Yoh. It happens. And when it does, the worst thing you can do is freeze. Here is your play-by-play to limit the damage - fast.
Being scammed is stressful. But you have more options than you think. Work through this list in order and you give yourself the best shot at getting your money - and your peace of mind - back.
Step 1 - Lock down your bank account first
If you clicked a suspicious link or shared any card details, this is your very first move. Open your banking app and disable or block the card right now. Then call your bank and tell them what happened.
The sooner you do this, the better. Banks can flag suspicious activity and - in some cases - reverse payments. But they need to know about it before the trail goes cold.
Step 2 - Screenshot everything before it disappears
Scammers move fast. The moment they have what they came for, they delete the listing, block you, and vanish. Before any of that happens, screenshot:
- The Gumtree listing
- Messages sent via Gumtree or WhatsApp
- Phone numbers or email addresses they used
- Any banking details they provided
These screenshots are your evidence. Keep them somewhere safe - you will need them for every step that follows.
Step 3 - Change your Gumtree password
If you clicked a link that asked you to log in to Gumtree, your account details may have been lifted. Change your password now at
www.gumtree.co.za.
While you are there, switch on two-factor authentication (2FA). It takes two minutes and puts a second lock on your account so no one can get back in.
Step 4 - Report it to Gumtree
Log a ticket via our Help Centre and give us as much detail as you can:
- The link to the scammer's ad
- Screenshots of messages and listings
- Phone numbers, email addresses, or banking details used
- Whether you think your Gumtree login was also compromised
Every report helps. We take fraud seriously and each one helps us protect other users. The more detail you give us, the faster we can act.
Step 5 - Open a police case (optional, but smart)
You are not required to open a case - but it gives you options. Head to your nearest SAPS station and open a case there.
Once you do, let us know. We will send you a form for the investigating officer to complete. When we receive it back, we can share any information we hold about the scammer's Gumtree account with the police to support their investigation.
Step 6 - Ask your bank about a payment reversal
If you sent money via EFT, contact your bank and ask about reversing the transaction. In most cases they will need a police case number before they can start the process.
It is not guaranteed - but it is worth asking, and the case number from Step 5 is the key.
EFT reversals are not automatic. Banks assess each case individually and there is no guaranteed refund. The sooner you act and the stronger your evidence, the better your chances.
Your 6-step action plan at a glance
- Disable your card via your banking app and call your bank
- Screenshot all evidence before the scammer removes it
- Change your Gumtree password and switch on 2FA
- Report the incident to Gumtree with as much detail as possible
- Open a police case at your nearest SAPS station
- Contact your bank with your police case number and ask about a reversal
Frequently asked questions
Can Gumtree refund me if I was scammed?
Gumtree connects buyers and sellers - we do not process payments directly unless Pay Online was used. If you paid via EFT, the bank and SAPS are your best route. If Pay Online was used, contact us immediately as funds may still be held in escrow.
What if the scammer already deleted their listing?
Screenshot what you can and report to Gumtree. We keep records of account activity on our platform - even if the listing is gone, we may still have information that can help an investigation.
Should I contact SABRIC or SAFPS?
Sharp thinking. SABRIC (
sabric.co.za) deals with bank-related fraud. SAFPS (
safps.org.za) runs the Protective Registration system which flags your details if your identity has been used. Both are free to contact.
What is the Gumtree police form?
When you open a SAPS case and let us know, we send you a form for the investigating officer to complete. It allows us to legally share information about the scammer's Gumtree account with the police as part of their investigation.