Gumtree FRAUD Warnings

vic · 2011-04-04T14:53:23+00:00

Thought I should post this here on GFSA As in the title.... http://johannesburg.gumtree.co.za/c-Stuff-for-Sale-musical-instruments-FRAUD-WARNING-W0QQAdIdZ272352020

Norman86

Serial number makes it a 2007 model..
It looks to be in great condition.
but its definitely not brand new, and not worth R8500. it looks legit though...
maybe Alan knows who's signature that is.

AlanRatcliffe

Cheap tuners, string trees and nut. That truss rod slot is wrong (and badly made), The sig looks vaguely familiar... specifically the star, which looks almost like the one on the Malmsteens.

The photo of the rear of the headstock is a different guitar - look at the tuners vs the tuners on the full rear view. Plus the serial is not on the full rear view either. "Came without a case" - a likely story. ?

Definitely a scam.

BTW I usually report these ads. Does anyone else do the same?

vic

Alan Ratcliffe wrote Cheap tuners, string trees and nut. That truss rod slot is wrong (and badly made), The sig looks vaguely familiar... specifically the star, which looks almost like the one on the Malmsteens.

The photo of the rear of the headstock is a different guitar - look at the tuners vs the tuners on the full rear view. Plus the serial is not on the full rear view either. "Came without a case" - a likely story. ?

Definitely a scam.

BTW I usually report these ads. Does anyone else do the same?

I do...however in this case I wasn't too sure, but that trussrod slot, etc. and the general vibe of the ad raised my suspicion. Did not notice the serial number being absent in the one pic....good eye there Alan.

Big-G

What do we reckon of this one then guys? R200 for the full scratchplate, or R145 per scratchplate if you take all 50? Sounds too good to be true?

http://capetown-westerncape.gumtree.co.za/c-Electronics-audio-music-equipment-Fender-pic-ups-for-sale-W0QQAdIdZ455823839

vic

Big G wrote What do we reckon of this one then guys? R200 for the full scratchplate, or R145 per scratchplate if you take all 50? Sounds too good to be true?

http://capetown-westerncape.gumtree.co.za/c-Electronics-audio-music-equipment-Fender-pic-ups-for-sale-W0QQAdIdZ455823839

Yeah I wonder.....it could be fake Fender pups ? or maybe legit...? Why has anyone got so many of these things ?? Best is to call and check it out in the unlikely event of it being the real deal... ?

Norman86

i doubt they're fender pickups.. probably all off of some sanchez or similar guitars!
especially at that price..

PlayOn

I am looking for some stuff and got to this add....sound suspicious to me, but maybe someone with better knowledge can vouch... If legit, then apologies to the person who posted the items, and FREE marketing for him!

Phoned, voicemail, waiting for response

Listed 3 adds, so he stays in Durban, Cape Town and Midrand for starters, so I wonder where I can go and look at the stuff

Advice? Prices sounds to good to be true for me, but I am not knowledgeable enough to really say!

http://midrand.olx.co.za/yamaha-tyros-4-yamaha-motif-xf8-iid-486231289

http://capetown.olx.co.za/yamaha-tyros-4-yamaha-motif-xf8-roland-fantom-g8-iid-486231167

http://durban.olx.co.za/yamaha-motif-xf8-roland-fantom-g8-iid-486231353

Summary Below:

* KEYBOARDS: brand new
.
* Yamaha Tyros 4...R25,000
.
* Yamaha Motif XF8...R20,000
.
* Yamaha MO8...R13,000
.
* Yamaha Motif XS8...R14,000
.
* yamaha motif XF7...R16,000
.
* Roland fantom g8..R11,000
.
* Roland FANTOM-G7 76-Key Synth Workstation..R10,000

* GUITARS: brand new

* Gibson Custom J-200 Custom Acoustic Electric Guitar (Vintage Sunburst).R15,000
.
* Gibson J-200 Super Jumbo Standard guitar, Vintage Sunburst..R12,000
.
* Gibson Les Paul Custom Electric guitar, Silverburst..R12,000
.
* Gibson Custom Ace Frehley Budokan Les Paul Aged...R12,000
.
* Gibson B.B. King Lucille Electric Guitar Ebony...R12,500
.
* Yamaha Trb P. Bass Guitars...R13,000
.
* 2007 Paul Reed Smith Private Stock Custom 22..R50,000

studmissile

Very dodgy, but if you left a voice mail, you'll see soon enough!

vic

Can't comment on the other stuff's prices...but the Gibson prices are waaay below normal. Be VERY careful here. I think it's a scam or the stuff may be fakes.

Big-G

This seems a little dodgy to me.....

http://www.gumtree.co.za/cp-musical-instruments-in-vanrhynsdorp-north/1998-gibson-les-paul-smartwood-standard-for-sale-give-away-pri-462427906

I just had a bit of a google, and found this site featuring the exact same pic....

http://www.whitstableguitars.co.uk/gonenotforgotten.htm

Scroll down to the 12th picture. What you reckon? Fraud? Legit?

