There has been a warning from Gumtree South Africa that scammers are using convincing phishing scams to get people’s bank card information.

Gumtree’s Head of Customer Service Louis Bosman said in recent weeks that many customers have reported the scam or asked the platform to verify its legitimacy. Individuals selling goods on marketplace sites are targeted by the scam.

“The scammer makes contact via the contact number displayed on the seller’s ad, showing interest in the item. They would then suggest using Gumtree’s shipping/delivery option because it is safe. They prefer to contact users through WhatsApp,” says Bosman. “No such service exists at this time. There will always be a redirect link in the WhatsApp message where the payment can be finalized.”

Upon clicking the link, the seller is asked to enter their banking details on a scammer’s branded website. A scammer can access the card’s information, including the CVC, through this method.

Bosman urges South Africans to be vigilant and never click on suspicious links received via Whatsapp or email. “We recommend using Gumtree’s messenger as it is safer and to reach out to our contact center if you have any concerns about a transaction.”