Scam postings

Posted by fadmin in Blackwater and Hawley GB

All the details

Hi from FreelyWheely Admin, Over the last few days we have detected several scam postings on the site, which we have removed. If you were redirected here instead of seeing an item, that is because it is one of the ones we have removed. These scams work like this: - A person posts a really good thing; a laptop, flat screen TV, new games console etc - You request it - They contact you to ask you to email them at a non-freelywheely email address - They then say that they have moved house, but if you pay the courier fee (to their fake courier) then they can send you the item - You pay the money, and nothing ever arrives You should be suspicious if anyone asks you to contact them using a different email address, and we would recommend that if you are in a situation where a courier is needed, make sure you arrange it yourself. We are putting extra effort in at the moment to add further anti-scam measures, but please be careful as there are unscrupulous individuals out there. All the best Jon Vaughan FreelyWheely Admin

Comments

mymamaleh , 9 years, 7 months ago

Thanks for alerting me

lee_b35 , 9 years, 7 months ago

I have fallen for this scam... i was offered a generator the "lady" had moved house i paid a courier £35 to deliver it then they said they needed £50 insurance which i also paid so sadly out of pocket by £85, luckily i bought the vouchers for the courier from booths on my credit card and have filed an application for a refund, when this comes through i will take all email and phone number texts to the police...........im usually quite switched on but fell for this one.......doh

hotmustard , 9 years, 7 months ago

Thanks to all moderators for doing a great job

chantalpaine , 9 years, 6 months ago

the post for the mini fridge tried this with me, but I thought it might be a scam. They said do you want a tv and laptop too??!! it is a lady claiming she went through a devorce and is moving to canada, they ask you to send a pay safe voucher number or something like that... It makes me sick!

fadmin , 9 years, 6 months ago

Hi all, A quick update - Over the last week or so we have added some new systems to try to block the individuals responsible. These have definitely stopped several new dodgy postings, so we're optimistic, but we are still keeping a close eye on things. Jon Vaughan FreelyWheely Admin

pookieblondie , 9 years, 6 months ago

Just joined....thanks for the heads up! :-)

ljfox1972 , 9 years, 6 months ago

annoying - why do some people have to use something good like this site to con people and scam people when the rest of us are just trying to help each other.........makes me so angry - thank god for the excellence of the moderators of this site. thankyou.

dreamer21 , 9 years, 6 months ago

I want to say thank you to the moderators of this site I have already been scammed once this year of £800 we are normally really careful but with good people like you watching out for us all I feel a bit safer thankyou

cjblackburn04 , 9 years, 5 months ago

Thank you for the warning. There is a lot of this sort of thing floating around at the moment so once again, thanks for the notice about them.

craftchickengar , 9 years, 4 months ago

Thanks for the info, good eye

matzdavid , 9 years, 4 months ago

well done. it's a sad world when scammers take advantage of people trying to help others. think of all the good we can do recycling stuff locally and nobody pay ... [if you want to pay for 2nd hand stuff use auction sites with protection for buyers like *bay or 2nd hand shops, or pay when collecting, is my advice]

gusb , 9 years, 4 months ago

It's what I call my 1% rule. Sadly the majority have their lives blighted by the minority. Less than 1% are scammers but the rest of us have to adjust our behavior because of them. Thanks for giving us this site and all your hard work. As a developer I know what's involved in keeping the scammers at bay. I got rid of an unwanted bed recently using this site. I was happy and the person that came for it was even happier!

katieclifford10 , 9 years, 4 months ago

Someone's just payed courier and £200 insurance my heart goes out to her please let this come to an end!

whipstitch , 9 years, 4 months ago

I reported it to the Police Fraud Squad when this happened to me on Freecycle. I was gobsmacked, couldn't believe someone would do that on a freebie website, where a majority of users are there because they don't have a lot of cash to spare. These scammers should be hung, drawn and quartered and their heads put on spikes as a warning. Many thanks for what you do Jon Vaughan and all at Freelywheely =)

katieclifford10 , 9 years, 4 months ago

I agree!