Cheers
G!

vic

Big G wrote This seems a little dodgy to me.....

http://www.gumtree.co.za/cp-musical-instruments-in-vanrhynsdorp-north/1998-gibson-les-paul-smartwood-standard-for-sale-give-away-pri-462427906

I just had a bit of a google, and found this site featuring the exact same pic....

http://www.whitstableguitars.co.uk/gonenotforgotten.htm

Scroll down to the 12th picture. What you reckon? Fraud? Legit?

Cheers
G!

Jip...this guitar has been widely advertised already...even in Knysna during 2012.

Big-G

The thing I do not get with this ad is that the poster has placed so much fine detail into it, that it seems legit, but then ruins it with the 'Give away price' in the title, and the fact that the photo comes from a site based in the UK. Then in his own description claims its been owned by a luthier for its entire life, and looked after etc, yet the site I pointed out shows that it was sold to another family member.

I mean it could genuinely be legit, and maybe the family member moved to RSA or something, but it just doesn't quite seem to add up.

Then I think that perhaps its actually a Gumtree issue, as I have seen a number of ads posted in Capetown that are actually located elsewhere, ie; Joburg etc.

I dunno?
G!

vic

Big G wrote The thing I do not get with this ad is that the poster has placed so much fine detail into it, that it seems legit, but then ruins it with the 'Give away price' in the title, and the fact that the photo comes from a site based in the UK. Then in his own description claims its been owned by a luthier for its entire life, and looked after etc, yet the site I pointed out shows that it was sold to another family member.

I mean it could genuinely be legit, and maybe the family member moved to RSA or something, but it just doesn't quite seem to add up.

Then I think that perhaps its actually a Gumtree issue, as I have seen a number of ads posted in Capetown that are actually located elsewhere, ie; Joburg etc.

I dunno?
G!

According to the add the seller is NOW in Malmesbury ? Last year he was in Knysna....? The pic is from a UK site as you say....really looks suspicious to me. There is a phone number however...give him/her a call perhaps...?

Charlie4

Hopefully I am wrong, I would sincerely apologise, with this one but doubtful. If I recall correctly, 2008/2009, this guy, Les, was selling Gibson LP Custom Supremes, claiming they were the real mcoy, however they were from China. It seems he stayed off the grid for quite some time. Either way, I figure you guys will probably be more equipped to spot a fake.

http://www.gumtree.co.za/cp-entertainment-in-bellville/gibson-usa-guitars-277988449

AlanRatcliffe

All I can say is, I'm not sure about the pics - they look like the real deal, but all the photos are taken on different surfaces, which points to the seller lifting the images from Ebay or somewhere else, rather than photographing the guitars he has.

singemonkey

Yeah. I don't see anything obviously wrong with that Supreme (they often mess up the headstock inlay which is not shown). It's not in a Gibson case by the looks of things. All a bit circumstantial, but I'd certainly proceed with caution. Some fakers have cleaned up the very obvious external signs - like knobs that don't line up and lack of fret-edge binding - which makes it more difficult to judge just from a single photo.

ZarK

I spoke to the guy (Les) selling the Supreme etc about a year ago. He had quite an extensive collection of high-end guitars... Everything sounded ligit to me.

Big-G

Big G wrote This seems a little dodgy to me.....

http://www.gumtree.co.za/cp-musical-instruments-in-vanrhynsdorp-north/1998-gibson-les-paul-smartwood-standard-for-sale-give-away-pri-462427906

I just had a bit of a google, and found this site featuring the exact same pic....

http://www.whitstableguitars.co.uk/gonenotforgotten.htm

Scroll down to the 12th picture. What you reckon? Fraud? Legit?

Cheers
G!

So I decided I'd do a bit of inquiring using an old email address that I don't really use any more, to try and see if I could find out if this is legit or not, and got the strangest reply....

The serial number is 007180330.You can open this link to check production date.

'Link removed for safety'

I'm willing to sell the guitar for R3000.
Attached are some pictures and my ID book.
The Guitar actually belonged to my Husband who passed away.I do not know much about music talk less of playing a guitar.That is the reason why am selling the guitar.My late Husband got this guitar when we visited America.
The guitar has got no major problem.It is very fine.The presence of this Guitar keeps giving me sad memories of my late husband so i want to sell it out.

Just confirm and i will write a sales contract,sign it and send to you so that you can also sign and send my own copy.You will need to send me your full names,physical address and ID number so that i can draft the sales contract.If you are really interested,do not hesitate to come back to me.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Kind Regards
Erica

Interestingly, in the photo's she attached, there were shots of two different guitars, and one of the serial number on the back of headstock with the date of 2008 stamped below it, not 1998 as the ad suggested! I was also sent a pic of her ID book, but that could have been swiped from her at any point. I thought of asking her to send a picture of her actually holding the guitar, but decided it wasn't worth the hassle. I inquired further as to their where abouts, telling them that I never buy a guitar without having first seen/played it, and they gave me an address in KOKSTAD!!

Its one of those thats almost too dodgy to be false, but everything just doesn't add up!

Cheers
G!

studmissile

Yeah the old id book, dead husband scam and don't know nothing about guitars, absolute rubbish.

vic

studmissile wrote Yeah the old id book, dead husband scam and don't know nothing about guitars, absolute rubbish.

Big G this is an obvious scam....do not waste anymore time on it. HOWEVER thanks for confirming for everyone that it is indeed a damn scam. ?

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