Buying & Selling Safely
With identity theft on the rise you need
to be extra sure you know who you are dealing with in an online
transaction. Although many consumers and ethical dealers have
benefited greatly from the Internet, so too have crooked buyers
& sellers. As such, you need to be aware of potential
scams to solicit deposits. Here are some of the most common
ones directed toward buyers & sellers online in (but not
limited to) the US, UK, Canada and Australia.
These instances are few and far between
and are not limited to just "Internet crime." These
unscrupulous people can just as easily perpetrate these scams
through a local newspaper. The following tips will help you
identify fraudulent situations and safely buy or sell a vehicle
online or offline.
Safety Tips When Selling when
buying
Counterfeit
Cashier's Check Scam
Sellers beware! This new "counterfeit
cashier's check " or "money advance"
scam targets the average person who's selling through classified
ads or auctioning goods over the Internet Sellers have been
targeted in the US, UK, Canada and many other countries -
so it's important for all of us to be educated.
Here's how it works: You put a large
item up for sale (a car, for example) then you're contacted
by someone overseas. They may misrepresent themselves from
time to time as a local resident. They pretend to be interested
in buying your item for themselves or their client. They ask
you if a friend/contact in the United States (or your
own country) can mail you a cashier's check to cover
the purchase price of your item plus will want to pay you
extra for shipping fees.
You may see no reason to object, since,
unlike personal checks, cashier's checks cannot bounce because
the amount is paid to the bank when the check is issued (similar
to a money order).
After the cashier's check is deposited,
you are asked to wire the extra money for the shipping
fee back to the buyer or directly to their accomplice
(the shipper) so he can arrange for the transportation. It's
only when the cashier's check is discovered to be counterfeit
that you realize you've lost the money you wired for the shipping
fee. Your bank will come back to you for those counterfeit
funds.
There are also variants where you ship the
item and lose everything (although very rare as they just
want your advanced fee). The deal can be canceled at the last
minute for some reason and a refund for the cashier's check
is requested from the buyer via wire transfer. This could
also be any other type of request for an upfront fee advance
just to get your money.
Actual
Suspicious Messages:
Good Day i am interested in buying
your (car) I will like to know if you would accept a cashier
check for the payment, i also need to know the price, and
your full name and address including your phone number is
also needed in which payment will be sent to . i have a
shipping company who takes cares of my shippment .So don't
bother about the shippment. I will also like to know if
is still in good condition and shape. urgent response is
needed for procedure of payment.
regard
brian
xxxxxxxxx@yahoo.com
---------------------------------------------------------------
Dear seller,
This is Dr Mark Olsen,I am presently
runing a private clinic
in the united arab Emirate (U.A.E) . i am interested in
the purchase of your above name (CAR) advertised on one
of the best internet market site in CANADA, recomended to
me by a colleague in this regard. i am making the purchase
as a gift for my daughter who is wedding in CANADA in NOVEMBER,
she will love it.
i am very ok with the details you have provide on the internet
advert
and i am ready to make payment for it as soon as possible,
hope is still available for sale. i will like you to email
me the below information to assure me of the sale:
1) is it still available for sale?
2) email me the last price you will accept to sell it to
me in dollar including tax.
3) email me your address where it is located presently so
i can
know what it will cost me for the transportaion.
4) also let me know if there is need to replace any part
before use.
Do not worry about the shipping, this will be a bit costly
for me but i will sort it out, i will arrange with a freight
forwarding company who will send an Agent to your location
after payment is made for the pick up, it will be shipped
and transported along with my medical equipments in europe,
this will make it easy and sheapper for me compare to the
high price here.
I will appriciate if you can send me a more recent picture
of it via my email.
Please make the price considerate since i will be paying
for the shipping.
i await your email with your last offer price.
kind regards,
Dr Mark Olsen.
Phone: 447024023693
Be
Extremely Skeptical:
- Of
overseas offers from someone you do not know. They may use
broken English or pose as a poor mother, widow, minister,
or foreign government official.
- Of
payment by cashier's check / bank draft / certified cheque.
- Of
buyers sending more than the purchase price of the item.
- Of
buyers who seem more worried about payment than the shipment
of the item to them once payment is made.
- Of
buyers who show little or no concern to the condition of
the item they are purchasing.
- Of
buyers who want to bring others into the transaction like
their client, a shipper or friend owning money to the buyer.
- Of
buyers who ask you to forward or wire money for what ever
reason.
How
to protect yourself:
- Always
ask about their location to identify "the scam"
if not obvious! Get the buyer's address, telephone number
(not a cell phone number).
- Trace
their IP address or their ISP
source. The source IP address is included with our security
protocals and will be listed, with links to trace, within
the initial email inquiry you might have received from our
system.
- If
the buyer has a free e-mail account (e.g. yahoo, hotmail,
fastermail etc.) ask for a fixed e-mail address (e.g. sympatico.ca,
shaw.ca, rogers.com, etc.). With a free e-mail account the
buyer can remain anonymous.
- Cross
reference questionable buyers email or phone numbers at
ScamChecker.com
(not all scammers are listed there but it's a start)
- The
scam always requires you to send money at some point to
someone even though you are the seller!
-
If you receive a cashier's check, call the bank that issued
it (the bank's name will be printed on the check) and ask
them if they authorized that check.
-
NEVER do ANYTHING until a check clears with assurances from
the issuing bank and your bank!
- NEVER
pay anything up front for ANY reason!
-
Ask them to make the transaction through a reputable third
party escrow service, perhaps an escrow account with a law
firm of your choice or www.escrow.com.