whipstitch , 9 years, 4 months ago

Thanks to all the savvy users too - keeping an eye out for each other - me like =)

ahawkswort , 9 years, 4 months ago

I am aware of these adds now quite often they are written in very poor English with bad spelling and incorrect grammar,I noticed one of the pictures of the item offered had some trees in the background that do not grow in this country also some pictures are on a bright and sunny day with clear skies,not what we are having at the moment,so if it sounds too good and looks too good it will be a scam!

samwood143 , 9 years, 4 months ago

The some one being referred to that paid all that money was me! .... I actually fell for the sob story hook line and sinker!!! What a moron I am! I honestly thought people that bused this site were honest people who were trying to help! £250 gone the week before Christmas!?!? What am I going to do now

whipstitch , 9 years, 4 months ago

=0 ... No way Sam!? Get in touch with the Police Fraud Squad - they're very helpful, so long as you have proof of the money you sent.

jessasher25 , 9 years, 4 months ago

I just put up an add for some furniture and stuff I read all of this on this page I was scamed in real life by my neighbor And just realized that I moved to Cali and this homeless famliy Stoled All are camping gear and are tent we all ready just moved back to Mississippi had the police involed with are mess we just got in a new house I just posted and add for free stuff on here my grandmother use to use this sit to get free stuff out of sc and I heard all about this mess I was hoping that some one keeps me updated please .

samwood143 , 9 years, 4 months ago

Well the police fraud squad have been informed and all the details I had were given to them. The bank also know what's happened. So fingers crossed its all returned to me next week! Doesn't really change my situation right now though

dreamer21 , 9 years, 4 months ago

Sam if you don't get your money back get in touch with the ombudsman they are very good and got our money back from our scam but good luck an happy Christmas to everyone

nottinghamislov , 9 years, 4 months ago

Thanks for letting us know.... Cheers

samwood143 , 9 years, 4 months ago

Thank you dreamer, will do xx have a good Christmas everyone xx

whipstitch , 9 years, 4 months ago

Good luck Sam and thanks, you too despite it all!

kazring34 , 9 years, 4 months ago

Some tryed to do it 2 me but wen they said the address I told her I live in the next steet and then never got back to me but replyed 2 my frd so y not get bk 2 me if I'm only a minute away from the steet name she gave me

samwood143 , 9 years, 4 months ago

Well looks like I may not be getting my money back! Has anyone got any advice on how to deal with this please xxx

varaveena , 9 years, 3 months ago

Thank you for warning us about scams and all your hard work. Happy new year!

hoolookhanum , 9 years, 3 months ago

The same thing happened to us on a listing for a mini Cooper kids car a few weeks ago on here. With The same lady who claimed going through a divorce and moved address to go to Canada and couldn't speak over the phone due to a severe accident, at this point she offered us a TV and a Psp3 on top of the listed mini Cooper which we weren't really kin on . We were going to go pick up the kids car as it was listed 6 miles from finchley but we received an email from a guy called Lionel Mark claimed she relocated to :Flat 21 Morgan House Rouen Road, Norwich, NR1 1QQ.And she asked us to buy a £50 voucher +insurance to pay for a courier company called :Reliable couriers... All these made us suspicious and we never got back to the messages nor sent any voucher codes. I left here all the details I found so maybe this can investigated further.And to prevent other people to fall for these scammers. Haleh.

samwood143 , 9 years, 3 months ago

Exactly the same info I got but I feel or the sob story, glad you didn't ! I have spoken to the police and given them all the details, I have also spoken to the actual reliance couriers and the poor guys have been getting used by these scammers for a while, please stay safe guys and don't end up like me - £250 out of pocket and no way to get it back! Xxx

hoolookhanum , 9 years, 3 months ago

Oh yes, Reliance courier, I couldn't remember the exact name as we didn't contact them. I'm glad you contacted police with the details. Hopefully they get caught. Even one scammer less is better. Wish you find a way to get your money back. Xxx

samwood143 , 9 years, 3 months ago

They are untraceable by all accounts, I checked where they had cashed the vouchers and they are all different online betting sites so no way to get money back from them and because we bought vouchers the bank said that we got goods for our money so can't be returned. I feel so stupid but lesson learnt! Wish it hadn't been such an expensive lesson though xxx

ladyb , 9 years, 3 months ago

Thnkuuu 4 the alert....this person did actually send me non freewheely email....thnk God I didn't send money...God Bless 4 all ur kindness n hard work.

