The answer is a big fat NO. Here's why. Someone you are dealing with knows your name and your bank account. They in turn open up a paypal account - in your name, which is possible because Paypal do not do a 100 point check. They then link your bank account to the Paypal account they set up using nothing more than an email address (i.e. yahoo.com, gmail etc) and presto, they start transferring money into "your" (i.e. their) Paypal account.

How do I know this? It happened to my business partner today. He spent the whole day ringing Paypal (and go se how long it takes to even FIND their number let alone speak to a human) and his bank before now having to change bank account numbers. Every automated payment into or out of his account is now screwed up. Total nightmare.

Never EVER give out your bank account/BSB number is my advice.

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Hi Lucas,

PayPal only authorises the process when you log into your account and match the reference number from a deposit they have made into your account to prove that you are the owner. Therefore if you are not the owner you can not access that deposit and reference number :)

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The article is accurate - BSB and account numbers aren't a risk for withdrawals against you.
These could be used in certain frauds, but the scenarios aren't useful for non-attributable scams. ie Direct debit agreement where payment goes to a merchant, as per the Clarkson example provided.

They are however a risk for deposits - never use any online direct deposit payment option. Your options for recovery if goods aren't received is close to nil.
Credit cards will provide you with recovery options/protection if you monitor it.
Paypal will protect you to an additional layer by not leaving your credit card details in systems for years that are subject to security breaches.

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Lucas - you and your friend are quite right to be alarmed over PayPal's self-serving and frankly, downright illegal interests.

I had an account hacked earlier this year and the cause was solely because my bank account had been linked to the PayPal account.

Only after threatening to report a flippant and dismissive PayPal to certain financial authorities, did they do an instant 360 degree turnaround and couldn't help me fast enough, even going to far as to refund every dollar that had been stolen almost instantly.

However, I was lucky in that respect because most people just lay down and swallow whatever bullshit PayPal dishes out without realizing they DO have the legal right to fight back.

But here's the kicker - even my bank strongly urged me NEVER to attach a bank account to PayPal under any circumstances for exactly this reason.

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Hi Guys

10 min ago I received an sms and email with the exact same story but with a different name, from someone working in the mining in NT asking for my PP or BSB as I want to sell a suitcase in gumtree. Then I doubt if someone can scam you with these numbers so I browsed and I found this page

I know now this is B***s**T

thanks!!!

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Thanks for your write up on the possible scenarios of online scammers. I just received a text message from someone named 'Jane Brock' saying she was interested to buy my gym equipment and advised she will transfer the money on paypal and asked me to share my bank account details. I strictly rejected the offer.

Be careful everyone!!

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If I give someone my account number on my card can they hack my paypal account or do they need more info?

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Hi Suzanne,

For most Australian banks the number on your card is different to your bank account number. Your bank account requires a BSB and account number.

Disclosing either of those numbers does not allow someone to access your Paypal account, but we do recommend you take the safety precautions mentioned in the story.

- Money team

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Same story happened to me. I was selling a couch and I got an offer really quickly after putting the ad, the person called Elisabeth (email: elisabethkeartland.gmail.com) offered me $100 on top of the price to take down the ad as she wanted to buy it straight away and she said that had already spoken to the curier even though she said that she couldn't talk to me over the phone because of the nature of her job, very strange... I felt it was dodgy so I found this page where you confirmed my suspicions...

Thanks for the article,
Susana

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Jane Broock is still at it as just today I received an SMS followed by emails in regards to gym equipment I was selling.

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I just had the same thing on Gumtree, I'm selling a motorcycle, first email asked what the minimum amount was that I'd take, second email said where he was working didn't have phone reception and he had already organised a courier. Wanted to pay via PayPal linked to his ANZ account. In that second email he said he was happy to pay what I was asking. That's when alarm bells started ringing and I googled how safe it was to give my details and this was the first page it lead me to. Just sounded dodgy in the email. Company name he used was falcon oil and gas in beetaloo basin Northern Territory.

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Thanks for sharing your story, Jonathan, glad you dodged a bullet!

