Beware

[Triumphman]

A bit of a sorry tale really.
I recently found a guitar for sale on guitarmart (it's just a classified site where you contact the seller directly)
I agreed via text and iMessage to buy the guitar from the seller who was in Glasgow.
I needed it posting to me as I live in the midlands.
Regarding payment he recommended me using paypoint, which I could do in my local supermarket.
I paid in the 250 and he told me he received it.
Then a few days later he confirmed he had posted the guitar, then nothing.
He won't answer the phone or reply to any messages and he had taken the add down.
Guitarmart cannot find his details either.
It appears I have been done.
I can talk to paypoint but as it's just a money transfer it's not really their concern if goods arrives or not in return.
I guess the police can't help either.
All I have is a mobile number (which he could ditch) and an email address.
Gutted.

 

[cumbriasteve]

It's a nightmare knowing who to trust, I guess he may have sold the guitar to several people who responded.

Landline, google maps, facebook etc are a few ways to reduce the risk but the scammers will always be waiting like vultures and some of them are so skilled in their trade they should be awarded NVQ's in robbery.

Your only chance is if you used your card for the payment to paypoint, I think a chargeback is an option but am no 'banking' expert.

 

[norlander]

Grrrrrrrr-gutted for you, thanks for posting -paypoint security noted.

 

[Robotstar5]

Does paypoint have any details of the recipient?, do they have to register or provide proof of identity?

 

[pedrobedro]

Was the guitar a bargain ? There seems to be a lot of this about and it seems to be for sale in Scotland most of the time just to discourage people from picking up in person. It has been observed on all the free ad sites and on ebay and the old saying still holds, if it looks too good to be true then it probably is. Is the mobile number going to voice message ?

 

[Wozzaaah]

Sorry to sound harsh but if you send that sort of money to someone who's only contact details is a mobile number then more fool you.
As Cumbriasteve says, ALWAYS get their full name, address and landline number, do a streetview search, google their email address, google a sample of the wording of the ad.
Also ask if you can pick the item up even if you can't, it often sorts out the scammers from the genuine sellers.

 

[Triumphman]

Paypoint are trying to trace the money. It went to top up a tuxedo card apparently.
He's not answering the phone it responding in anyway. Tried using different numbers etc.
it was a bit cheaper than perhaps its worth but not a out and out bargain.

 

[Wedg1e]

Also ask if you can pick the item up even if you can't, it often sorts out the scammers from the genuine sellers.

This ^^^ - as a mobile techie I often ask if I can collect stuff when I'm passing before I bid on Ebay items; it's surprising the excuses people come up with to fob you off... so I just don't bother bidding, just in case.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Report to the Police. Even if they can't get your money back it's still a crime so they need to be informed. I had something similar with an eBay purchase. Police told me they take "internet" based crime seriously as it's a growing aspect.

Paul H

 

[DrNik]

Become a detective, what you need to do is google his phone number, don't upset him just yet, see if he has done this before, see if he/she has outset anyone else, also get someone else to reply to any other adverts, sound very interested in the item, then tell them you want to send cash in the post to them for said item, then there's the address, then google his address, google the address, 192.com for the occupants of the house, I can help you out more, let me know, lots of other things out there to find people, but shhh don't tell everyone

 

[BrokenBiker]

Drink you seem to know a lot about finding someone who doesn't want to be found...always useful to know someone like you lol and I might need to speak you privately soon.

report to police, they have been known to do something useful every now and then and my father had his stolen bike located after they found the registered address of the phone that was dropped while they were stealing it

 

[chunkolini]

Get 'The Snooper' fellow forum member on to him.
There is no escape.

 

[Lawnmowerboy]

Seem to remember a fellow forum gent bought a camera under similar circumstances and I forget what he did and the outcome. See if you can find the thread I recall it was called "have I been had" or something.

 

[upinsmoke]

Must admit im a great fan of ebay for goods like that ,look for a good score and feedback for your seller, and pay with paypal if they have to send it.

 

[DrNik]

I had a guy who owed me money, disappeared off the face of the earth, got his business number eventually, turns out its a 2nd line in his house, so I ring leave messages off and on, then I go into 2nd gear, I search him out, luckily for me he had applied for planning permission for his fence to be extended, so now I have his address, oh and then I google map his house and there is his van on the drive, finally I get his other phone number (can't tell you how) but I ring up, his wife answers, super politely I ask for him, she asks my name, I said "Nik" , I'll just get him, we'll he comes to the phone, I remind him about the money, he says how the hell did I get his number, I replied with "look mate you don't know me, you don't know what I can do,or what im capable of, finding you was easy, I want my money". Next day there's a knock on the door, "here's you money" thank you.........

 

[Triumphman]

Good stuff.
My case is ongoing but not over. Will report in more detail when appropriate.

 

[the snooper]

Get 'The Snooper' fellow forum member on to him.
There is no escape.

hello there chunko old fellow, what are you suggesting, im some sort of detective

 

[migmag]

I seriously advise a direct bank transfer its soo much safer than Paypal or any of these money transfer setups...........

If you used a bank?credit card of any form within the transaction ypu can contact them to raise a fraud case and request a "chargeback" the bank/card firm will take it from there..

 

[ukracer]

I had a guy who owed me money, disappeared off the face of the earth, got his business number eventually, turns out its a 2nd line in his house, so I ring leave messages off and on, then I go into 2nd gear, I search him out, luckily for me he had applied for planning permission for his fence to be extended, so now I have his address, oh and then I google map his house and there is his van on the drive, finally I get his other phone number (can't tell you how) but I ring up, his wife answers, super politely I ask for him, she asks my name, I said "Nik" , I'll just get him, we'll he comes to the phone, I remind him about the money, he says how the hell did I get his number, I replied with "look mate you don't know me, you don't know what I can do,or what im capable of, finding you was easy, I want my money". Next day there's a knock on the door, "here's you money" thank you.........

I have a guy who owes me 40k and I am told its highly unlikley I will ever see it as he had an accountant doing his dirty work.. ;(

 

[zardoz]

I had someone rip me on ebay. Luckily he used an email address from his works, even though i knew he was moving to Australia I emailed his old boss who i looked up on Google. I asked him if he knew that this guy had been scamming people on ebay using the email address from his company. Well lo and behold after 3 weeks of silence and getting nowhere he suddenly emailed me with profuse apologies, excuses galore and my cash back plus a third on top " for the hassle"

This would have been much more difficult to do with a Gumtree or Classified Ads rip off via a Pay point. These are almost always rip offs. even if it does not seem a massive bargain. There is no reason not to use Paypal or direct bank transfer these days