How to recognize a scams in car ads?
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• Top 9 Tips to avoid Scam• Types of Scam & Fraud
• Examples of Scam
• Advice for Sellers
• Advice for Buyers
• Notes by Scott Lewis
• Where to Complain?
• Help us Fight Fraud!
Most scams involve one or more of the following:
- Long-distance buyer or seller
- Offer includes a cashier's check, postal money order, Western Union, or escrow service (BidPay, Squaretrade, etc.)
- Refusal to meet face-to-face
You can easily recognize a scam, if remember these types of fraud.
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Distant seller indicates they will guarantee the transaction through the some fictitious Protection Program.
- These programs do not exist!!
- Seller will request a down payment, and will provide detailed documentation of the "protection program." -
Distant buyer offers a high-value (but fake) cashier's check in exchange for your item.
- You receive an odd email offering to buy your item site unseen.
- Cashier's check is offered for your sale item, as a deposit for a part.
- Value of cashier's check often far exceeds your item - buyer asks you to wire the balance via money transfer service.
- Banks will often cash these fake checks AND THEN HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE WHEN THE CHECK FAILS TO CLEAR.
- Scam often involves a 3rd party (shipping agent, business associate owing buyer money, etc) -
Distant seller requests payment via Western Union or MoneyGram:
- Seller often claims 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.
- Common countries currently include: Nigeria, Romania, Ukraine, Spain, UK, Italy, Netherlands - but could be anywhere.
- Deal often seems too good to be true. -
Distant seller offers to send you a cashier's check and then have you wire money:
- This is ALWAYS a scam, in our experience - the cashier's check is 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. -
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".
- If you must do business with a distant seller, insist on a legitimate service, such as www.escrow.com. -
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 often sounds too good to be true.
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