- Money team

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Oh dear I am afraid I have been scammed well I definitely have. I am selling a ute on gumtree I was contacted via email and offered asking price and an extra $300 to take the add down, Daniel Jonothab asked for my bsb and account details which I stupidly gave. I was then told funds would be transferred but I needed to pay a courier $950 first I started to cotton on at this point and told him this is too werid and too much fuss for an old ute. What do I need to do as i jave given out my bank details....help

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Hi Nicole,

The buyer should not be able to access your funds with just a BSB and account number.

We recommend reporting the scam to Gumtree and ceasing all contact with the buyer. You should also make sure your internet banking is secure with a strong password, and monitor your accounts for suspicious activity.

- Money team

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Hi Money team,

What if BSB, account number AND the name of your account was given? Can they access your account? If possibly so, what can you do to prevent or stop this?

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Hi Lucas,

As the story says, scammers won't be able to access funds in your account without a PIN, ID or online banking information.

If you are still concerned, we recommend you contact your bank.

- Money team

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Hey guys,

Here is an example I have also received today with having an ad on Gumtree for my wedding dress of which I posted for $999, he is offering more for no reason.

He is using the following Hotmail account --wongonste@hotmail.com

Thanks for the response, i will take it for $1100 including PayPal Sub charges since i am interested in the immediate purchase and also satisfied with pictures of it i've seen. How i wish i could come to inspect your ads listing myself, but currently I'm working away from the country... But the issue is i am an oceanographer and i have a contract now so am presently on sea. The contract is strictly no call due to the lack of reception on the sea area. But I'm able to access email anytime as we will make use of laptop so my only quickest payment option is PayPal as i can send money via PayPal anytime. Since I'm requesting this transaction to be done via PayPal, i will be responsible for all the paypal charges on this transaction and if you do not have an account with paypal, its pretty easy, safe and secured to open one. Just log on to www.paypal.com. I hope we can make the purchase as fast as possible? I have a mover that will come for it once payment clears and they will take care of every necessary paper for me. I need your PayPal Full name and email address so i can send the money now.

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HI Nicole,
I too just received an e-mail from our friend Daniel Jonothan with pretty much the exact story ($300 to take the add down etc), claimed he was a medical doctor. What happened in your case in the end? Were your accounts ever compromised?

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Here's what got for my response:

Thanks for getting back mate, I'm ok with the condition as described on the advert and what price are you willing to sell without the reg and rwc. I work on North West Shelf in the Rowley Sub-basin in Perth and the reception here is terrible. We do not have access to phone at the moment,which is why I contacted you with internet messaging facility. This lovely car will be as a surprise!

Regarding the payment, I will be paying you through PayPal linked with my bank account, if you have a paypal account, all I will need will be your paypal email address, you can alternatively send your bsb acct name and number if you have no PayPal acct. I have also contacted my courier who will come for pick up and deliver it to Darwin after the whole funds has been cleared into your acct.

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The BSB and account number are on every cheque you write...so no the Victorian gentleman didn't escape that exposure anyway.

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i just gave someone the account name bsb and account number. What do i do know . please help

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Hi Felix,

If you've sold something online, the buyer should not be able to access your funds with those details.

Scammers can't access funds in your account without a PIN, ID or online banking information.

If you are still concerned, you may want to contact your bank.

- Money team

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Word for word with my potential buyer......there must be a catch. When something is too good to be true, it isn't true

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I'm very pleased this site is following this. I got suspicious very quickly as well. I just put an add on Gumtree last night and within 12 minutes I got a SMS on my phone asking to communicate via email. I did and the email I got is essentially the same as others:

This person is using the email address Esq Liam Veitch:

It's so nice to read from you, Am really impressed in purchasing. How I wish I could come for viewing and inspection as am currently busy due to the nature of my work and can you assure me that it's in good condition and that I will not be disappointed with it, I want it picked up before I get back. Due to my inability to make a cash deposit, I would be paying through PayPal which is safer for me or bank transfer as well safe. Kindly send me a PayPal payment invoice or create an account at www.paypal.com if you don't have one or your bank details for me to make payment. I will make a concrete pick up an arrangement with my transport agent who will be coming over for pick up once you receive full payment into your account. Have a nice day and plz inform other buyers you sold it and take the ads off the site as am ready to purchase it right away. Cheers.. Liam

So they are still red hot at it! I just cant believe that Gumtree is not putting up a warning on their site. Unfortunately not everyone goes to the trouble of searching online to see if anything is wrong with sending their EFT details to a potential buyer.

