App Support - Common Scams

There are some dodgy people out there, and despite our efforts to keep them from Gumtree and protect you, occasionally a bogus ad or buyer slips through. Read here for some common scams to watch out for.

1. Scams buyers will encounter:

• Sellers that ask for an upfront deposit for an item/vehicle

2. Scams sellers will encounter:

• A buyer sending a fake proof of payment to the seller
• A buyer sending a Whatsapp or direct message, advising that the item has been paid for and requiring sellers to enter their credit card details to receive payment
• A buyer wanting to make use of Bidpay, eWallet, Western Union, PayPal or Money Gram as a payment method
• A buyer depositing an invalid cheque
• A buyer sends a driver to pick up an item:

The scammer insists on doing an EFT payment. After agreeing on a price, the buyer will send an EFT SMS notification to the seller’s phone showing that the funds were transferred. However, the SMS notification is fake. Once payment is made, the scammer sends a driver to collect the item.

If you are suspicious of a buyer or seller, reach out to us through our Gumtree Contact Us page.