This article was co-authored by Scott Nelson, JD and by How.com.vn staff writer, Amber Crain. Scott Nelson is a Police Sergeant with the Mountain View Police Department in California. He is also a practicing attorney for Goyette & Associates, Inc. where he represents public employees with a myriad of labor issues throughout the state. He has over 15 years of experience in law enforcement and specializes in digital forensics. Scott has received extensive training through the National Computer Forensics Institute and holds forensic certifications from Cellbrite, Blackbag, Axiom Forensics, and others. He earned a Master of Business Administration from the California State University Stanislaus and a Juris Doctorate from the Laurence Drivon School of Law.
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Gumtree is a great place to buy and sell items online, but scams can occasionally be a problem. If you've been preyed upon by a scammer on Gumtree, you're probably feeling pretty upset about it. We get it! Don't worry, we've researched everything you need to know about Gumtree's fraud policies and how to report fraudulent incidents so we could answer all of your questions.
Steps
What red flags should buyers watch for?
- Texts or emails from "Gumtree" about updating your account are scams. These texts and emails can look really authentic, so it’s hard to spot them sometimes! The scammer will usually put pressure on you by saying that Gumtree plans to close your account immediately unless you comply. Do not click the link in this email or reply with any of your account information.[7]
- Gumtree will never email or text you about updating account information immediately or threaten to close your account if you fail to comply with their email request.
- 2Buying an item at a rock bottom price is probably a scam. Anytime an item is being offered at a price much lower than what other sellers are charging for the exact same item, there’s definitely something fishy going on. You may end up receiving a fake item or no item at all.[8]
Expert Q&A
Tips
References
- ↑ https://help.gumtree.com/s/?cat=What_s_New_at_Gumtree&article=How-to-Contact-Us-by-Live-Chat
- ↑ https://help.gumtree.com/s/safety?cat=Reporting_Bad_Activity&article=What-to-Do-If-I-ve-Been-Scammed2
- ↑ https://help.gumtree.com/s/safety?cat=Reporting_Bad_Activity&article=Reporting-an-Ad
- ↑ https://help.gumtree.com/s/safety?cat=Reporting_Bad_Activity&article=What-to-Do-If-I-ve-Been-Scammed2
- ↑ https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-09/qld-gumtree-online-seller-scam-warning/10356410
- ↑ https://www.businessinsider.co.za/gumtree-scam-2020-6
- ↑ https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/blog/gumtree-scams
- ↑ https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/blog/gumtree-scams
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