07747516575

So, it appears "Sarah Harlow" has replied to my Gumtree email about her van for sale.  She sent the following message:

"Hi Johnny,
Don't know if it's been long since you've emailed, I've been out so couldn't follow up on my text message. Can't promise anything but visiting my mum shortly, wouldn't mind making a drop off  :) . If you'll send me your postcode I can check out on my satnav the distance to yours.

Reasonable price and accurate description, it's worth the money, no bad surprises. I won't go any lower.

Can be reached on 07747192044 low signal strength area :( but check emails regularly.
Ta,
Sarah.
P.S. Will take cash only."

Should I email her back with the email that she usually sends second to this one - about her being call out fo the office - along with the other names she uses... that'll freak 'her' out a bit! :]

Can we all report to watchdog/rouge traders  maybe something will happen?????
or anyone have any numbers to report it to???

scammed out of £390 on gumtree by 'Sarah Harlow' who pretended to be a parcel-force worker and we sent money over ukash, only realising now everything seemed to good.

hi , what's her email address???? i'm trying to track her with various different softwares, everything seems to have happened within the last two months, she must have slipped up at least once!!!!

Current scam: Alexa Connel / Edwards / Brown a.k.a Nora Palmer a.k.a Angela Murray currently Sarah Harlow (sarah75harlow at gmail dot com) is posting fake adverts, asking for payment via ukash through a fake Parcel Force email address. They ask for pictures of ukash vouchers and steal the code and cash it. Emails to prospective customers say she can drop off on her way to her mums then she is called in to office, she can ship via parcel force. For further reading see who calls me.com and search: 07747516575 or 07747192044.

hi i got scammed by this same add , her ip adress is hidden have you tried voiding the ukash codes?

'She's' got a gumtree (London) ad up selling a three year old custom built gaming pc with good pics/written description that were obviously ripped from a genuine ad.

Slight alarm bells rang over the low £150 price tag, but hey, they might just want rid of it eh?
I messaged her via gumtree asking if it was still available and got the same 'email sarah75harlow@gmail with questions' 9hrs later.
So I emailed back asking the same question I'd asked in the first place and I haven't heard back yet.

It all felt pretty dodgy, so I googled 'sarah.s.iph' and eventually found this thread.
There was never any danger of me sending money though.

I'm sorry to hear that she/he has managed to get away with conning people like this.

UPDATE: I didn't get around to posting this message last night and have now recieved the 'Don't know how long it's been since you've emailed, visiting mum etc' email...

The 'low reception' phone number given is 07747192044.

Tempted to send abuse, but there isn't much point I suppose...

I am currently in conversations with her (?) about an item from Gumtree. I knew something was wrong when received notice that needed to pay with voucher. Is there anything we can do?

This is another gumtree advert, got to be the same person ... at least half the usual 2nd hand price ..

Whats the best way to find out, i only have one e-mail address ....

http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/delkim-txi- ... d-new/106174278

Hibwevjust got scammed from that Sarah, just wondering whether u got your money back from ukash? And how u did it, we used nearly the last of our money paying for a sofa and we have 3 kids to feed. So annoyed x

location of ip user 209.85.212.170 IP address location & more:
IP address [?]:    209.85.212.170 [Whois] [Reverse IP]
IP country code:    US
IP address country:    ip address flag United States
IP address state:    California
IP address city:    Mountain View
IP postcode:    94043
IP address latitude:    37.4192
IP address longitude:    -122.0574
ISP of this IP [?]:    Google
Organization:    Google
Host of this IP: [?]:    mail-wi0-f170.google.com [Whois] [Trace]
Local time in United States:    2012-07-08 00:44

Hello everyone, I'm sure by now the police are aware that a number of crimes have been committed and affected people country wide. I believe they will have a task force set up now or soon.
Regards tracking this person:

IP address searches usually come up with google's bases (mountain view and cupertino california and occasionally ohio), these are google's addresses since gmail hides sender IPs we are going to need someone at google to track this.

