • +4

    Never had an issue with Gumtree in 12 years .. obviously always face to face cash deal.

  • If it was a Mobile Phone belonging to a Police Officer they would care… they might even get heavy ….

    https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8782989/Qld-woman-c…

  • -3

    This is so bafflingly idiotic that I have a hard time believing it is true.

  • If you have the seller details, there are small claims tribunals in most jurisdictions.
    That said, number one rule for gumtree trades

    Face to face, hand to and transfers only.

  • +3

    I'm legitimately/unironically going to bank transfer $200 to a stranger from Gumtree in another state later today, in the hopes that they'll ship me an item.
    I won't complain here if he scams though. Wish me luck.

    • Everytime you put money down - A nigerian prince get his crown.

      • I'll known tomorrow if I got scammed, I think I'll be okay :)

        • Update: not scammed, got my item

  • +1

    Police don't do anything, ideally you can scam people $50-$100 and do it full time.

    99% aren't going to report a $50 loss to the police, plus the police don't even look into it.

    The system is broken.

  • $950…..sounds like a PS5 conman

  • +7

    I was driving and was involved in a hit and run, i chased down the car that hit and cornered them in a cul-de-sac. This young asian kid (mid 20s) got out with his parents in the car with him. It was quite obvious the father (who was in the passenger side) had actually told him to drive off after hitting me at the traffic lights. I was quite shocked, didnt expect that to be the case. I had imagined it would have been some older lone driver or some gangster looking person who had no qualm about driving off after hitting someone. The family didnt even apologise or give me any explanation or excuse for hitting and running off. The father tried to pay me off with a couple of 100$, but i knew with insurance the damage was always going to be way more costly than that. So I got the details and called up cops to tell them , they werent interested at all.

    My house got robbed, both the insurance agent, security installer and initial cops that arrived figured out who it most likely was after some questioning and facts revealed. They told me a detective will contact me back, nothing, i tried contacting the police and detective multiple times over a few months, no call back, nothing. Not interested in solving the crime.

    BUT THEY ARE ECSTATIC TO ISSUE FINES AND FEES…

    Sorry I used to always defend the cops and used to really look up to them and wonder why others used to have such a negative opinion on them, then i realised even though there are some good ones out there. Whether its the corrupt ones or the management itself but I feel Cops have lost their way and what they should stand for. They are more like tax collectors for the government now.

    • +3

      But how else are they going to fund those shiny new BMWs for highway patrol?

      • +2

        That is sooo true! These days cops car I saw are all BMWs.

      • Our cops in Perth drive Kias and Holdens

    • -3

      I've been in the same situation, but recently come to realise how tough being a cop is..
      Domestic abuse is the #1 reason cops are overstretched - we do have a serious problem in this country and it's domestic abuse.

      I have a friend cop who has his spirit broken because he has to care about someone losing money or material possessions when he witnesses people being stabbed/beaten by the people they love. It has put his mind into a perspective. I'm not excusing it, but there are worse things in life.

      • -1

        ^ people who negged me are domestic abusers.

  • +1

    L plate Ozbargain user and falling for an internet scam - name a more iconic duo

  • +3

    Police are only good at doing RBT and camping out on the side of the highway.

    And become celebrities on channel 9

    • +3

      Pretty much revenue raising since forever, I remember the Police bought tomtom speed data or something while ago, thats collected over millions people

  • +1

    About 14 years ago when Ebay didn't have Paypal or sellers protection but only bank deposit. I got scammed for purchasing iPhone 3G.
    Ebay nor police never helped.
    After this lesson I never deal with bank deposit again.

    • Didn't eBay buy PayPal like 20 years ago?

  • I view gumtree as a place for face to face cash transactions. If there is something I want and it's interstate I'll try and get a friend to grab and post it for me.

    If I can't get a friend there and it's an item I won't lose sleep over (20 bucks) I may give it a go. Anything more and I generally give it a miss.

  • Watch this ep. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKvNo33j5Lw of Scammer Payback to learn a thing or two or just to feel better

  • +1

    Isnt the other issue with this that the seller can actually claim to have sent it but "lost" the tracking number, at which point it becomes your word vs theirs….?

  • I do not blame the police for not acting on this. It would easily cost tax payers much more than $950 to investigate it. I do not want to end up paying more taxes because they now have to employ more cops and need more cop cars and other shit in order to try to recover everyone's money that they willingly sent/gave to someone based on a promise.

    • Call Charge Record from any phone carrier (1 number 1 call only ) $300 as more details needed price goes up, highest I've seen 15k. On just one number

      Bank records you'll get nothing without search warrant,.

      You'll get no warrant without hard evidence

      Hours put into investigation including officers vehicles equipment minimum 1000.

      Triple that to do warrant tip a house n arrest n process.

      Is it right no way it's just how it is..

      N when you spend those hours investigating.. you'll get " never a copper when u need one "

      N then when u need complainant for court 6 months later 60% say " no got my stuff back " don't have time "

      Case dismissed!

  • +1

    Is it possible to try and take them to small claims court? If not, can you hire a detective to find them and then go around and beat the ever loving snot out of them?

