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Note from the webmaster:
I would like to express that we do not tolerate abuse of our system or any
kind of fraudulent or criminal activity and will immediately bar from our
system any user suspected of such. However in common with all other public
services of this type we cannot possibly prevent all occurrences.
Your best defence is common sense. If a deal doesn't seem right or
something is well below the normal price walk away from it.
Do's and Don'ts:
• We recommend you DO pay by credit card when possible. You then have
some protection from the credit card company in most cases.
• Always meet the buyer/seller and use cash as payment where possible. You
can then see exactly what is being sold and get immediate payment.
• DO NOT pay money direct into someone's bank account or send them a
cheque unless you are prepared to accept the risk that you will never
receive whatever you paid for or it doesn't work, is incomplete or
is not as described.
• DO NOT assume that receiving money via payment systems such as
Paypal etc gives you 100% guarantee of payment. It is not
unknown for them to confirm payment into your account then a day or
two later to retract that saying the payment was fraudulent.
• DO NOT have anything to do with anyone contacting you saying they
are from Nigeria, South Africa, Liberia or any other
African or South
American country who want you to send them your name,
address and bank account details. They also sometimes claim to be from
Holland or
Canada. Beware its a scam!
• DO NOT accept a cheque or money order for more than your asking
price and send the difference to the 'buyer'.
Many people have been contacted from African, European, or
U.S. buyers involving a common scam. Most of these people are
actually based in Nigeria, regardless of where they say they are
located.
A typical Example:
• Let's say your car, boat, campervan etc. is for sale for £3,000.
• The buyer wants to have his friend, business partner, or employee send you
£6,000 because his friend or business partner owes him £3,000.
• You are supposed to cash his cheque for £6,000 and then send the remaining
£3,000 to the buyer, usually by Western Union.
• DO NOT DO THIS! It is a scam. You deposit the cheque and then send
the buyer the extra £3,000. The bank cheque either bounces or was a
forgery and you lose your £3,000. They don't want what you are
selling, just the cash - the goods are never collected.
A similar scam:
• The buyer sends you the cost of your item and the cost of shipping. Later,
they says they have taken care of shipping and ask for you to refund
the shipping cost. They keep your refund and the original
cheque bounces.
• Beware of anyone "representing a client".
• Beware of any buyers from Nigeria, Saudi Arabia or Egypt who want to wire
you money.
• Beware of anyone who does not ask you specific questions about your
vehicle.
Why do they say they want to money sent by Western Union? Because this puts
cash directly into the scammers hands immediately.
If any deal requires you to send the buyer money, it is a scam.
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