I think this person is British since their phraseology has english colloquialisms such as 'pop round'. I could be wrong though.

Anyone work for Vodaphone or has any contacts? The two numbers appear to be from that company.

I'm not sure this person will slip up I think it will take contact with gmail and google, gumtree and ukash to stop the situation. I think to catch the person gmail will need to release details or perform a track themselves, ukash will need to analyse all the instances that frauded codes were cashed. Maybe the sites this person uses have some info on them or can trace them. Gumtree just needs to ban submissions from sarah75harlow@gmail.com and any name75surname@gmail.com addresses for that matter.

It is definatley worth using any legal on line tools and searches to get info.
Definatley worth reporting to police, watchdog, gumtree, actionfraud and ukash.

For suggestions of what to write to ukash look through this thread and the thread linked on this one to moneysavingexpert.com and read beingearnest123's suggestions. Check through this thread (and that one) to find all the email addresses for the relevant places to report. If enough people complain to ukash and then to the ombudsman ukash may be forced to return stolen funds or at least change their practice of anonymous payment or improve the code/voucher issue (the difference is not clear).

I really think it is worth while posting everything you learn and reporting it. Thanks to everyone who has contributed so far. Looking back through the thread there have been many people who have realised this is a TOTAL SCAM.

I have also posted the info on wikipedia (was taken down once but now back)

To find out if a particular ad is a scam copy the descriptor from gumtree...

open up a new tab in your browser for ebay
click on 'advanced' next to the search box
click halfwaydown the screen on 'completed listings' (stuff that has been sold)
paste in the descriptor click the search

if the ad comes up as completed then it was copied from ebay

I have seen most of the ads be copied in this way. It means at least that they are authentic to read and have random addresses.

Dear all,

I have trawled through this thread and here is a report on the info we have gathered so far.

People to contact:
1. Action Fraud, telephone 0300 123 2040, textphone 0300 123 2050, www.actionfraud.org.uk
2. Ukash, feedback@ukash.com, fraudprevention@ukash.com
3. Ukash - REPORT VOUCHER CODES AS STOLEN 24hr hotline: 00800 247 85274
4. Ukash helpline: 0808 234 6244 8am - midnight
5. Local police: telephone 101
6. Gumtree
7. watchdog: watchdog@bbc.co.uk
8. Parcelforce
9. If you bought from coop and were not offered info on how to use ukash:
Coop: customer.relations@co-operative.coop

Instances of same scam / discussion of scam:
1. http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=3591725&page=2
2. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gumtree#section_2
3. http://www.scambook.com/company/view/62576/Alexa-Brown
4. http://whatconsumer.co.uk/forum/scam-alerts/18966-paysafe-scam-3.html
5. http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/samsung-ps5 ... -base/105445115
6. http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/warning/102679341
7. http://www.robchapman.tv/forum/threads/beware-of-this-scammer.20651/ 
8. http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.php?t=3029788&page=3
9. http://www.hayling.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=33518

Suspected scams:
http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/lpkf-protom ... rking/105232693
http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/beko-wmb812 ... kgnew/105727228
http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/white-paint ... l-use/103927998
http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/brand-new-unused-scs-corner-sofa/104209949

Psydonyms/Alias:
Alexa Brown: https://plus.google.com/100848936384046854739/posts
Angela Murray: https://plus.google.com/109656939387166730884/posts
Sarah Harlow: https://plus.google.com/s/Sarah%20Harlow
Alexa Edwards: https://plus.google.com/s/Alexa%20Edwards

Other Mobile Numbers:
07747192044. See: https://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/07747192044#p416711958756515060

Suggestions to write to ukash:

I think that if lots of people get in touch with Ukash quoting this incident, making the same points they will have to concede some error or omission of responsibility on their part - here are some points to make:

Suggestion1.  Ukash change your 'commercial agreements' to require identity to use ukash. In addition I suggest that you retain the right to void codes. This may not be in your immediate commercial interest but as Ukash is aware there are criminals who are easily getting away with the unclear and sparse information you are putting forward. In the long term ukash' reputation is (and is currently) going to suffer.