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Phew, just got one in response to my car listing

Wizkid Davido
1:46 PM (3 hours ago)
to me

Thanks for the response,I would have loved to call you directly but due to the nature of my work we do not have access to phone at the moment,which is why I contact only contact you via email. I work with the Australian Naval Service.

I want it to be the perfect graduation gift for him and am making it a surprise package as well ,Does it have any history I should be aware of? and why are you selling it if you don't mind my asking. I don't mind adding an extra $300.00 for you just to take down the posting..I am already in talks with freighters that will handle the pickup and delivery .I will really appreciate if you can email more info

Due to the nature of my work i am a very busy woman working all day, we're presently on the sea, i don't have access to my bank account online as am not with my credit card details here but i have my ANZ bank account link up with my PayPal account so I will be paying you through PayPal to your nominated bank account or better still is if you have a PayPal account,please get back to me with your BSB and account details or PayPal account so i can proceed with the payment and contact the courier agent who will come to pick it up and deliver it in NT for my son.

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Same case:

Thanks for the response,I would have loved to call you directly but due to the nature i work with the The Australian Army Corps. we do not have access to phone at the moment,which is why I contacted you with internet messaging facility.

i am buying this for my first son who just graduated on top of his class at Aviation University ,I want it to be the perfect graduation gift for him and am making it a surprise package ,Does it have any history I should be aware of? and why are you selling if you don't mind my asking. I don't mind adding an extra $100.00 for you just to take down the posting..I am already in talks with freighters that will handle the pickup and delivery .I will really appreciate if you can email more info

Due to the nature of my work i am a very busy man working all day, am a (Operating officer) am presently on-board, i don't have access to my bank account online as am not with my credit card details here but i have my ANZ bank account link up with my PayPal account so I will be paying you through Account to your nominated bank account or better still is if you have a PayPal account ,please get back to me with your BSB and account details or PayPal account so i can proceed with the payment and contact the courier agent who will come to pick it up and deliver it in NT for my son .Await your reply

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I got the exact same wording as above but mine is from George, who offered me and extra $200 to take the ad down! I will report this to Gumtree immediately.

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Just had the same story given to me from a lady called Theresea Benson saying she cannot view due to working in the oil rggs and wil deposit money in ASAP as she wants it delivered to her holiday home before she gets back.

Thank god I came across this as it saved me from fraud from her.

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I've just been through this while selling a car.

The red flags for spammers on Gumtree are usually dodgy English, asking questions already answered in the ad, brand new Gumtree accounts, and insisting on transactions being done by email rather than phone.

The scammer messaging me today is named Rob O Martin.

The first message he sent me (which I've found elsewhere online) was:

"Is there anything I need to know about it?
When can I inspect it?
Please contact me.
Thanks!"

I figured it was a scam but wanted to confirm it so I replied to him. He responded with:

"Good, I can only make the payment from my PayPal to your PayPal account or
Bank account by using your Bank account details and you can easily set up
account with PayPal on their website it takes less than 2 minutes and I
will only need the PayPal email or Bank account details to make the payment
to you ASAP. Thank you"

I'm posting these here so other people can find them and avoid getting ripped off by dodgy Gumtree buyers.

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Thanks so much everyone for sharing these messages from Gumtree scammers! I was selling a motorbike on Gumtree and I thought something seemed off about this guy, then he sent me this message.

Hello mate,

It sounds good to know that it is still available for sale. I did go through your advert and I am satisfied with it. I am okay with the asking price and would love to go ahead with the deal right away because this meets my perfect search for time being now. I am
contacting you via email, I am on duty and coming to your residence for inspection won't be possible, so you have to assure me that its in condition described. You may now consider me a favorite buyer and if possible withdraw the posting from the site immediately so that I can be rest assured that it is all mine . I don't mind adding an extra $300.00 for you just to take down the posting.

