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DO NOT GET SCAMMED!
It's hard to accept, but there are scammers out there who will try to take your money. That's one of the reasons we created AdSpaceDepot Classifieds Ad NetWork. The "Deal Local" concept of AdSpaceDepot Classifieds Ad NetWork is designed to protect you from scammers.
There is no need to panic or fear online classifieds. Just handle the transaction with the same common sense you would apply to selling offline. You would expect your buyer to come and inspect the item, possibly negotiate on price, and if a sale is agreed upon, they will hand you CASH.
If you get an email that offers to send you a check or money order for your item without looking at it, asks you to cash the check and send the balance back to them or to a shipping company, you can be 100% sure it is a scammer. Don't think twice about it. Just ignore the email.
DEAL LOCAL AND FACE-TO-FACE ONLY! Most (but not all) scammers don't want to meet you in person. In fact, most scammers are thousand of miles away in another country. If the buyer can't meet you in person they are probably a scammer. Even if a buyer meets you in person it is important to follow these rules.
ACCEPT CASH ONLY! If the amount is large, offer to go to the bank with the buyer. YOU can then have the cash converted to a cashiers check or money order if you desire.
DO NOT ACCEPT CASHIERS CHECKS! Especially beware if it is for more than the purchase price!
DO NOT ACCEPT MONEY ORDERS! Especially beware if it is for more than the purchase price!
DO NOT ACCEPT TRAVELERS CHECKS! Especially beware if it is for more than the purchase price! If you receive a check, cashiers check, money order or travelers check for more than the asking price,
DO NOT RETURN "OVERAGES"! YOUR MONEY WILL BE GONE!
DO NOT SEND ANY MONEY by Western Union, or any wire service! There is NO insurance or other protection on wire transfers. Your money will be gone!
DO NOT USE AN ESCROW SERVICE unless it is operated by your own credit card provider! Virtually all escrow services are scams to take your money.
Some Example Scam Emails
Here are just a few of the messages you may
receive from scammers. They are all very much alike. Most scam email has the
following elements:
1. They are written in very poor
English. There are many immigrants here from various countries, so this
alone should not be a factor, but it should alert you to look for other signs of
a scam.
2. They offer to buy your item without seeing
it.
3. They offer a Cashier's Check or Money Order for payment
4.
They have arranged or will arrange for shipping of your item, or have a
"shipping agent."
5. The response is very generic. They do not
specifically mention what your item is or they mention the item at the beginning and then refer to it generically as "the item" or "your item" rather than "the TV" or "your car".
Please note that we are now able to track where many of these attacks are coming from and are blocking their access to this site. Before long we hope to eliminate most, if not all such scam communications.
EXAMPLE 1
Hello
seller, I saw your advert while surfing via the internet and am willing and
interested to buy it.Get back to me via my email if it is still available for
sale.Are you the owner? State its condition,send its recent pictures if
available.What is your last offer?I look forward to read from you soonest Warm
regards.
EXAMPLE
2:
Hello Seller,
Complement to you over there.. I recently placed a look on your item and am
interested in immedaite purchase of it.. Moreso, before i could proceed with
this transaction, i like to ask you some questions!
1, Will you be
honest to me towards this transaction?
2, Do you accept Cashier Cheque/Money Order
as a mode of payment?
3, Does the item is in good condition?
4,
Can you be able to get the Check Cashed on the same day you receive it?
So i will like you to kindly get back to me with the following
answer of this aboved question and your contact information where the Check will
be issue to with the total final asking price of the item, so that i can prepare
for your payment sas soon as possible.
Best Regards.
Kelly
Ronard.
EXAMPLE 3
Hello Seller,
I am
intrested in your listed item on the website.. I will like to know if the item
is still available, Is it in good condition. My mode of
payment is via check
,
Kindly get back to me with information required to issue out the check as soon
as possible. I wait for ur reponse.
Sharon..
EXAMPLE 4 (Some are less
obvious. This seems simple enough, yet contains poor English. You may also
notice that they are seeking the "last offer" as if this was an auction. They
also ask to forward a picture on an ad that has a photo.)
Hello
i just want to know your last offer for this product and also if still available
for sale...I will like you to forward some pic with
details if still avaible...
Regards,
AdSpaceDepot Classifieds Ad NetWork
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