The Gumtree scammer

▶ When you’re buying or selling any major item online always watch-out for scammers. This phishing email arrived shortly after I contacted ‘Jennifer Annie’ to say I had already sold the car. The aim is to collect enough information to hack the victim’s Paypal account and the name regularly appears in Gumtree discussion forums about scams.

The email displays all the classic warning signs:

▶ Poor spelling, grammar and punctuation.

▶ A sense of urgency about completing the deal.

▶ A cash incentive, in this case a willingness to pay the full asking price sight unseen.

“Great!please consider it sold and take the ads down off gumtree,i am buying it for my son and i am ready to pay your full asking price, i have read through the advert and i’m totally satisfied with it and i will be glad if you can get back to me fast,sadly i won’t be able to come for the inspection and pick up due to my disabilities, i loss my hearing and being on a wheelchair but I have a courier agent that will help me to pick it up at your preferred location. “Regarding the payment..i can’t make an online banking am having technical issue with my bank and i can only access my Paypal account at the moment and I will be responsible for all the Paypal fee/ charges on this transaction kindly get back to me with your Paypal email,phone Number and the pick up location so that I can inform the courier agent about it now? “Awaiting your reply soon…”

She is still waiting!