Like I said earlier, I'm very busy with my job as I currently work as Marine official, so I will be paying you online via my PayPal account which is attached to my bank account because it is the only form of payment that I have access to right now and also because of its good security nature. If you are interested in selling it please provide me
with the following information:

1)Your full name
2) Paypal email address,
3)Address for pickk up
4)Your personal mobile #

Kindly get back to me with your paypal email address or better still you can send me a paypal invoice so that i can complete the transaction.
Due to the nature of my work i am a very busy man working all day,am a Marine official, i don't have access to my bank account online as am not with my credit card details here but i have my ANZ bank account link up with my PayPal account so I will be paying you through PayPal to your nominated bank account or better still is if you have a PayPal account ,please get back to me with your BSB and account details or PayPal account so i can proceed with the payment and contact the courier agent who will come to pick it up and deliver it in NT for my son .Await your reply .Best regards

Dodgy f**k. I reported him to Gumtree but it obviously doesn't do much good.

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Thanks Mick! I ended up here thanks to your comment.

My Gumtree message was almost identical.

Thanks for the response,am ready to buy the it and pay $4,700 by paypal and including PayPal surcharges since i am interested in the immediate purchase for my In-Law as a surprise gift he just moved to the Darwin where this is needed and i will be making use of a shipping company to have this picked up from you and have it delivered to him .Further arrangements will be made with you in regards to the pick up once i have paid you,advice soon i am an oceanographer and due to the nature of my work, phone calls making and visiting of website are restricted but i squeezed out time to check this advert and send you an SMS regarding it.

I would appreciate if you email me with more pictures (if available) too since i won't be be able to see this in person,what's the PayPal email to send funds to in order for me to pay you ASAP,And if you don't have a paypal account, it is very easy to set up, go to www.paypal.com.au and get it set up.

I will need this following details so i can proceed with the payment right away.

Are you a serious Seller:

Are you the first owner:

Your PayPal e-Mail Address:

full name:

What is your reason for selling it?

Address:

I'm sorry, just want to be sure about the sale before i proceed, i will be happy if you remove the AD from the site and consider me as your favourite buyer by ignoring all other offers

Due Regard.

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I just got this message. Do you think it's a scam?

Great! please consider both sold as i am willing to pay your full asking price because i need to buy it for my cousin asap,
i have read through the advert and i'm totally satisfied with it,
sadly i would not be able to come personally to collect due to my hearing loss and I'm just recovering from heart surgery so I'm home-bound.
I have a courier agent that would help me to pick it up at your preferred location after you have received your money and i'll pay you via PayPal once you are ready.
Kindly get back to me with your location so that i can inform the courier agent about it now?

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Chris at Launceston Tas
12 Sept 2018
So glad to see Exactly the same scenario as happened to me today. Selling a ute and the offer to purchase came from onboard a Navy vessel so direct contact could not be made however a courier car transporter would pick up the vehicle and money would be transferred to my bank. "Please give details and I will pay $200 extra if you take down ad on Gumtree immediately"......and so on.
Three other similar emails arrived within minutes of placing the ad.
Pleased to say I felt uneasy and did not fall for it. Subsequently found this blog. Good work Money Team!!

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This Exact thing just happened to me. Almost immediately after posting my bed set I got a text asking if the 'furniture' was still available, and could I reply to this email bentheresa1234@hotmail.com. Below is the email I received. We had a couple of back and forth emails but no real challenges to the price but loads of reference to giving my PayPal or bank details so she could send payment. Something was off so I google and found this page and cancelled the sale. Please don't trust this kind of weird goings on.

Thanks a lot for the email. I am away at sea at the moment,i work with New Zealand Oil and Gas (NZOG) and we are presently offshore in New Zealand Taranaki Basin on kapo project. We do not have access to phone at the moment,its 5days off and 25days on,which is why I contacted you with internet messaging facility. Where is it located at the moment?

I am buying it for my for my holiday and i want it delivered before my arrival.I won't be able to come for the inspection due to the nature of my work and i would have called but our calling is restricted.Regarding the payment,pls get back to me with your final asking price and your paypal details so i can process the payment,you can alternatively send your bsb and acct number if you have no paypal acct.I have also contacted my courier who will come for pick up after the whole fund has been cleared into your acct.

Await your reply.

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Same thing happend to me, selling my car. An anonymous number gave me a text from GeoOp asking to e-mail Michelle Dobbins on michelledobs90@gmail.com.

First she was really interested in buying without even taking a look. Further she wanted to buy it and I disclosed my E-Mail address I'm using for PayPal and also my BSB and account number.

