The "I'll send my brother to collect the bike because I live out of town" scam

[Headshot]

A friend of mine was recently scammed out of his bike advertised on Gumtree: The first approach is telephonic with an involved story about working in another town ( George in this case, working at Petro SA) , then an agreement to buy at the advertised price (no haggling) followed by an SMS confirming that the PP had been transferred, in this case from ABSA. 

 

Because the "purchaser" is out of town he sends his "brother" to fetch the bike and as a gesture of good faith provides a copy of the "purchaser's" ID and drivers. 

 

Obviously and despite the SMS,  the money never appears in the bank account and the "brother" has long disappeared with the bike. Contact is maintained with the "purchaser" who has various excuses why the money has not appeared - eg his wife overdrew the account and its frozen, none of which are plausible. Even days later he is still promising to pay. The ID is eventually tracked using FB to a person living nowhere near George or working for Petro SA ( in this case he may have been a pump attendant at one point :-))

 

It seems quite obvious that the "purchaser" and the "brother" are one and the same person and the ID is probably an unrelated or peripheral person. 

 

I have managed to track and obtain contact information and a picture of the perp. My friend will be passing this on to SAPS to work their magic, or more likely sit on their hands.

[Butterbean]

Yeah, this is common and it's nuts that people are still falling for it. I guess that's why it's still happening.

 

The lesson is simple. Don't part with goods until funds have CLEARED in your account. It's only fair to both and a proper buyer will be patient.

[Stretch]

That bikes long going and saps will do nothing. Unfortunately your friend has to accept some hard school fees and move on

[Super Sywurm]

Why does every scammer work on an oil rig or at an oil related company?

 

And yes, don't let items leave your possession unless the payment reflects in your account.

[Shebeen]

Why does every scammer work on an oil rig or at an oil related company?

 

And yes, don't let items leave your possession unless the payment reflects in your account.

must be an inside joke with scammers, what a gas.

[Bateleur1]

Why does every scammer work on an oil rig or at an oil related company?

 

And yes, don't let items leave your possession unless the payment reflects in your account.

 

Cause they are slick? 

[Thomo]

As a seller one can quite easily hold goods back and wait for funds to clear etc.

When one is buying, you sometimes have to take a leap of faith, and hope/do as much as you can to avoid being taken for a ride.

Lost a few rondts via Gumtree recently too.

Scam basically relied on very good fake Amarex waybill document and subsequent SMS confirming shipping.

Together with the mandatory fake id.

Edited February 4, 2020 by Thomo

[Super Sywurm]

I stay clear from OLX and Gumtree.

[Eddy Gordo]

I like to meet in person (dont worry, I am never alone,) I always expect things to go sideways, but somehow it never does.

If a person from george is interested in my bike I will say meet me half way. Any other place further away I hardly consider depending on what it is. Just too many wannabee's trying to get an easy unearned paycheck. I have even asked someone to meet at the police station which was closer to them a few years back. Immediately the person got defensive etc. So I said, we can conduct our deal in a safe environment, too which I got lots of excuses. I moved on

 

Also agree on waiting on funds to clear. If the buyer not happy with that, then move on.

[eddy]

I sometimes fantasise about an obvious scammer like this sending his brother to collect. I''ll not meet him at my house, but arrange for an appropriate offsite venue.

 

I'll point scammer to an empty storeroom/garage/lockup, whilst I go make him a cup of tea. The moment he enters the room, I shut and lock the door and tell him that as soon as the money has cleared, He can take the bike and leave.

 

Meanwhile, I'll check the POP and if false, take him to the cops, tell them I have made a citizen's arrest and lay a charge of fraud.

Edited February 4, 2020 by eddy

[Balooba]

All of them is not bad.

 

Just sold my bike on OLX without the buyer seeing it. Needed the bike urgently and wanted to pick it up right away.

Saw this movie before so asked for payment up front to be sure this is not a scam.

 

Received proof of payment from ABSA that money was paid into my account via a third party on behalve of the original buyer.

 

They are picking up the bike this afternoon from me...

 

 

Opposite Sinoville SAPS....

[eddy]

All of them is not bad.

 

Just sold my bike on OLX without the buyer seeing it. Needed the bike urgently and wanted to pick it up right away.

Saw this movie before so asked for payment up front to be sure this is not a scam.

 

Received proof of payment from ABSA that money was paid into my account via a third party on behalve of the original buyer.

 

They are picking up the bike this afternoon from me...

 

 

Opposite Sinoville SAPS....

 

 

DO NOT TRUST THE PROOF OF PAYMENT !!!!!

 

Unless you see the money in your account, the payment has not been made. the whole scam depends on people believing the POP.

[Balooba]

All of them is not bad.

 

Just sold my bike on OLX without the buyer seeing it. Needed the bike urgently and wanted to pick it up right away.

Saw this movie before so asked for payment up front to be sure this is not a scam.

 

Received proof of payment from ABSA that money was paid into my account via a third party on behalve of the original buyer.

 

They are picking up the bike this afternoon from me...

 

 

Opposite Sinoville SAPS....

 

And he tells me he will send me the drivers name with the car make and reg.

 

This shi# is happening now...

[Balooba]

DO NOT TRUST THE PROOF OF PAYMENT !!!!!

 

Unless you see the money in your account, the payment has not been made. the whole scam depends on people believing the POP.

 

I am stringing him along, will change address and pick-up time at 16h00...

[Cabous9]

I am stringing him along, will change address and pick-up time at 16h00...

Soooooo, any update?

[ChrisF]

For the last 15 years I have been selling goods via the internet. 

 

As a seller I have seen some interesting stuff ...

 

Then again, as a buyer I have also experienced some interesting stuff ....

 

 

I have had the buyer that keeps on sending "proof of payment", for days on end, while the money never got transferred .... no problem, I dont send until the money is cleared. 

 

I once sent the goods to a company that confirmed payment will be made in 7 days of receipt of the goods .... took nearly six months to get the money out of them !!!

 

 

YES, I have sold a LOT of goods to people who live in another province, and the goods are collected by a family member.  Only one stipulation, no goods get handed over until the money clears.  Which means that many of the personal meetings include cash handed over and the goods handed over at the same time.

 

 

 

I appreciate the buyers concerns.  But no goods are handed over until the money clears.