Has anybody been scammed on gumtree?

[Roverload]

Hi all, I buy and sell a few dinghies and have recently started using gumtree since I left facebook. I get alot of obvious scammers messaging me and wanting to buy via paypal but not in person. I've had a call today buy a guy who seems genuine wanting to buy one of my tenders, he cant come down for a couple of weeks and wanted to pay via paypal to hold it. I've given him my email address for a paypal payment. How could this go wrong? I dont understand how you can be scammed using paypal if you're not giving your password away etc...

Thanks.

[silentbrown]

Paypal generally tend to side with buyers in any dispute, regardless of evidence

The risk is he comes and takes it away, then claims he's never received it, and paypal take the money back from you.

[LC23]

Can't you ask him to pay via bank transfer or PayPal friends and family? If he is serious he shouldn't object.

[Turbobanana]

I have, unfortunately. About 5 years back, on a Nikon DSLR that was advertised at a sensible (ie realistic) price. I agreed a deal to include postage, sent payment then had to continually chase to try to get delivery. Of course the guy vanished with my money. Few days later the Fraud Squad got on to me asking for details, but not promising I'd ever see a penny back. I obliged, and have never heard a word since. They were aware of the vendor's illegal activity but seemed powerless to do much about it. I wrote the money off (only about £250, from memory, but still a handy amount).

I've also never used Gumtree again. It was my own stupid fault: caveat emptor, and all that.

[deckster]

Regardless, I wouldn't be holding goods for somebody who may or may not bother to follow up. What do you say to the person who turns up tomorrow with the asking price in cash?

Tell him it's staying on the market and he's very welcome to come and view when he is ready.