Classifieds site listings scam alert

Post by **GlassWolf** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 3:07 pm

If you have listed a Classified ad on our Free Classifieds, or anyone’s classified site for that matter – be aware of a big scam.

The scam usually comes to you as a form letter in broken English – that asks information and price that you usually have already provided in the ad – and promises a Cashier’s Check. How the scam usually works it that they’ll send you a Cashier’s Check to cover the item you sell and the shipping – and for you to pay the shipping company. The problem is that the Cashier’s Check is a fake and the non-existent shipping company is in cohoots with them – taking your good money in exchange for their bad money. They don’t even want what it is you’re selling – just the money.

These scams often originate in Europe – where the scammer can’t be touched via legal recourse. It occurs on every site where you might sell something – and reporting them to anyone won’t really help. They have unlimited e-Mail addresses and IP addresses.

I advise anyone selling anything on any web site to be aware of this scam.
I would suggest that you:
1: In your ads, say that you will not sell to anyone outside of the US.
(not that they speak English well enough to understand that)
2: Avoid all inquiries in broken English with what appear to be form letters.
3: Don’t prepay anyone’s shipping.
Tell them to send their broker with cash if they want it bad enough. Interbank wires are much safer than Cashier’s Checks for large sums of money.

ridr4lif · Post by **ridr4lif** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 3:14 pm

Yea...someone tried to buy my brothers car this way. Luckily he thought it was shady and didnt sell the guy the car.
2 weeks after this guy contacted him, a lady in our town got scammed out of a bunch of money this way.

Bunch of slimy people out there.

TEDD

nist7 · Post by **nist7** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 3:37 pm

Speaking of scams, have any of you gotten those emails from Africa/S. America/etc. saying that some really rich CEO died and he, in all his business wisdom, forgot to write a will and now you are being considered to be one of the benefactors receiving 10 million dollars.

All you gotta do is provide them with all of your personal info and bank account info and you'll be rich...lol

ridr4lif · Post by **ridr4lif** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 3:43 pm

Yea...i get an email like that about once a month. Are some people really that gullible?

TEDD

nist7 · Post by **nist7** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 3:45 pm

I think George Carlin said something like "Think of the stupidity of the average person. And imagine that half are stupider than that!"

Justin from Detroit1 · Thu Mar 31, 2005 7:31 pm

Basically, don't accept anything besides Paypal from a confirmed address, or money order for a reputable seller (like western union).

Post by **GlassWolf** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 6:23 am

actually don't even trust money orders or cashiers checks.
have them verified by the issuing bank before sending the items.
people are forging those now.
just saw it happen to a few people on the Mopar forums.