  • If you have their contact details try and get them in small claims court. It's a civil matter. Cops won't help.

  • Feel bad for you. I am surprised police will not do anything when you have mobile and bank account.
    Surely they can call the person at least and listen to the other side?
    I expecter they would do something when you have the phone..

    • It isn't a criminal matter. Likewise the police won't get involved with your petty workplace disputes. They are there to enforce the criminal laws. Not get involved in a bad internet deal.

      • It's criminal.

  • +1

    Sometimes it's not even the scammers bank account….

    Often the smarter scammers would do a man-in-the-middle attack using crypto. ie:
    1. Scammer posts ad on gumtree
    2. You contact and offer to deposit to the bank account
    3. Scammer creates a trade for crypto using something like localbitcoins, gets crypto sellers bank account details
    4. Scammer sends you the localbitcoin traders bank account details
    5. You deposit into the crypto traders bank account

    Result:
    6. Scammer gets the crypto
    7. You get nothing
    8. Crypto seller gets your money

    The scammer can be in a totally different country, and you'll have no chance recovering any money if this happens.

    • +1

      I'm going to have to try this. Thanks!

    • Gee. This just gave people a good idea lol

    • -1

      Neg this so it can't be seen.

  • not sure if this is helpful but back when I was into fighting games, I bought a fighting stick from someone on gumtree interstate, i transferred them $200 and they shipped my stuff, so i guess there's still some very small percentage of decent people out there, sorry to hear about your experience OP

  • They are slack… if it occurred to someone with title, they would be on it in a minute.

    Go to your bank and have them stop payment and or reverse the funds.

  • +1

    Anyone in this country?

    Yes, good idea. I would extend that though, to anyone in any country.

  • So you haven't really given enough details to say whether you have been unfairly treated. How long ago did you pay them? Did you have good records to show it was a scam? I can't see the bank having any involvement as they can't do anything based on your hearsay. If they really are a scammer reporting to the police even if they investigate is unlikely to provide you any sort of outcome as any real scammers use fake details and often even the bank account is not in their name or is simply one they have gained access to so from a police perspective it is a huge amount of cost on them for what will likely just be wasted time.

  • -4

    Name and shame him, Then let the Internet will find the guy's home address. then go and get your money back or pay others to do it for you. you might lose half of it, But better than losing all of it.

    • Nobody on OZB is gonna do jack.

  • +3

    I learned in contract law - there's this thing called Caveat Emptor - 'let the buyer beware'

    in other words, when doing business with a stranger, it's entirely up to you to carry out due diligence to prevent them simply walking away with your money and not delivering what you hoped to get in return.

    if you send money to someone you don't know and have never met, in a remote location, over the internet by bank transfer, debit card, or money order or such, and not by credit card which might have purchase insurance recoverability, without confirming the reliability and trustworthiness of the destination, then you have basically failed to do due diligence

    as I like to describe the usual sob stories on TV Current Affair -
    'I trusted that nice man in the suit - how come he took all my money ?'

    • But then that means that people can commit fraud without fear right?
      If I make a "business" that looks legit, has all the smoke and mirrors, answer all their diligent questions, and fleece people out of millions, I'll be safe right, because.. "Buyer beware"?

      • I suppose that's when the aggrieved parties can then sue the other party in civil court.

      • That's when it becomes a civil matter. Though there is a big difference between Fraud and just being untrustworthy

  • +2

    I basically trust no one, assume everyone is a scammer, every driver is shit etc

    With that mindset, you change the way you approach life, especially 'giving' someone $900 and assuming they will do the right thing and mail an item to you

    • +1

      The mindset of "everyone is out to kill me" when driving has legit saved my life several times, even more so when I used to ride a motorbike.

      It's a good mindset to have.

      • Unfortunately in recent times its turned from a mindset to reality. I would say at least 60% of the drivers are clueless nowdays

  • guess you've been spoofed

    smile for the spamera ! :-)

  • Sorry I need a MS Paint diagram to understand.

    If you can't use it, send my illustrius Nigerian prince frend $1000 in eBay gift card and he will then forwad you $50000 in gold to your internatinel bank funds. er, I mean he will send you a MS Paint diagram to your mail accont

    Sincerely kind sirs

  • -1

    I agree tbh- phone number and bank account details should be enough to investigate… Really dumb. And people worry about crypto trackability.

  • Its a bit late but these trainers are heavy af and basically impossible to post (need special packaging via courier and are no go from aus post)

  • +1

    This discussion is enlightening. So many assholes.

  • It's 2022, people still falling for gumtree scams??

    • +1

      Stupid people will fall for scams in 2032 too. They can't be helped.

  • +3

    Just to share my experience with how police treat small $ crimes.

    I was on a business trip to a few years ago, rental car parked in a busy street while I had dinner. Came back to find that the window had been smashed and laptop stolen.
    The car was parked in front of a store which had CCTV cameras, so the crime would have been captured. When I reported this to the police they said they haven't got time to follow it up with the store, however suggested I could contact the store directly to retrieve the footage (everything was covered by insurance so I didn't bother).

