Gransnet forums

Chat

Page 1 of 1
Flip | Customise

Someone tried to scam me today

(13 Posts)
Add comment | Report
jeanie99 Sat 18-Jul-15 16:47:59

I am so furious.
I am trying to sell a range cooker listing it on several websites.
A lady emailed me to say she was interested and would pay me the full amount so I was delighted.
I asked for her e-mail address and also for her to phone me but didn't receive a response to the question.
I asked her to come look at the range and she declined saying she didn't have the time but would send an agent to collect.
Said she would pay immediately by PayPal which I didn't have an account but she sent a link for me to register.
I didn't use the link being security conscious and registered for an account by typing in the Paypal address.
Next thing I get a mail saying she had processed the amount and I should receive an e-mail from Paypal confirming this.
I did receive an e-mail saying the amount plus carriage of £150 was pending in my account and I should forward £150 of this to Western Union as payment to an agent for picking up the range.
At this stage I thought everything was cosha because I didn't know how Paypal worked until I realized that the mail had been sent from Dubai.
Now why would anyone buy a second hand appliance from the UK for transport to Dubai, who are they kidding. This was clearly why she would not give her e-mail address or ring me.
The amount they said was pending and I should clink on a link they said to verify my account and transfer the carriage to Western Union to pay for this.
When I checked my Paypal account nothing had be transferred and they were asking me to transfer £150 for the carriage which they said was pending.
The carriage agent than sent an email saying could I transfer the money asap so that everything could proceed as planned.

These people lead very sad lives and I am now very annoyed that the range is now not sold and I have to start again trying to sell it again.

Add comment | Report
Anya Sat 18-Jul-15 16:54:34

Very frustrating Jeanie but at least you have the satisfaction of only being nearly scammed. Well done for not transferring funds.

Add comment | Report
aggie Sat 18-Jul-15 16:59:33

Well done Jeanie for being so savvy smile

Add comment | Report
Nonnie Sat 18-Jul-15 17:05:49

Sold mine on eBay and got loads more for it than I expected!

Add comment | Report
jeanie99 Sat 18-Jul-15 17:12:33

I haven't tried E-bay, how do I go about it Nonnie.
I am so furious what a waste of my time.

Add comment | Report
newist Sat 18-Jul-15 17:59:43

I was advised many years ago NEVER ever use Western Union it is not safe. Well done Jeanie for spotting this and thanks for sharing

Add comment | Report
AshTree Sat 18-Jul-15 18:41:44

I can understand you being furious, but you should also be feeling very self-satisfied that you weren't taken for the sucker they hoped you were! Well done!

Add comment | Report
Alea Sat 18-Jul-15 18:44:31

I too can understand how brassed-off you might be feeling for being suckered, but do we need Three separate threads on the subject?confused

Add comment | Report
sunseeker Sat 18-Jul-15 19:44:24

Some years ago we were selling a car, someone emailed to say they would pay the asking price. They then said they owed money to someone in our area so wanted to send us the asking price plus an additional £500, when the courier arrived to collect the car they wanted us to hand over the additional £500 to the courier! shock. I emailed back and suggested they send the money direct to the courier, he could then bring us the cash and collect the car - we never heard from them again.

Add comment | Report
jeanie99 Sat 18-Jul-15 19:45:30

Try and have a little understanding Alea, wanted a little support here not negative comments.
Hope I didn't take too much time out of your day.

Thanks everyone else for your support much appreciated.

Add comment | Report
jeanie99 Sat 18-Jul-15 19:49:30

Sunseeker,
It sounds like this type of scam as been going on for sometime.

I thought this women was genuine, sent a very nice e-mail to me a couple of times, very chatty no spelling or grammar mistakes.
How do you know who are the genuine people it's difficult.

What as annoyed me more than anything is the time wasted, we had a genuine person who wanted the oven straight away but we were not in a position to sell.

Add comment | Report
FarNorth Sat 18-Jul-15 21:29:02

Well done, Jeanie.
It is annoying but think of all the annoyance you've saved yourself by not going along with it and ending up losing money!

Add comment | Report
vampirequeen Sat 18-Jul-15 22:45:26

So glad you didn't fall for it.

Page 1 of 1
Flip | Customise