stuppb , 9 years, 3 months ago

Will stay on alert for this !

deswiger , 9 years, 3 months ago

Got it, just joined, good to know. Eyes open, Thanks much!

mccannrichard , 9 years ago

I have just been scammed out of £50 I brought 2x£25 paysafe vouchers is thief a way I can claim my money back

fc16personal , 9 years ago

I think it was this item as I responded to an ad for a 60" TV and have had no notification of any receipient! Only gave my email, the same as freelywheely have. I was asked to contact them through whatsapp? Thank you for letting me know. The ad I responded to was freelywheely.com/listing/item/60inch-lcd-tv.

mccannrichard , 9 years ago

To fc16personal yes it sounds like the same add

sambucawood , 9 years ago

Unfortunately Mccannrichard it is unlikely you will get your money back. The bank told me that because I received the goods I paid for (paysafe vouchers) that there was nothing they could do. Just be thankful it was the same amount for you as it was for me. That being said, this experience has made me much more vigilant when it comes to spotting scams! X

evecherri1 , 9 years ago

Thanks 4 letting me know.xx

lansburyp , 8 years, 10 months ago

Thanks for the warning this person with the lap top is saying she has a plasma tv as well will send pics says she,s from norwich told her what town i was from she said it was to far for her told her i could pick it up never heard from her again so people in norfolk beware ! Also she uses a whats app for contact

byronipuss14 , 8 years, 7 months ago

Some people are absolute SCUM, aren't they? THANK YOU for all the warnings and a huge hug to all those poor souls who have been ripped off ... simply because you trusted someone. I am new to Freelywheely - just joined today ... then I read about these scams. At least forewarned is forearmed ....

visionranking , 8 years, 2 months ago

I hate scams www.visionranking.com

ghostintheworks , 7 years, 11 months ago

This is why I offer collection only and accept payment at the door, but only after demonstrating the items functionality to their satisfaction (no other guarantees are offered). Only then do I accept payment, either by cash, card or PayPal. When buying, I communicate via Freely Wheely addresses only and provide a mobile number for sellers to contact me with location and collection details. If I'm buying anything electronic or mechanical in nature, I ask to see it working first, which is a reasonable request, (if what they are selling is above board). Only then, when I'm satisfied, I shake hands on it, pay and then be on my merry way with a fair deal. Sadly I have to agree that there are an ever increasing element of deceptive and/or criminally minded people who post on most sites who offer a similar 'simple' trading format. BE AWARE OF THE RISKS WHEN USING ANY TRADING SITE AND STICK TO 'LOCAL COLLECTION' SELLERS FOR A SAFER FRIENDLIER EXPERIENCE!

trafod1 , 7 years, 3 months ago

Be warned: I have just been the subject of scammers through an add posted on freelywheely. I replied to the add for an Janome embroider sewing machine. Someone using the name of 'Susan Chesseman' contacted me several weeks later, aplogising for the slow reply, but that she had been dealing with family matters. The machine had been her daughters and she had died of blood cancer and she couldn't bear to look at the machine as it had too many memories attached. She didn't want any money for it, but wanted it to go to a good home. (I was lured into her sad story) I offered to go and pick it up from Llanishen but she then told me that she had just moved to the North of Scotland and it would now need to be couriered from Scotland, which she told me it would cost £35, which sounded reasonable. She told me I would have to pay with paysafe vouchers, which I had never heard of. I should have realised at this point but I stupidly decided to trust in the contact I had had with 'her'. Despite being warned by my local post office that they were often used by scammers, I sent the paysafe vouchers to the courier service who then replied saying that I needed to send a further £75 to cover insurance, again in paysafe vouchers. I then realised that I was the subject of a scam and backed out. Luckily I only lost £35, but I wonder how many others out there are falling for similar scams. I have learned a hard lesson and will be a lot more careful in future.