    About 3 months later got a call from the police saying that the laptop had turned up at a pawn shop, however they didn't believe the person who sold the laptop was the one who stole it, they did offer me the opportunity to get in touch with said pawn shop and negotiate to buy my own laptop back.

    • +1

      Fml. What amazing help you got there! /s

    • Umm what the… wouldn't the pawn store give it back to you, because you had a police report number.

      Thought they couldn't deal with stolen goods..

      • +1

        I'm guessing the shop ran some kind of check on the serial which alerted it to the police as stolen.
        But basically the officer who called me said they had spoken to the person who sold it to the pawn shop and for whatever reason were satisfied he wasn't the theif (guessing he bought it from gumtree or something). The officer did say I could raise a civil claim, but he was pretty convinced neither the seller or the pawn shop knew they were dealing in stolen goods so they wouldn't pursue as a criminal offence.
        Plus it was a company laptop so technically not even my own property which I guess makes it slightly more complicated, but really the police didn't seem to care much at all about the whole case.

    • One has to wonder what do police actually police? How far will this go and what crimes in 10 years time will be considered too small to investigate.?

  • The police are more interested in helping you if there is anything in for them(fines etc)
    Your best luck at getting your money back, which the chances are very slim, is contacting your bank and see if they can step in.
    I'm sorry to hear about this happening to you, but unfortunately things like this happen.
    Not worth stressing too much over this, what will be wil be.
    Good luck with the bank.

  • These have to be troll posts by now

  • +1

    You have only yourself to blame.

  • +4

    OP, I noticed you've been here since 06/05/2019. Some of the responses on your post may seem harsh to you, but take it as a learning lesson. These scams have been posted and discussed many times here and on other forums. The police won't help you and there's nothing Ozbargainers can do either. Learn from it and hopefully the next victim reads your post before sending nearly $1000 to a total stranger who took advantage of your willingness to trust randoms.

  • +1

    It's unbelieve that people like OP would even contemplate transferring $950 to a total stranger when they haven't seen the goods nor confirmed the seller is legit.
    At the very least, you should have paid via PayPal.

    Not surprised the police aren't interested. There were some teenagers in hoodies the other night scoping out houses to break into including my sister's place. She saw them on the security camera and rang the police and guess what? She was told to just report it online by completing a form. They didn't give a rat's arse about it.

    • It's usually greed. They think they got a good deal.

  • +1

    Watch today's Mark Rober youtube. At least a guy doing something about scammers!

  • Police dont care unfortunately they will brush this off as a civil matter and tell you to take to to small claims VCAT (in Victoria) which is absolutely useless - the system in the country needs to change because scams run rampant and police and the criminal justice system 'turns' a blind eye

    either get the bikies or write this off as a expensive lesson

    As someone who was scammed almost 700 bucks once i know the pain - learnt never transfer anyone money only ever cash on delivery until the job is done or the goods are there

  • with gum you need to do the transaction in person at a place with cctv

  • 1.) Name and Shame their Gumtree Profile here.

    2.) I sometimes do money transfers and others do back to me, however we both have a 'Highly Rated' icon with Gumtree user (since at least 10 years).

  • I lost a couple of hundred bucks to gumtree scammers too OP.

    Yeah it happens, live and learn.

  • Surely you must have felt it was suspicious to send $950 to a stranger.

  • +5

    Anyway, guess the lesson is to not trust anyone in this country any more :(.

    Get real. Scams happen everywhere. You sound very sheltered.

    The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It is a very mean and nasty place and it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t how hard you hit; it’s about how hard you can get hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done. Now, if you know what you’re worth, then go out and get what you’re worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hit, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you are because of him, or her, or anybody. Cowards do that and that ain’t you. You’re better than that!

    • And the Rocky has spoken!! The end.

  • another gumtree scam post..

  • No that's not the lesson.

    The lesson is Gumtree is full of scammers, most people on here have either been scammed or were attempted at being scammed.

    So don't transfer money to strangers, ever, unless you're in person first and can test and verify the product first. That's it. And that's why you use things like PayPal or if you want to do Cash on pickup some times that works too.

    • Correct me if I'm wrong here, I don't think PayPal buyer protection applies to gumtree, only eBay I think.

      • I have had money refunded via PayPal when buyer stopped responding on gumtree. Was a small amount.

        • Did you have to jump through alot of hoops to get it back?

          I refuse to use PayPal on gumtree as I've already seen scammers abusing the buyer protection on ebay.

  • Had a couple that looked like they were from Collingwood turn up to buy my drone and tried to trick me with pre dated bank transfers but I caught them out.

    Just ask for cash or don't go ahead.

  • +1

    Anyway, guess the lesson is to not trust anyone in this country any more :(.

    What country are you from where you blindly send 1k to others?

  • +1

    You're a duffer for sending money to someone you don't know online.

    Not helpful, but a fool and hismoney truely are soon parted.

  • -1

    First, you didn't state what your issue was.

    It sounds to me like a civil problem, not a criminal one. No police involvement needed.

  • I recently gambled and sent 1300 on gumtree buying a guitar.

    Luckily it was delivered but I totally knew I was running a risk.

    But the guitar was like 2200 new so if the odds of scamming were less than 40 percent I figured it was worth a shot.

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