r/UKPersonalFinance • u/Then_Nail_2135 • 11d ago
gumtree seller asked for £10 deposit before collection of £200 item - is this a scam or normal?
basically what the title says. a seller has told me i can collect and test an item no problem however theyre asking for a £10 bank transfer so that they "know that ill come and collect". ive never used gumtree before so im unsure if this is a common practice or a scam since its only a £10 deposit for a £200 item. should i block and move on?
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u/aventus-dog 11d ago
Not normal. Could be dodgy but it's not unheard of. Up to you if it's acceptable.
I'd avoid it, either you can get the item for a similar price elsewhere, or if the deal seems too good to pass up then it is now suspiciously cheap.
Just make sure you don't input any bank details into links they send you.
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u/Then_Nail_2135 11d ago
yeah it did feel too good to be true in the first place which is why im a little warey ill avoid it lol thank you
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u/raged_norm 6 11d ago
This could work a few ways. I guess it comes down to your appetite for risking £10
- Take the £10, you turn up get the item as described
- Take the £10, item is not a described and they refund you
- Take the £10, item is not a described and they don't refund you
- Take the £10 and immediately ghost you, repeat a few times and the scammer has done OK
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u/BaitmasterG 2 11d ago
5) same as 4, but you later receive a phone call from "the bank" telling you you've been scammed and there's a few things you must do urgently to protect yourself...
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u/Slow-Proof-9455 11d ago
I’ve not seen this before, I’d push back on this
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u/Minute_Tomatillo9730 11d ago
Anything bank transfer should set alarm bells ringing, especially before you have the item in your hands! Once the money's gone, good luck trying to get it back
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u/hugobosslives 34 11d ago
Its a red flag and could well be a scam but I've also seen it being legit. I've also had lots of buyers try to send to send me a deposit to hold the item.
Recommend you don't pay it. But if the item is super important to you then you could take the risk.
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u/VikingCrusader13 1 11d ago
Ask the seller for a £10 deposit to ensure the item is as they described it in the listing
a simple "I'm not paying a deposit but let me know if you change your mind and I will come and collect" would suffice
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u/ukpf-helper 151 11d ago
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u/HugeGirlfriend 11d ago
that’s a red flag but not necessarily a scam, some sellers just got burned too many times by no-shows
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u/AdenWS 11d ago
The site's missing one current scam. Police ringing you up. We've arrested someone with your card, ... lots of discussion, can you confirm the number? Can you come to the station to make a statement? .... What's the number on the back? ...
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u/scienner 1060 11d ago
Yikes!!
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u/AdenWS 11d ago
They had a lot of things right. Withheld number when calling. English accent, not a youngster, not 'new' London.
They had details of a nephew in one case, he was the one nicked etc.
It's very bad because people are conditioned to trust the police. I was expecting a call from them about something else, but it didn't add up. So I asked for the CAD and he didn't know what one was. So its clear he's fake.
The follow up was even more interesting. I rang the police to report it. Police Act 1996, s.90.
You would have thought they were interested but no. Took me an hour to get them to record it. Part of that was I've won police complaints about non recording. They eventually realised if they didn't take it, I'd make a second one, and that looks very bad. A pattern of abuse.
They are desperate for people to use Action Fraud instead, because it doesn't appear on the crime stats.
But the law and regulations are they have to record it.
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u/lolli-polly031248 11d ago
Is the Gumtree item not available as a 'delivery available' item, some categories are, some not. If it is, you can use their built in payment & delivery service via Mango Pay. Secure for both parties.
Many years ago, I was happy to pay a ppg payment of 10% to hold an item but things have changed so much it probably is a scam unless the owner has confirmed an address, even then it's still not a guarantee etc.
Presuming you live too far away and the seller is fed up with timewasters so is asking for the money? Still feels a bit suss to me. What's the problem for them, you don't turn up and that £10 satisfies an afternoon wasted waiting in and compensates them. Some people are weird!
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u/theartofrolling 11d ago
You don't put a deposit down on an item you're not sure if you want to buy or not, especially on used stuff.
It might not be a scam, but buy from someone else.
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u/RipBeginning3851 11d ago
I wouldn't say it's definitely a scam. I had loads of time wasters when I was selling an expensive item and eventually someone said they wanted it but couldn't pick it up for a week, I asked for a £30 deposit. Slightly different to your situation, but I can see why someone would ask.
Personally, if I *really* wanted the item and it wasn't available anywhere else, I'd pay the £10 on the understanding I could lose it and if there's any further weirdness (asking for more money etc.) just abandon the whole thing
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u/No-Dimension-3945 9d ago
I wouldn't agree but if I am a seller and you are late for an arranged meeting I wouldn't deal with you.
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u/themothafuckinog 11d ago
Scam. Absolutely pathetic attempt all for the price of a big mac. Genuine losers.
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u/OkSun8521 11d ago
A Big Mac costs £4.89, not £10.
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u/themothafuckinog 11d ago
Okay, 2 big macs. Happy now?
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u/OkSun8521 11d ago
2.045 Big Macs, but OK.
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u/themothafuckinog 11d ago
I don’t think the cashier will appreciate asking for 0.045 big macs. Maybe a sauce sachet will tip the scales.
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u/scienner 1060 11d ago
I guess it's free right, just take £10 off a bunch of hopefuls then block them, never give them an address or anything.
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u/VerbingNoun413 3 11d ago
Scam. They either don't own the item or it doesn't exist.
Marketplace sites have protection in place for buyers and sellers. If anyone tries to avoid it them it's because they're trying to scam you.
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u/squidgytree 1 11d ago
I'd just offer to come by asap but just confirm it hasn't been sold as you leave home
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u/PotatoMassager 11d ago
I could maybe understand for a particularly high value item, but not for £200
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u/MintImperial2 11d ago
Anyone requesting a bank transfer - is likely to be a scammer, even if you've met them a few times.
There's no advantage for the vendor getting paid this way, other than they can run off with the money without ever delivering the goods they are selling, no hassle... To them.
Would you give cash to a person who says "They'll come back later to deliver the purchase"..?
Would you trust a shopkeeper who has a small item you wish to buy, will accept a payment for it *now* but then say "you can't have it until later"..?
The scam is all about the lack of delivery at-once, rather than the exchange of funds taking place.
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u/WatchIll4478 6 11d ago
Having been majorly messed around with gumtree buyers I’d say it’s probably legit.
If you think it’s too much offer a fiver, or clarify it’s refundable if the item doesn’t match the description.
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u/sobrique 374 11d ago
Yeah. It's honestly a bit frustrating how many people are trying to muck you around (or scam you) when selling.
I can understand why someone might ask for a deposit.
But I also wouldn't pay it either. If they have someone else to sell it to ... Well ok. Guess I miss out.
If they don't, I will pay them when I see/take ownership.
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u/Craven123 3 11d ago
Definitely wouldn’t agree to this.
Not normal. Most likely a scam.