Common Scams
Pets
There are many people out there who want to steal your money. Unfortunately, some of them may use our
Classifieds. While most users are good, and honest, a few are not. Some scenarios that should raise a red flag:
- Make unrealistic promises or offers to buy
- Have complicated instructions for
the seller regarding shipping, check cashing, transfer of money, etc.
There have been a number of postings on the Pets & Animals section
from people claiming to have exotic birds, Yorkies, French bulldogs and
other specialty breeds "for adoption". Most of these ads are easy to
spot because they include slick photos and poor grammar.
They
often talk about "this little girl" when referencing the dog, trying
to appeal to the emotion of the buyer. Almost without exception, all
they require is the buyer paying for shipping. We have learned all of
these postings are coming from users who give a location in places like
New York, California and other states far from the Big Country.
In
reality, these ads are posted from overseas ISPs. They do not offer
phone numbers for you to call and talk to anyone directly - requiring
correspondence by email only. And they require that you send shipping
costs so they can send you the "adoptive" pet.
If you agree to this, you'll never see your money again and you certainly won't get the animal.
Technicians
at BigCountyrHomepage.com are finding and removing these postings several
times a day as soon as we become aware of them. But
BUYER BEWARE - - these are definitely scams, meant to tug at your heartstrings.
Scams Targeting SellersBelow is an example email you may receive from a scam
artist.
The concept of this scam is simple, you are being sent a STOLEN check. You cash it, send the balance to the PO Box of the buyer.
When
this is found out by the company whose check the scam artist stole, YOU are responsible for paying back the balance.
"
We
are interested in buying your above mentioned (10" F/7.5 truss Dobsonian with Swayze mirror) at advertised rate of $1,995. Goods to be
picked up from your location for onward shipping to London. Cost and modaliti s of shipping to be born by us. Payment for the purchase is by
check through a debtor in US. The debtor owes us higher than our purchase. He will therefore be sending you a check for $7,000 to cover the
cost of our order, as well as the Shipping costs. On receipt of the check, you will cash and deduct the cost of our order .The balance you
will send as we would instruct you to the Agency that will ship the Goods to us. If this arrangement suites you fine, please send us your
address where to send the check, as well as the name to be on it. Also send us your phone number for easy communication."
Here is another response to a classified that operates the same way.
Hello,
I am GLADYS RICHEST am using this medium to contact you on behalf of client to
purchase this item and it will be send to UK .Would you please email me with
the final asking price of the item for immediate purchase?
[1.] Do you accept a ( Cashier Check / Money Order ) as a mode of payment?
[ 2. ] What is the final asking prize you can go at last?
[3] Will you let our shipping company to come to you house for the pick up of
the item cos we don't want yo! u to worry yourself about the shipping of the
item.
[4 ] You are to send your NAME,ADDRESS,TEL # to mail out the payment today.
[ 5. ] Will you be able to send the excess fund back to the shipping company
via western union money transfer same day you recieve and cash the check for
the arrangement of the home pick up from your house down to my
client.shippment. i'll like this transaction to be kept in utmost trust
Thanks
How To Avoid Internet ScamsHere are ten tips on how to avoid internet scams from The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) -- a partnership
between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar
Crime Center (NW3C).
- Be cautious if dealing with individuals outside
of your own country
- Be wary if the seller only accepts wire
transfers or cash
- Contact the financial institution on which a
cashier's check was drawn to ensure legitimacy.
- Beware when money is required up front for
instructions or products.
- Be watchful of spelling errors, grammar
problems, or inconsistent information.
- Be cautious of emails requiring you to provide
your personal and/or banking information.
- Be suspicious of any unsolicited email
requesting personal information.
- Be cautious if you are asked to ship packages
to an "overseas home office."
- Don't open and never respond to spam as this
will confirm to the sender that it is a "live" email address.
- If it sounds too good to be true, it probably
is.
Visit the Texas Attorney General's website for On-Line Consumer Protection information
click here .
View the Department of Justice news release on fraudulent email
click here .
View the most recent scams and warnings alert issued by the FBI,
click here .
If you have been defrauded or are a third party to a complaint visit the
Federal Internet Crime Complaint Center
click here .