Do I have to worry? Please help

She then asked to me to pay her agent which organises the pick-up via western union, she'll just transfer more money to do so. At that point I realized it's fraud, because the agent sits in Malaysia. I said it's too dodgy for me to do so.

The name and address of the agent is Tegan Wosley, 12 Jalan Yap Kwan, Bukuit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur, 50450, Malaysia.

Be aware of this scam.

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I don't understand. If it is safe to provide a/c and bsb details as some are saying, then why are the scammers after this information? How on earth do they use this to scam?

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Hi all,
The above responses are invaluable to me. I received same messages as 2 of above within minutes of posting my car on gumtree for sale. Both responses were from persons working offshore with no phone facility but wanting my email address and then wanting further information from me (which I supplied by email) and then requesting I consider my vehicle sold that without inspection, couriers were coming to collect it, they'd paid $300 for
me to take my ad down immediately, and asking for ymy full name BSP and account number and where did I live (address not emailed but suburb and city was provided). I smelt a rat, slowly I'll admit but mainly as I thought it unusual to get pretty much the same story (of being offshore and not having a phone) from two different people within minutes of ad posted and further one of the people first said he was Mark and in a later email his address was James.

To answer Renata's question I think if a person has your full name, your email address, your phone number, and your bank bsb and account number, they can steal your identity or set up an account pretending that they are you and then make withdrawals from your own bank account into the fraudulent thank account- If gumtree is taking no action I suggest reporting it to the police and maybe that they can trace the email addresses back to the source- if I have the energy and financial resources to do so . Thank you everyone.
Cathy

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I've just been through similar thing several times regarding a gold necklace I had for sale on gumtree. Each one said working offshore/OVERSEAS could I post it to them. Agreed to do so then they supposedly sent funds through PayPal but they never arrived although I would receive a confirmation email SUPPOSEDLY from PayPal asking me to provide shipment tracking number and then my funds would be released. Luckily it set of alarm bells and I rang PayPal who assured me that it's fake and they Never ask for items to be shipped before payment.

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Reading all the above I've realized scammers must have created some sort of tracking code on gumtree to alert them of new postings over a certain $ amount. (Or they have people whose job is to just watch gumtree all day? Also not sure if this is correct - the scammer sends you an automated text message to contact them via email, purportedly from Gumtree.
Here's what happened to me: I listed my car - approximately 40mins after, I received a text mesaaage from +61 451 266 432 stating: "From GUMTREE: Davido emailed us regarding your listed vehicle, is it still up for sale? reply him directly via (davidowizkid87@gmail.com) now". I thought it was weird they were asking if it was still up for sale because I had just listed it. (Of course it is, I just posted my ad?) Anyway I ignored the niggling feeling because I was a bit excited I had a potential buyer so quickly. I also ignored the bad grammar in the text (missing 'to'). I then emailed and got a reply approx. 20mins after stating the below. Gullible me eagerly started typing a reply, but then I thought, hold up, stop rushing, their story just doesn't sound right. So I googled the dangers of giving bank account details and came across this article - thank you :).
Here are the silly questions popping up in my head - I thought how can your daughter be graduating, you must have been about 14, or 15 when you had her (sorry to generalize - many people use the last two digits of their birth in their email ID, and I thought born in 1987 and has a daughter already graduating? That can't be right - or it can just very uncommon). Why would you pay $300 for me to take down the listing? Why are you providing so much information about your situation?? (e.g. So, we nurses perform with significant autonomy, and make medical decisions when necessary) I don't need to know this. Why have you already talked to freighters for pick up nd delivery so quickly before you have even contacted me for more info??? Why aren't you writing in coherent sentences?????! Lol anyway here is his reply to my intial email.
"Am Glad to read back from you because I would have loved to call you directly but due to the nature of my work we do not have access to phone at the moment,which is why I contact only contact you via email. I work with as an onshore nurse here in Australia and provides around-the-clock medical and emergency care for illnesses and injuries sustained by members of the oil rig crew. Most rigs do not have doctors on board. So, we nurses perform with significant autonomy, and make medical decisions when necessary. I want it to be the perfect graduation gift for my daughter and am making it a surprise package as well for her, Are you the real first owner? and why are you selling it if you don't mind my asking. I don't mind adding an extra $300.00 for you just to take down the posting..I am already in talks with freighters that will handle the pickup and delivery .I will really appreciate if you can email more info. Due to the nature of my work i am a very busy man working all day, i don't have access to my bank account online as am not with my credit card details here but i have my National Australia bank account link up with my PayPal account so I will be paying you through PayPal to your nominated bank account or better still is if you have a PayPal account,please get back to me with your BSB and account details or PayPal account so i can proceed with the payment and contact the courier agent who will come to pick it up and deliver it in Australia Capital Territory for my Daughter"

