I recently placed an add on gumtree selling my vfr, within 24 hours I received a text of interest in the bike. After two emails I realised it was a con, and I recognised the turn of phrase in the emails as the same con men I fell foul too three years ago. Im afraid to say the obvious but simply the police in this country do nothing to stop or catch these crooks, they are still running the same racket as three years ago and must be making thousands weekly. I find it hard to believe that it would be a difficult arrest if only the police would get off their asses.
pay for the bike with genuine paypal and collect the bike by courier, offcourse paypal will refund the buyer after the bike is collected but you wont see your bike again. Not the con I fell for a few years ago but in the email of interest in turn of phrase used was obvious.
I had this with a gun I sold but after a good fight with PayPal they said there with me on it and received my money but had to go through a claim against the bank that's why we use paypal because they will secure a payment
but saying that these days soon as I sell something I withdrew my money to my bank asap
I cant say for sure because I didn't proceed, all communication stopped when I asked the buyers name and address and the phone he text me on didn't receive incoming calls or texts. I suspect that the bike would be considered stollen by the courier and never arrive at the buyer. But there are other possibilities. What upsets me is that I suspect they contact every single seller on gumtree and autotrader and have some buying scams as well. A good business, now running uninterrupted for at least 3 years.
Had the same sort of think when I sold my bike recently
Random text saying is the bike still for sale email me more with more details when I did and asked them some more details like where are you what's your name and what's your phone number so I can give you a call to discuss all your questions! The messages just stopped
Then two days later same text same number asking the same questions just a different email Adress :-/ needless to say I didn't reply and gumtree just said there is nothing they can do.
As I said it can't be a difficult arrest if the police could be bothered, next time I have a heap of **** bike I'll advertise it as mint and 3K and see where things go.
