Bike Scams on Classified sites

[Sp!ke]

Busy looking around for a decent bargain DS and came across a number of adverts on Junkmail and Gumtree advertising the likes of new 2012 and 2013 Scalpels.

Obvious scams but thought I would mail them to push their buttons a bit.

2 different 'shops', one apparently in the UK, the other by Kimberly se gat.

In response I get this whole story about paying a 50% deposit and they'll courier the bike. The one bunch supposedly based in Kimberly will courier it as soon as I pay the deposit. I say not to worry, at that price I'll drive through to pick it up. Never heard from them again

 

The thing that gets me is that these guys are conning people out of money. Some may say that if your stupid enough to fall for it you deserve to get ripped off but it still really irritates the crap out of me that these guys operate out in the open, running an obvious scam and nothing seems to be done about it.

[DR ◣◢]

Did you go ahead and report the ads to the sites?

[Mbot]

I reported one such ad last week to gumtree. They responded that they will block the poster and that I should be wary of these type of ads. The thing is, that these guys post the same ads on so many different numbers and email addresses. Im sure some kind of filter system can be developed, much like the one that filters out spam email.

[Sp!ke]

I flagged all the ads as scams. They're still there.

[Wet Ears]

I had some poor guy and his family outside my gate the other day. He saw an ad on tandvleisboom (Gumtree as casper puts it) for a bakkie at a great price. He phones and seller tells him loads of people are interested but if he pays x amount he will give him first dibs. Guy pays and seller gives him my address to come and view the car.

 

Poor oke stood out there like he wanted me to come up with a solution. I got the cell no of the seller and called and gave him a piece of my mind but doubt that registered at all.

 

My issue is - the money has to go into a bank account and the cell no is registered with a cellular provider. This means they should be able to track down the account holders and if not what is the farkin point of FICA and RICA?

Edited July 11, 2013 by Wet Ears

[Cois]

FICA and RICA is worth nothing in this country

[Uni]

Unfortunately sites like Gumtree don't really care, as those fake / scam links generate hits on their sites which = income.

It is sad that it's usually those that can least afford to be scammed are the ones that get scammed.

 

I agree that the banks should be able to do something to trace the person that opened the account - but the person that's out of pocket needs to be willing to go to the cops and open a case and see it through.

[Wimmas]

The best bet will be to obviously always take a drive to the person who has the bike and meet up in daylight in a safe place where police/security are close by, and take a friend or two along with some form of protection whether it be pepper-spra or a gun. Then have a look and if you're happy take it.

 

Never, ever, ever, ever jsut transfer money into anyone's account and have it shipped unless you personally know the person or it's a legit bike shop like buycycle or CWC.

 

And if a deal seems fishy, then leave it before something ugly happens

[VicanZA]

They were on here "Mr Moses", reported them and it was removed hours later. Still have the mail also told them I would collect, they insist on shipping only.

 

The list of bikes is long and they are advertised at killer prices.

[Seeker911]

FICA and RICA is worth nothing in this country

 

 

Exactly whats the point ... All it is is a big brother type scam with other devious goals in mind. Certainly not here to help the general public at all. All they are doing is making sure that we the public are not screwing the government.

[spyster]

I agree that scammers should be shot, but at the same time dom mense moet swaarkry!