BEWARE: Gumtree and WhatsApp SCAM alert
A scam is doing the rounds on WhatsApp regarding a Gumtree shipping and delivery service. If you receive the message, don't click on it!
Gumtree South Africa shared important news with users last night, involving a scam that is doing the rounds on popular instant messaging service, WhatsApp.
The leading online sales platform has said that if you receive a Whatsapp or text message saying that payment has been made via a Gumtree shipping and delivery service, be warned that it is a scam, IOL reports.
Read more: WhatsApp new policy in force from today
The scammers are said to be directing victims to illegitimate sites. According to Gumtree, scammers are retrieving cellphone numbers from classified sites and are consequently making contact using WhatsApp and via text messaging.
The victim then receives the scam message about the shipping and delivery service and is directed to another site, where they are prompted to enter their credit card details.
The Customer Services Supervisor of Gumtree South Africa, Louis Bosman, said that a similar scam originated in the United Kingdom and has been reported locally in the last 2 days.
“Gumtree does not currently offer a delivery service of any kind. While these types of scams are very convincing, note that an official Gumtree page will contain gumtree.co.za in the URL and https:// at the beginning. Gumtree will never ask you for your credit card details over the phone or via WhatsApp/Text.”
Read more: You can now make payments on WhatsApp
Customers have been urged to report any suspicious messages to the Gumtree help desk.
