Almost conned on gumtree?

[Tedx2]

I’m looking for a reasonably priced “clam-style” RTT for an overland trip to East Africa in 2022, if possible a Bundutop. Yesterday I was searching for one on Gumtree and saw a second hand Bundutop plus Ostrich awning for the incredibly low price of R10,500 - they were in a remote area!! I called the person advertising and was told that they were both in excellent condition. Being in Australia immediate collection was a problem and the seller offered to keep the items in his garage until I could arrange pick-up, but payment was required to secure the items. However there was something niggling me about this fantastic bargain. I managed to buy time for a few hours.

I then contacted a forum member (who I’ve never met) in this remote area and he agreed to go and look at the items on my behalf, he too was somewhat suspicious of how good the pricing was. I called the seller back and explained that before paying I would like his address in order for my friend to check the items. From being an extremely friendly seller his whole manner changed and he said others were interested, I said I wanted to buy and requested the address once more. At this point the “seller” mumbled something incoherent and hung up. Subsequent emails were ignored.

Let the buyer beware, I think I dodged a bullet. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is!!!

[heyyahhey]

Bundutops used don’t come on the market often, for sure. That was definitely a too good to be true price...

[Tom13]

Take a bit of time and report the add if you haven't done so already, it can be done by the click of a couple of buttons on the website. It will save somebody else money as well.

It will make the life of the con artist just slightly more difficult.

[Tom13]

See my reply above please.

I’m looking for a reasonably priced “clam-style” RTT for an overland trip to East Africa in 2022, if possible a Bundutop. Yesterday I was searching for one on Gumtree and saw a second hand Bundutop plus Ostrich awning for the incredibly low price of R10,500 - they were in a remote area!! I called the person advertising and was told that they were both in excellent condition. Being in Australia immediate collection was a problem and the seller offered to keep the items in his garage until I could arrange pick-up, but payment was required to secure the items. However there was something niggling me about this fantastic bargain. I managed to buy time for a few hours.

I then contacted a forum member (who I’ve never met) in this remote area and he agreed to go and look at the items on my behalf, he too was somewhat suspicious of how good the pricing was. I called the seller back and explained that before paying I would like his address in order for my friend to check the items. From being an extremely friendly seller his whole manner changed and he said others were interested, I said I wanted to buy and requested the address once more. At this point the “seller” mumbled something incoherent and hung up. Subsequent emails were ignored.

Let the buyer beware, I think I dodged a bullet. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is!!!

[Predator]

Be careful with online transactions, never, i say Never, pay deposit / upfront fees. Also when you sell, only receive payment in 2 methods:

Cash of Kontant!

[HobieDave]

Be ultra careful when the person says they have a lot of people interested / coming round to look and you must pay a 'holding deposit' - rather walk away.

[Tweeling]

Saw yesterday a comment on FB about somebody wanted to sell a laptop. Buyer supposedly send POP and told seller that an Uber will come and pick it up - strange luckily the seller and the uber driver smelled a rat and the laptop was never handed over

[lekhubu943]

Saw yesterday a comment on FB about somebody wanted to sell a laptop. Buyer supposedly send POP and told seller that an Uber will come and pick it up - strange luckily the seller and the uber driver smelled a rat and the laptop was never handed over

Hubby was conned out of a R10 000 camera with that scam in 2019. Very keen buyer (photographer who needed the camera urgently for a class that evening, money paid over chop-chop, etc). In our case the Uber driver was in on it.

Of course the forum google expert was quick to tell me how stupid we were and that we lived under a rock.

You certainly dodged a bullet Ted, glad you did.

[Spiceman]

Hubby was conned out of a R10 000 camera with that scam in 2019. Very keen buyer (photographer who needed the camera urgently for a class that evening, money paid over chop-chop, etc). In our case the Uber driver was in on it.

Of course the forum google expert was quick to tell me how stupid we were and that we lived under a rock.

You certainly dodged a bullet Ted, glad you did.

Do they reverse the payment?

[lekhubu943]

Do they reverse the payment?

Ermm, I cannot remember exactly. I speak under correction, but I think he send a POP but the transfer never cleared. And off course the camera was picked up before it cleared.

Hubby got hold of the Uber driver (initially) and he said he could not find the guy who 'bought' the camera and he (the Uber driver) still has it. Arrangements was made for him to bring it back, but he never did. Eventually his phone number was not available anymore.

[Tom13]

I've heard that they sometimes work with people in the banks who even reverses cash payments.

Small items I only sell cash now (R5000 or less). Bigger items the buyer must meet face to face, make an instant payment and I move the money to another account before they may take the item. If they don't want to do it that way they are welcome to buy somewhere else.

[Tedx2]

The crazy thing is that when I typed this out and started this thread earlier I was really worried that a forum member may respond and advise me that they actually got a huge bargain and collected the Bundutop and Ostrich awning yesterday I really was terribly excited when I first saw the advert, just as well the fellow forum member confirmed my suspicions. The forum member told me what you would call the "seller" in Afrikaans but I won't post the word on the forum as I suspect it may be very rude - I don't want to get banned

[ghouwens]

With FNB it is almost impossible to reverse a payment. Forms requesting the reversal must first be completed by the person that made the payment. Reversal division then contacts the account holder to verify that the reversal request is indeed legit and required. Account holder needs to complete a bunch of forms and after 3 weeks the transaction is reversed. I had to go through this process a few weeks ago and it is a real PITA.

With Scumtree transactions and proof of payments, these are normally photoshoped from other legit pops. It is very easy to verify though as they all have transaction references. All that is required is a call to the bank with the verification code and they will tell you whether it is a legit pop or not.

As far as I am concerned, the minute the buyer or seller says that they are in a foreign country, or on an oil rig, the warning bells go off in my head.

[Oppies3800]

My brother gave away a PS4 like this. Uber driver collected after POP sent

[Makaira]

I see the forum google expert has been suspended

[Robbief]

It sounds like the uber drivers (in these deals) are the kingpins. They sit around waiting for calls then use the time to their advantage.

[heyyahhey]

I looked a long time for a used Bundutop. Twice I’ve seen them on the classifieds here. Twice one person too late.

their service and product is top notch - new is worth it

[Yster1979]

Some guy tried the pop sms thing a couple of years back with me, also sent a guy on a bike to collect the goods and I told him money must show in my account before collection, he changed over the phone instantly from a polite gentleman to speaking with a broken West African accent when I refused to hand over goods. There are bargains out there but in general if its to good to be true it is.

[Tedx2]

Their service and product is top notch - new is worth it

Yes, I think you are correct, there is a reason why you never see many second hand Bundutops advertised. I think I will buy a new one in RSA before eventually returning with it to Australia. I got a quote for a new one from Bundutec at ZAR34,990 (includes 2 fans + USB ports), the price in Australia is AUD5,490 (ZAR63,700).

[Ooba]

I am sorry but it should be common sense ingrained in everybody by now that in this day and age you never pay for something from somebody from the internet without first physically having the item and testing it.