Fraud sites often claim they are recommended by eBay, eBay
Motors, or Yahoo! Auctions. You may see the list of sites
eBay actually recommends by clicking
here. We advise against transferring money through a
Western Union Bank / MoneyGram service (this includes BidPay).
If the seller insists on using this payment method, you're
probably dealing with a scammer (even if they send what
seems to be legitimate shipping information or ID).
- Do
not alert this "buyer" to your knowledge of this
scam. Simply back away from the transaction.
Anyone can list a vehicle for sale on a
website, or put an ad in the paper with a picture of a vehicle.
Unfortunately there are always people who do business with
bad intentions. A "fake," or criminal type person,
in this scam can list a vehicle for sale without ever owning
it. They simply take the picture, make up a description,
or steal the information from another ad and list the vehicle
for sale as their own.
Buyers will typically note that the deal
seems "too good to be true" (your first clue)!
When you contact the seller, the item for sale will no longer
be located where it was advertised (I just moved, or I'm currently
overseas... etc.) making it difficult for you to view it in
person. They may even say the vehicle is located near you
or is being stored at a MotoSeller.com warehouse (we don't
have warehouse or store vehicles). The seller will request
that you send some money as a "down payment" via
Western Union Wire Transfer to an overseas location so
you don't "lose the sale." or put a deposit down
through a fake escrow website.
These criminals may try to tell you we
are endorsing their sale however: MotoSeller.com does not
ship, insure, certify or inspect vehicles, we do not carry
or own inventory and do not have any warehouses or facilities
to hold sellers vehicles. We do not have sales personnel to
meet with you, as we are an Internet business. If someone
tells you this in an attempt to explain why their vehicle
is not available for you to see in person please notify us
immediately as they are likely pulling a scam.
Avoid scams from crooked sellers by recognizing
the good deals. Buying locally from someone you can talk to
over the phone and meet face-to-face is still always your
best approach..
How to protect yourself:
- MotoSeller.com will never email you to certify a "seller"
or their vehicle as in good standing!
- MotoSeller.com will never tell you to use Western Union
to pay for purchases!
- MotoSeller.com does not offer shipping, insurance, storage
of vehicles or act as a 3rd party for a transaction!
1) If the the seller is overseas
or the information within an advertisement is incorrect, misleading
or you find (through communication with the seller) that the
item for sale is not located where it has been advertised
please advise us immediately!
2) Use extra caution if the price
is unusually low. If an item is listed significantly below
the manufacturer's suggested retail price or book value, take
extra steps to verify the seller's claims.
3) Confirm where the item is located
and always request to see or test-drive it in person. If you
find that the item for sale is not located where it is being
advertised (i.e., different state or country... etc.) please
advise us. If a dispute arises in the transaction, Canadian
laws may not apply to an international seller.
4) Call the seller or ask for their
phone number to talk directly. Verify the Seller's Name, City
and Email. If the phone number listed is not accurate or match
the area code of the items location, use added caution to
verify the seller has possession of the item. Cross reference
questionable sellers email or phone numbers at ScamChecker.com
(not all scammers are listed there but it's a start) trace
it using google or the white
pages.
5) Be cautious if a seller requests
a deposit or any money via Western Union. or is offering Free
Shipping and Escrow. Shipping a vehicle any distance can be
costly and should be reflected in a higher then average price.
6) Watch out for Bogus Online Escrow Services. Online
vehicle sellers often use escrow services, which collect and
verify payment from a buyer. The money is held by the service
until all parties are satisfied with the sale. Select your
own reputable Escrow service, perhaps an escrow account with
a law firm. Wire transfer services do not always provide protection
or refunds if a dispute arises. Before sending funds to any
Escrow Service, be certain to verify it is a reputable institution.
Ask them to make the transaction through a reputable third
party escrow service, perhaps an escrow account with a law
firm of your choice or www.escrow.com.
Fraud sites often claim they are recommended by eBay, eBay
Motors, or Yahoo! Auctions. You may see the list of sites
eBay actually recommends by clicking
here.
There have been some instances of phony online escrow services
operating on the Internet. Make sure you check out the escrow
service with SOS4Auctions.com
or escrowfraud.com.
They catalog the good and bad services.
6) Pay escrow deposits by credit
card because you can often dispute the charges with your card
provider if something goes wrong.
7) If sending money with Western union you
will likely never ever see that money again. Once the cash
is wired to the other end and picked up by the seller, Western
Union cannot get it back. Call the Western Union Fraud Department,
1-800-325-6000 if you have any doubts about a Western
Union transfer.
More info on protecting yourself from escrow
and check fraud at carbuyingtips.com
In
Canada, Reporting Economic Crime Online (RECOL)
is an initiative that involves an integrated partnership between
International, Federal and Provincial Law Enforcement agencies,
as well as, with regulators and private commercial organizations
that have a legitimate investigative interest in receiving
a copy of complaints of economic crime. In Ontario the Ministry
of Consumer and Business Services also publish helpful
information on common scams.
More
information on scams:
Con
victims out $10,000 or more. Fake escrow sites, fake car sales
a devastating combination:
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3660523/
VNUNet,
UK - 11 Jun 2003:
http://www.vnunet.com/News/1141529
Protect
Yourself These Scams:
http://www.scamvictimsunited.com
Press
Release - May 2003:
http://www.state.de.us
File
an online complaint:
http://www1.ifccfbi.gov/index.asp
Wired
News Article: Nigerian Net Scam:
http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,56829,00.html
Internet
Fraud Preventive Measures:
http://www1.ifccfbi.gov/strategy/fraudtips.asp
Nigeria
- The 419 Coalition Website:
http://home.rica.net/alphae/419coal
Nigerian
Fraud Watch:
http://www.nigerianfraudwatch.org
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