Suggestion2. Due to the fact that many people have been under the misapprehension that it was possible to send photos of the vouchers I suggest that you differentiate in your language use between the voucher and the code. People have thought it is safe to send a picture but not the receipt. I think you use the terms synonymously when they are not the same thing. You refer often to paying with the voucher which is ambiguious since that could refer to a) the voucher (physical receipt) or b) the voucher (the voucher code). This is an error in your document authoring and an oversight in your technical nomenclature.

Suggestion3. You cease from giving the vague and inaccurate advice 'treat as cash' since one can send photos of cash and not be scammed by someone using the serial code from the note. In this case the analogy of 'treating like cash' is a poor analogy.

Suggestion4. Ukash must take direct and immediate action like: posting specific details on Gumtree about new scams. You should have a pop up or ad on the main page about the scams both on Gumtree and your site. Your scams do not detail the present scam which asks you to sent photos to parcel force. You do not have these details on your front page. You expect people to know that they are being scamed and then research the scam on your website. A warning needs to be on the front page and relevant to the current scam.

Please feel free to use the above points, if they apply to you, and add your personal experiences to the email to: feedback@ukash.com

Ukash claim that they make their agents (people who sell ukash vouchers via paypoint) informed about proper usage and that there should be leaflets at every paypoint giving advice on how to use it. However, there are instances where there are no leaflets offered and even the management of ukash issuing agents are unfamiliar with what they are selling. If this applies to you let ukash know.

Thanks to all contributors to this thred so far. I have given this website thread to the police too, I suggest you all do to as it will help them see the frequency of the scams and some of the details of them. It can only help.

Had the same emails from Sarah75Harlow@gmail.com

Unfortunately I've just got called into the office (i get sent countrywide with less than 24hrs notice) so very busy till next week. Back at work we have some shipments for large items with parcelforce all week long. Just thought it would save you time and hassle if I'll send it along with them free of charge :) company benefits :) .


I asked around and it seems you can pay cash upon delivery/inspection. It's quite simple since they're able to wait for you to check it out, if not as described they can just void the shipment with no extra charge.

If that's alright with you I'll need a name, address, contact number and also date&time suitable for the delivery.
Working long hours so If you want to pop in and pick it up you'll have to wait till next week or so when hopefully I'll get my head around :)
Let me know either way.
Sarah.


You can check out Sarah's profile on Google+ here : https://plus.google.com/115238173924513265575

ALSO THIS ONE

Parcel Tracking details
=================

At the request of Sarah Harlow, this notice is to confirm that the following shipment is in transit.


Important delivery information

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Temporary parcel number:  PBIE539367713 *Pending - Not valid to track online*  

Packaged Goods:  Suzuki GSX1300 Hayabusa 1999 Complete Engine Wiring Loom Airbox Clocks With Keys  
Declared value:  £900.00  

Status:  In progress(Arrived at delivery depot)  

Ships to:  Adrian Clements  

12 Brook Court  

Bishopsworth,Bristol  

BS13 7SR  

United Kingdom  

07890491863  


Payment required within 24 hours:
 Instructions:

Find a corner shop, newsagent, convenience store, supermarket or outlet that has the PayPoint sign as you can see bellow:  
 
Ask the shopkeeper for a £900.00 voucher.  
Reply to this invoice directly with a readable scan or a photo of the UKASH receipt.  
Our department will automatically validate your voucher and release the parcel out for delivery.  
The delivery agent will call you on *07890491863* 1 hour prior to delivery. You are able to inspect the contents and if satisfied you will need to sign for it. If not, our agent will do a bank transfer and return the parcel as rejected.  


