Avoiding Scams and Fraud
Unfortunately, the power of online classifieds also makes them a target of
would-be scammers. Here are some common-sense tips to help you avoid becoming a victim:
- DEAL LOCALLY WITH FOLKS YOU CAN MEET IN PERSON
– This will help you avoid most scams.
- WESTERN UNION, MONEYGRAM
or any other wire service = BIG RED
FLAG – Never wire money via these methods. Anyone who asks you to do
so is most likely a scammer.
- CASHIER CHECKS AND MONEY
ORDERS SOUND GREAT, BUT, FAKES ARE COMMON AND BANKS WILL HOLD YOU
ACCOUNTABLE when the fakes are
discovered weeks later.
- MyMotherLode.Com IS NOT
INVOLVED IN ANY TRANSACTION, and does not handle payments, guarantee
transactions, provide escrow services, or offer "buyer
protection" or "seller certification". Anyone who tells you otherwise is a
scammer.
- NEVER GIVE OUT FINANCIAL
INFORMATION (bank account number, social security number, eBay/PayPal info, etc.)
- AVOID DEALS INVOLVING
SHIPPING OR ESCROW SERVICES
- ONLY A SCAMMER WILL
"GUARANTEE" YOUR TRANSACTION – there are too many entities involved, from mail carrier, to postal
employee, to driver, for anyone to guarantee your transaction
Someone tried to scam me, who do I call?
- FTC toll free hotline:
877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357)
- FTC online complaint form
www.ftc.gov
- Canadian PhoneBusters hotline: 888-495-8501
- Internet Fraud Complaint Center www.ic3.gov/
- Non-emergency number for your
local police department.
If you suspect that an item posted for sale on MyMotherLode.Com may be part
of a scam, please email the details, including time, and ad # (number) to “classifieds@mymotherlode.com".
How do I recognize a scam?
Most scams are fairly easy to detect once you know what to look for. Common sense is your most powerful tool.Most scams involve some of the following:
- inquiry from someone far
away, often in another country
- Western Union, Money Gram, cashier's check, money order, shipping, escrow service, or a
"guarantee"
- inability or refusal to meet
face-to-face before transaction
- Very poor use of language, numerous misspellings, and odd conventions (This does not by itself mean you are being scammed, but in conjunction with the above, it should cause you to be
WARY).
Examples of Scams (from Craigslist.Org)
-
1.
Distant person offers a genuine-looking (but fake) cashier's check:
-
you receive an email offering to buy your item,
cashier's check is offered for your sale item,
-
value of cashier's check often exceeds your item -
-
scammer offers to "trust" you, and asks you to wire the balance via money transfer service or to pay the “shipping company”
-
banks will often cash these fake checks AND THEN HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE WHEN THE CHECK FAILS TO CLEAR, including criminal prosecution in some cases!
-
scam often involves a 3rd party (shipping agent, business associate owing buyer money, etc)
-
2. Someone requests wire service payment via Western Union or
MoneyGram:
-
Often claim that an MTCN or confirmation code is needed before he can withdraw your money - this is FALSE, once you've wired money, it is GONE.
-
Scam "bait" items include laptops, plasma TVs, cell phones, tickets - but could be almost anything
-
Common countries currently include: Nigeria, Romania, Ukraine, Spain, UK, Italy, Netherlands - but could be anywhere
-
deal often seems too good to be true
-
3.
Distant person offers to send you a money order and then have you wire money:
-
this is
almost ALWAYS a scam, - the cashier's check is probably FAKE
-
sometimes accompanies an offer of merchandise, sometimes not
-
scammer often asks for your name, address, etc for printing on the fake check
-
deal often seems too good to be true
-
5.
Distant seller suggests use of an online escrow service.
-
most online escrow sites are FRAUDULENT, operated by scammers
-
for more info, do a google search on "fake escrow" or "escrow fraud"
-
6.
Distant seller asks for a partial payment upfront, after which he will ship goods
-
he says he trusts you with the partial payment
-
he may say he has already shipped the goods
-
deal
sounds too good to be true
The Bottom
Line:
If
it sounds too good to be true, it is. Use common sense. If you
wouldn't be comfortable paying for or selling an item a certain way in the brick
and mortar world, then don't do it online. Use trusted service providers
like Visa, Mastercard, and Paypal. Keep records and receipts for your
transactions. And if something sounds funny, then ask questions.
|
