Avoiding Scams and Fraud
There are many suggestions to avoid scams and fraud. Many sites like SellToMeNOW.com have already come up with some tried and true methods to avoid becoming a victim of leechers. The SellToMeNOW.com transaction is a reverse of the type of transaction scammers generally look for, but it is only a matter of time before someone tries to scam the good folks on SellToMeNOW.com. We have referred to Craigslist.org, who has a lot of experience dealing with scammers, for some suggestions and have come up with some of our own:
- We suggest that you try to keep the transaction local. Deal with local folks face to face - follow this one simple suggestion and you will avoid many of the common scams.
- NEVER WIRE FUNDS VIA WESTERN UNION, MONEYGRAM or any other wire service - anyone who asks you to do so is a scammer.
- FAKE CASHIER CHECKS & MONEY ORDERS ARE COMMON, and BANKS WILL CASH THEM AND THEN HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE when the fake is discovered weeks later.
- At this time, SellToMeNOW.com is not involved in ANY transaction, and does not handle payments, guarantee transactions, provide escrow services, or offer buyer protection or seller certification.
- NEVER GIVE OUT FINANCIAL INFORMATION (bank account number, social security number, PayPal info, etc.)
- AVOID DEALS INVOLVING SHIPPING OR ESCROW SERVICES and know that ONLY A SCAMMER WILL "GUARANTEE" YOUR TRANSACTION.
Who should I notify about fraud or scam attempts?
- 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 a seller has contacted you in an attempt to scam you, please email the details to scams@selltomenow.com. Be sure to include the text of any e-mails or contact attempts in your message.
Recognizing scams
http://www.scambusters.com/ is a comprehensive website that can help you identify and avoid scams.
Examples of Scams
- Someone claims that SellToMeNOW.com will guarantee a transaction, certify a buyer/seller, OR claims that SellToMeNOW.com will handle or provide protection for a payment. NOT TRUE.
- These claims are fraudulent, as SellToMeNOW.com does not have any role in any transaction.
- Scammer will often send an official looking email that appears to come from SellToMeNOW.com, offering a guarantee, certifying a seller, providing payment services -- all such emails are fakes!
- 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 - even Canada - but could be anywhere
- deal often seems too good to be true
- distant person offers to send you a money order and then have you wire money:
- this is ALWAYS a scam - 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
- 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
- foreign company offers you a job receiving payments from customers, then wiring funds
- foreign company may claim it is unable to receive payments from its customers directly
- you are typically offered a percentage of payments received
- this kind of "position" may be posted as a job, or offered to you via email
PLEASE BE AWARE of SCAMS.
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