Parcel Force Package Inspection Department

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained in and accompanying this communication may be confidential and is intended solely for the use of the intended recipient(s). If you are not the intended recipient of this communication please delete and destroy all copies immediately.
==================
Parcelforce Worldwide is a trading name of Royal Mail Group Ltd.
Parcelforce Worldwide's principal office is Lytham House, 25 Caldecotte Lake Drive, Milton Keynes, MK7 8LE.
Royal Mail Group VAT registration number: GB243170002

THIS ITEM IS STILL FOR SALE ON GUMTREE  08 JULY 2012

This is another scam ad by sarah harlow.

http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/fender-cont ... ery-item-full-1

Same emails as everyone got. It's good that checked it with Parcel Force, didn't pay money...

Ha! I thought a £3000 P.A system for £1000 was too good to be true!  HK Audio Actor system....Was going to go to Southampton to collect and pay.....got the same response as the other threads on here....visiting mum....called to office..... blah blah blah!

What a waste of 2 days!

I'm another who's been scammed by this horrid woman when the bed I bought didn't arrive this morning! I recieved the exact same emails that seemed genuine but were clearly not. Should have listened to mh gut instinct that it was too good to be true. I recieved a text from sarahsiph (automatically came up on my iphone) and she gave the number 07747192044 and email sarah75harlow@gmail.com. I feel for those who paid a lot for items and recieved nothing, luckily we only lost £40. She really deserves what's coming to her and I hope people aren't silly enough to look into Ukash and google her email/telephone number.

I agree whoever said Ukash needs to clearly state how bad the service is and to warn customers of situations like ours.

I'm guessing the police will not do anything and we won't see our £40! Bet she'll soon be using a different email address/telephone number soon. Makes me sick.

The response to my email to the feedback email address that was provided above:


Dear Chloe,
 
Thank you for your feedback.
 
From the details provided I cannot find your case as being logged with our Customer Services. If you provide me with more information I would be able to investigate your case further if you wish.
 
By offering an alternative to debit and credit cards we are enabling many more people to transact online, especially those without access to traditional banking. Ukash protects financial identity from online fraud, as no bank or card details are exchanged online, making it increasingly attractive to all those using it to buy online. When used correctly Ukash is an extremely safe and convenient way to pay for things online.
 
Scams involving Ukash are invariably based on the victims’ unawareness of how our payment system works. Together with the advice printed on the paper receipt to ’Only use online at genuine websites listed at www.ukash.com’ we expect customers unfamiliar with Ukash to find out more before committing their money to a payment system they do not understand.
 
Ukash works with law enforcement agencies including SOCA, NFIB (City of London Police), NFA/Action Fraud and the Metropolitan Police e-crime unit to target the criminals and to warn the public.
 
Yours sincerely
Nathaniel Jones
Customer Experience Executive

I can't see Ukash doing anything for us unfortunately, just like the police or Gumtree!

Here are my arguments with ukash so far. I must urge you to be tenacious and not give up. The initial responses will be brief and down play the situation and blame the incident on 'your misunderstanding'. Have a read through and use any arguments, counter arguments and rebuttals and include them in your follow up emails. I have asked for a Final Response and they have sent me by post a letter from the head of customer experience. They also officially logged my complaint and sent me the info to take things up with the ombudsman. Don't give up.


Dear Sir/Madame,

I wish to complain about the use of UKASH for fraud. I was frauded by a gumtree user and am aware of scores of other incidents this month.

1. When I purchased the UKASH voucher from a pay point (Cooperative in Xxxxxxxx) I explained to the shop manager what I was going to do which included sending pictures of the vouchers to parcel force (a fake parcel force address is part of the scam). He did not tell me this was a problem. The issue is that the vendors of your products have no idea of how they are used. The vouchers themselves do not say that the code can be used without the voucher.

2. The vouchers are being used for fraud and you are not doing anything proactivley. You have not adjusted your system or made vendors aware at all.

3. I believe you to be in breech of Anti Money Laundering (2007) as anonymous payments can be a conduit for this sort of crime.

I intend to pursue this issue if I am not refunded to the tune of 270 for the following voucher codes: 6337180014xxxxxxxxxx and 6337180xxxxxxxxxxxx

I am in contact with the police, watchdog, action fraud, crimestoppers and soon the national press.

