Gumtree Australia Support Knowledgebase - What do I do if I have been defrauded?
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What do I do if I have been defrauded?



Whether you’ve been defrauded by someone or you think you’ve discovered stolen goods, you should always contact your local police to report the incident and get a reference number. If the police take the matter further, the investigating police officer will contact us. We’ll do all we can to provide the police with any information that helps their investigation.

Before you go to the police 
If your item hasn’t arrived, it may not be a case of fraud or stolen goods. It could be that you're just dealing with a seller who is slow to send an item or keep in contact. In either of these cases, please try contacting the seller directly one more time to resolve your problem.

Is it a crime?
If you report your case to the police, they'll decide if it should be investigated as a crime or civil dispute. If the police feel that your case doesn't involve a criminal intent by the other party, they may advise you to take your own civil action to recover your losses. This is done through a local court or tribunal, which deals with small claims. For this, you’ll need to know the name and address of the other party. A police officer will be able to help you with this process. 

How do I make a police report?
The simplest way is to go to your local police station or call the local police operator on a non-emergency number. In most cases, your report can be taken by telephone and followed up later. 

What evidence do I need?
The police may need these from you:
  • Essential details such as the nature, date and time of the offence, and the name and contact details of the victim and suspect(s)
  • Any email exchanges between you and other person
  • If relevant, the Ad reference number or a printed copy of the Ad on Gumtree.
If you decide to report a fraud to the Police, please get them to contact us. The majority of the police have our direct email and if they don't, ask them to contact us here. We will provide any information about the Ad or user details we have directly to them. Gumtree is happy to help the police in their investigations once you've reported it.

If you feel that you've been the victim of fraud, you should also contact us here and send through all the information you have about the Ad (ideally the Ad number) and or the email address of the advertiser or buyer that contacted you so we can take internal action to keep the site safe.