[Misc] Gumtree & Whatsapp - fraud vulnerability

[Weststander]

I thought this was worthy of a thread, to highlight a weakness in Gumtree and Whatsapp, if you're not careful. We almost got stung.


Just 10 minutes ago we put a sofa up for sale on Gumtree. Seconds later a buyer appeared via Whatsapp, great, paying at full price.

With a legit link to our Gumtree ad. We followed the whatsapp route, which asked for full debit card details to be able to pay us, I assume for accounts details. They also asked for the account balance .... we smelt a rattus. So I emptied that bank account to another online.

A bit more then occurred, but to cut a long story short, that move stopped the fraud.

Cnt was then whatsapped "F@ck off fraudster", his reply was "LOL".

No loss thankfully, now cancelling bank card and reporting Cnt to Whatsapp.

 

[Rugrat]

Gumtree is crawling wth scammers ... I don't go anywhere near it any more

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

If you give your payment details ie sort code, account number and account name they can transfer money to you but can’t scam you. It’s no different to writing a cheque like in the old days.

 

[Dick Swiveller]

If you give your payment details ie sort code, account number and account name they can transfer money to you but can’t scam you. It’s no different to writing a cheque like in the old days.

Tell that to Clarkson who boasted about something similar and then found he had donated to charity

 

[Weststander]

Gumtree is crawling wth scammers ... I don't go anywhere near it any more

I don't care for it at all.

Mrs.W loves it (household stuff buying and selling) and it was she who almost fell for the fraud. Impatience, delight in getting a quick buyer for a sofa now clogging up our kitchen.

Scammers thrive on impatience and people wanting to clear their email inbox.

The financial cavalry (me) made sure t@sser couldn't benefit from us.

 

[Weststander]

If you give your payment details ie sort code, account number and account name they can transfer money to you but can’t scam you. It’s no different to writing a cheque like in the old days.

Scammer wanted debit card details, Mrs.W was giving them to the scammer!

 

[Seagull58]

Scammer wanted debit card details, Mrs.W was giving them to the scammer!

Was she this gullible when you first met?

 

[Simster]

Scammer wanted debit card details, Mrs.W was giving them to the scammer!

There is absolutely no need for anyone paying you to have details of your debit card! You only need to provide bank details.

 

[banjo]

The tips your friend for getting rid of shite.

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

Scammer wanted debit card details, Mrs.W was giving them to the scammer!

Oops

 

[Neville's Breakfast]

Tell that to Clarkson who boasted about something similar and then found he had donated to charity

How ?

 

[WATFORD zero]

How ?

I'm guessing because a lot of organisations like charities, are allowed (by the banks) to set up DDs without a signature, so I can see how someone who had your account details could be a pain, but these would be refunded the moment it was raised as an issue by companies who are allowed to set up DDs ?

Similarly, when I was in banking many years ago, retailers would have to jump through lots of hoops to process 'card not present' transactions, and any dispute on those got immediately refunded (no idea what the situation is now).

So the 'scammer' can't benefit, but can be a pain.

 

[Weststander]

There is absolutely no need for anyone paying you to have details of your debit card! You only need to provide bank details.

Yep.

A lesson in stop doing transactions in haste online or responding to emails in haste.

Think on it.

 

[Weststander]

Was she this gullible when you first met?

Had great taste, obviously.

Financially, yes. Not everyone's as clever as you and I.

Seriously, there'll be a lot of folk including the elderly who'll be wiped out by this kind of scam.

Always worth reiterating the warnings.

 

[WATFORD zero]

Had great taste, obviously.

Financially, yes. Not everyone's as clever as you and I.

Seriously, there'll be a lot of folk including the elderly who'll be wiped out by this kind of scam.

Always worth reiterating the warnings.

I think it's the haste element that catches people out. I seem to remember [MENTION=1200]Harry Wilson's tackle[/MENTION]'s son getting scammed a while ago with a very clever, very tightly timed scam. I think it was only after HWT posted it on here and a few people had contributed that we actually worked out exactly what had happened.

 

[LamieRobertson]

Had great taste, obviously.

Financially, yes. Not everyone's as clever as you and I.

Seriously, there'll be a lot of folk including the elderly who'll be wiped out by this kind of scam.

Always worth reiterating the warnings.

Five minutes ago had a text from Nationwide (allegedly) ..something about a new beneficiary (what?) added to my account ..click link to confirm ….hmmm..as i dont have an account easy decision to delete text and block number …

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

I think it's the haste element that catches people out. I seem to remember [MENTION=1200]Harry Wilson's tackle[/MENTION]'s son getting scammed a while ago with a very clever, very tightly timed scam. I think it was only after HWT posted it on here and a few people had contributed that we actually worked out exactly what had happened.

Correct.

That was just over a year ago, just before Christmas. His entire account emptied. As you can imagine.....

More recently the boy has been promoted into a new role, got a nice pay rise, and is just about to move into a new flat share - in Canterbury which means a walk to work rather than a drive from Faversham.

I may have mentioned a couple of times that people who cross me very often seem to come a cropper without my raising a finger. Spooky

So, it wouldn't surprise me if the fraudsters are, at this very moment, wringing crack piss out of their old pants 'to save for later'.

 

[WATFORD zero]

Correct.

That was just over a year ago, just before Christmas. His entire account emptied. As you can imagine.....

More recently the boy has been promoted into a new role, got a nice pay rise, and is just about to move into a new flat share - in Canterbury which means a walk to work rather than a drive from Faversham.

I may have mentioned a couple of times that people who cross me very often seem to come a cropper without my raising a finger. Spooky

So, it wouldn't surprise me if the fraudsters are, at this very moment, wringing crack piss out of their old pants 'to save for later'.

Great to hear. I'm quite a cynical old git and there's very many things I don't believe in but Karma

 

[LamieRobertson]

Correct.

That was just over a year ago, just before Christmas. His entire account emptied. As you can imagine.....

More recently the boy has been promoted into a new role, got a nice pay rise, and is just about to move into a new flat share - in Canterbury which means a walk to work rather than a drive from Faversham.

I may have mentioned a couple of times that people who cross me very often seem to come a cropper without my raising a finger. Spooky

So, it wouldn't surprise me if the fraudsters are, at this very moment, wringing crack piss out of their old pants 'to save for later'.

Makes note….’Never cross Harry’

 

[Weststander]

Makes note….’Never cross Harry’

He’s always been different.