I look forward to your prompt and full reply to this

Next reply:

Dear Nathaniel,

Thanks for your prompt reply. However, I must disagree with the following:

However due to the high turnover of staff and the numerous products available at PayPoint terminals it is not possible to ensure every retail agent is aware of how Ukash works.

The gentleman who sold me the vouchers was the store manager whom I have seen work there for a long time. You obviously are not doing a sufficient jon if the operator of a terminal did not spot the scam. I explained to him what I was going to do with them and he said nothing. You are surley liable for not informing this vendor, I was offered no leaflet, nor were there any on display at all in the store. This is one instance amongst many where you have failed 'to work closley'  with the vendors.

In your case were fully redeemed we are unable to offer you a refund.

The voucher codes are 'just like money' in your own words and legally if I have marked notes or the serial numbers of the notes and these are obtained under false pretenses from me, or stolen then the notes can be retrieved. I expect you to void the transaction which spent the vouchers. What ever sevice recieved the money should void / revoke their service. If you were proactive in doing this the system would be more secure since they would have to give their identity to make a purchase, knowing that the voucer codes could be voided. The voucher codes are like 'stolen goods' if someone has them or used them then they have the right to be seized and you should void the codes now and pursue the criminal.

The main issue here is that you say do not print the importance of the VOUCHER CODE on the receipt. You explain to treat like cash but you do not say treat the VOUCHER CODE like cash. It is not explicit that the number alone is the cash. I and many others sent pictures believing that the VOUCHER was needed to redeem the voucher code (like normal vouchers). I believe your information is unclear. IN practice this seems to be the case since scores of people have sent pictures but retained the receipt thinking the same thing. You need to warn to treat the VOUCHER CODE like cash and not to sent pictures of the code.

In relation to my point: You have not adjusted your system or made vendors aware at all. Your response about advertising in the 'Daily Mirror and the Manchester Evening News'  is not making vendors aware or changing the system. This is not enough one regional paper and one national paper with general (and in my opinion vague) warnings. There should be a pop up on Gumtree, an explicit warning and explanation on the voucher. Adjusting the system would mean needing an identity to trace the use of the codes. With an anonymous (electronic) payment system you are opening up the floodgates to crime and money laundering.

Your statement that your efforts to make the public aware 'has resulted in extensive coverage in the local press and direct action by community policing teams targeting retailers' . This has not been specific enough or widespead enough in my estimation.

In summary I find your response unsatisfactory to address the issues my csase presents. I would ask for a full and specific response to my email and my points. I, again, ask for a refund for 270 pounds due to your failings to make good your responsibilities to inform and print appropriate warnings. Moreover, I sought to make myself aware and googled paypoint but both online and with the manager I didnt find any help.

Next response:
Dear Nathaniel,

Thanks for your response. I agree that it is disappointing regarding the store manager, however, I did not expect him to 'prevent' me from supplying voucher codes merely to inform me. As for Ukash's responsibility: I don't think you are responsible for his actions but I think you are responsible for his being informed. As I said there were no leaflets, Ukash should not allow people to sell the vouchers without these leaflets being available or at least someone at every branch (minimum the store manager) being informed.

So far you have outlined that it is hard for you to regulate the 20,000 paypoint terminals shifting the responsibility to paypoint (who are not returning my calls). The system is clearly still nacent, unclear and un thought through. You suggest that I inform myself before using ukash yet neither my reciept nor the agent could inform me. I did not fully understand and I asked the store manager, on purpose, not just the check out lady to make sure what I was doing was ok. You have failed with your duty to make information available.

I suggest you change your 'commercial agreements' to require identity (you have not addressed this issue. In addition I suggest that you retain the right to void codes. This may not be in your immediate commercial interest but as you have outlined there are criminals who are easily getting away with the unclear and sparse information you are putting forward. In the long term ukash' reputation is (and is currently) going to suffer.