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Ive had the same from davidowizkid, claimed it was going to be sent to Tasmania, offered to pay an extra $100 for me to just walk it to post office, claimed it was a graduation gift and told me to add a card and gift wrapping.
Kept saying he had put money into my PayPal and nothing showed up so I blocked him quick smart

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Thanks for the swift response am 100% keen to buy this Vehicle, Am buying it for my lovely Son who just graduated on top of his class in Australia national university (ANU) ,he studied Business Law and Professional Ethics Minor and am so proud of him . I want it as a surprise package to appreciate him towards his achievement and to be delivered before my arrival NT as my family lives in NT

I work in a Military. We do not have access to receive calls at the moment,its 15 days off and 15 days on,which is why I contacted you with internet messaging facility. Where is it located at the moment? Does it have any history I should be aware of? and why are you selling if you don't mind my asking. I am already in talks with the courier that will handle the pick-up and delivery it in NT.

As regards the payment, i don't have access to my bank account online as am not with my credit card details here but i have my ANZ bank account link up with my PayPal account so I will be paying you through Account to your nominated bank account or better still is if you have a PayPal account ,please get back to me with your BSB and account details or PayPal account so i can proceed with the payment And again i have sent some of my co-worker to search this for me so you can see this kind of email so deal with me directly

Await your Response

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This just happened to me!!
Below is the email transcript I received with a couple of minutes of posting the Ad on gumtree:
"Thanks a lot for the email. I am away at sea at the moment,i work with New Zealand Oil and Gas (NZOG) and we are presently offshore in New Zealand Taranaki Basin on kapo project. We do not have access to phone at the moment,its 5days off and 25days on,which is why I contacted you with internet messaging facility. Where is it located at the moment?

I am buying it for my new apartment and i want it delivered before my arrival.I won't be able to come for the inspection due to the nature of my work and i would have called but our calling is restricted. Regarding the payment,pls get back to me with your final asking price and your paypal details so i can process the payment,you can alternatively send your bsb and acct number if you have no paypal acct.I have also contacted my courier who will come for pick up after the whole fund has been cleared into your acct.

Await your reply."

Thank goodness my instinct knew this was a bit 'phishy' and I did a if research and discovered Effie's article.

Beware of t_bates1980@yahoo.com

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Hello Sarah. Enjoyed reading that.
davidowizkid87@gmail.com has just written to me, wanting me to take down my add for a camera lens and send it to his kid in Tasmania. I live in Canberra, and reading your exchange with him, he told you that his daughter lives in the ACT :)
I'll write back to him with this information just for fun. Assume he will have to change his email address from now on to further scam people. Pity what the world has come to.
Everybody beware of davidowizkid87@gmail.com

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Unfortunately Gumtree will not do anything. This davidowizkid87@gmail.com has been doing this for over years and is still doing it today using the exact same email address.
He hasn't even bothered changing it which goes to show how useless our complaining is.

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Add this Gumtree scam to the long list:

Thank you , I'm happy to read back from you. I'm a member of the Australian Defence Force and our Australian personnel are also currently deployed to the Middle East Region for the Force Support Element (FSE) till December. I will not be able to meet you for inspection and collection, but I have a personal representative courier agent that will meet you for collection after payment has been made, the courier agent will also handle and sort all paper work or registration if needed on this purchase when they meet you for collection.

I cannot take calls or make one during this mission because it is prohibited, we are allowed to use internet facility only and I squeezed out time to search for the advert because I want the courier agent to deliver it to my new house in Riverton, South Australia before my arrival. I am ready to make the payment so get back to me with the details below :

Account number:

BSB:

Name:

Final price:

That is all I need in order to make the payment through a secure online bank transfer from my bank to yours. I will transfer the money to your account and my personal representative courier agent will meet you for the collection and deliver it to my new house in Riverton after you confirmed the payment.

Best Regards

Scott

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FYI - this is details from scam email I received 8 Sept 2019

From:

Theresa Benson

Message:

Thanks a lot for the email. I am away at sea at the moment,i work with New Zealand Oil and Gas (NZOG) and we are presently offshore in New Zealand Taranaki Basin on kapo project. We do not have access to phone at the moment,its 5days off and 25days on,which is why I contacted you with internet messaging facility. Where is it located at the moment?

I am buying it for my for my holiday and i want it delivered before my arrival.I won't be able to come for the inspection due to the nature of my work and i would have called but our calling is restricted.Regarding the payment,pls get back to me with your final asking price and your paypal details so i can process the payment,you can alternatively send your bsb and acct number if you have no paypal acct.I have also contacted my courier who will come for pick up after the whole fund has been cleared into your acct.

Await your reply.

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The EXACT same thing just happened to me!!! But he had letters from Westpac, but I called Westpac and it was NOT from there. TOTAL SCAM

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Just got one to, literally 30mins after putting the post up.

Am Glad to read back from you because I would have loved to call you directly but due to the nature of my work we do not have access to phone at the moment,which is why I contact only contact you via email. I work with as an onshore doctor here in Australia and provides around-the-clock medical and emergency care for illnesses and injuries sustained by members of the oil rig crew. Most rigs do not have nurses on board. So, we doctors perform with significant autonomy, and make medical decisions when necessary

I want it to be the perfect graduation gift for my daughter and am making it a surprise package as well for her, Are you the real first owner? and why are you selling it if you don't mind my asking. I don't mind adding an extra $300.00 for you just to take down the posting..I am already in talks with freighters that will handle the pickup and delivery .I will really appreciate if you can email more info

Due to the nature of my work i am a very busy woman working all day, i don't have access to my bank account online as am not with my credit card details here but i have my National Australia bank account link up with my PayPal account so I will be paying you through PayPal to your nominated bank account or better still is if you have a PayPal account,please get back to me with your BSB and account details or PayPal account so i can proceed with the payment and contact the courier agent who will come to pick it up and deliver it for my Daughter.

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I listed a car for sale on Carsales and after a few hours received the email below from a Kim Phillips. Same story as many examples described previously. Whilst I answered the questions I did not provide my bank account details. I asked for a scanned copy of the prospective buyers drivers licence before I will release my bank account details. I suspect I will receive no further contact from Kim Phillips!

Email reads:

Where is it located at the moment? what's your final price? Why are you selling it? does it need anything to be replace or repair? I'm cool with the condition as described on the advert. I work for Fly In Fly Out (FIFO)Mining Oil and Gas and we are presently in remote area .We do not have access to phone at the moment and that's why I contacted you with internet messaging facility. Regarding the payment, I can pay you through direct bank deposit (EFT),using PayPal instant bank wire transfer service. I will need your Account name, BSB and Account number. If you are not comfortable with that, you can set up a PayPal account properly at www.PayPal.com.au and I will make the payment through PayPal, this way, all I will need is your PayPal email address.

I have also contacted my courier who will come for pick up and deliver it to my place in Darwin after the whole fund has been cleared into your account. With the issue of my details, transferring the name of ownership and signing of all paperwork will be done by the pick up agent. If you are not comfortable with that, you can cancel the registration and i will buy Unregistered.

Await your reply

Regards

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Oh no! I am trying to sell my car on Gumtree and Car Sales. I just gave Kim Phillips my bank details via email, so now s/he has my name, email address, approximate location and bank details. I have notified my bank to be wary of unauthorised account debits, but I'm concerned about the possibility of identity theft. I can't believe I was so naive and really wish I had seen this article first.

Other than notifying my bank how do I avoid identity theft and fraud?

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This is very late to the party, but this would only then mean you need to swipe a statement from the bank if the target still uses paper bills.. the "reference numbers" are 2 sub 5c amounts deposited into your account.

Sure it requires a bit more set up but would then allow a correctly set up scammer to be totally 100% untraceable (you could then make purchases to another household address, track and intercept, or you could order items delivered to an empty house etc..) from there you could monetize the asset or just revel in your new, and free 70 inch flat screen, or whatever.

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