I again reiterate that it is not made clear that you should treat the VOUCHER CODE like cash not just the voucher. I thought that the voucher was needed (like cash) in order to redeem the voucher (like any other voucher). If I photocopied a bank note I would not expect the recipient to be able to cash the money with the serial code. Now, your advice is to 'treat as cash' so I believed that to redeem the value you needed to be in possession of the receipt as you would if you were to 'treat as cash'. You have not yet responded to this problem.

Due to the above issues and those which I have stated in my previous email, I will be continuing contact with watchdog and approach any newspaper which is interested in revealing the shortcomings, omissions, neglect and unwillingness to acknowledge responsibility on the part of ukash to the wider public. I strongly feel that the public need better protection and infomation on this and I am willing to continue this as necessary. I again request the refund of 270 pounds.

I would be grateful if you would respond to the above fully and promptly.

Next response:

Thanks for your propt reply. However, I find your response drastically unsatisfactory. Your 'measures' are limited and I cannot accept that these scams are 'a major concern' for your company. If they were you would have made it more clear regarding the voucher and voucher code. I would not have sent my pictures off if I knew the voucher code was all you need. You warn 'treat like cash' and I did but it is not like cash.

A serious concern would be to take direct and immediate action like: posting specific details on Gumtree about new scams. You should have a pop up or ad on the main page about the scams both on Gumtree and your site. Your scams do not detail the present scam which asks you to sent photos to parcel force. You do not have these details on your front page. You expect people to know that they are being scamed and then research the scam on your website. A warning needs to be on the front page and relevant to the current scam.

You have not ensured that even store managers are informed about scams or even how to use ukash. You have not provided or ensured that info is available at paypoint via the booklets you have produced.

The scam is still going on and you are doing nothing proactivley about it: people were scammed before me using the same technique and are still being scammed this morning by the same person. I cannot believe you think you are taking measures. You should have specific details of scammers emails and names and/or details about the scam on Gumtree and Ukash front pages.

A thread has been set up a thread on whocallsme.com and have already prevented several people getting scammed. As a company involved you should do more and I think you have failed to act responsibly.
See here: https://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/07747516575/2 and here https://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/07747192044#p416711958756515060


Your statement: We regret the misrepresentation and misuse of Ukash in this scam. However, it is clear from your emails that you were unsure how Ukash worked when you gave away your voucher details. If you had taken the advice that we printed on the receipt and visited our website you could have avoided the scam and applied for a refund.

I did attempt to search the internet for scams about ukash before going to the coop and i even found a scam listed about how engineers come out and print test reciepts and then steal them. But I was unable to find the info you suggest - in issues of crime I expect that you would put something on the front page. I think your attitude is relaxed because such crime happens so often and your saying that this has happend to other payment methods confirms that your thinking that it is the status quo makes your actions to date sufficient or acceptable.
I submit to you that I was under the misapprehension that i could send photos of the vouchers because there was not sufficient information from the agent, the manager, on the receipt, or in a leaflet that the code is needed not the voucher and the code. I think you use the terms synonymously when they are not the same thing. You refer often to paying with the voucher which is ambiguious since that could refer to a) the voucher (physical receipt) or b) the voucher (the voucher code). This is an error in your document authoring and an oversight in your technical nomenclature.

I therefore request a refund of 270 pounds and your Final Response before I take things up with the Ombudsman and the Press.

Don't give up with ukash or the police, I encourage you all.

A new one.

http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/larrivee-guitar-d03bw/106182847

and of curse it was sold

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... c#ht_500wt_1202

Hi Alex,
Don't know if it's been long since you've emailed, I've been out so couldn't follow up on my text message. Can't promise anything but visiting my mum shortly, wouldn't mind making a drop off :) .

If you'll send me your postcode I can check out on my satnav the distance to yours.

Reasonable price and accurate description, it's worth the money, no bad surprises. I won't go any lower.
Can be reached on (0)7973 425052 low signal strength area :( but check emails regularly.
Ta,
Teresa.
P.S. Will take cash only.