WITH online classifieds becoming a hive of activity where millions of people trade, online scams and frauds are on the rise as criminals take advantage of unsuspecting buyers and sellers.
Elmarie Twilley, spokesperson for Afrikaans insurance brand, Virseker, says skepticism and common sense are key because without them, you’re almost guaranteed to land in a criminal’s cross-hairs.
“We’ve all heard of people who sold a car, only to find the EFT cancelled once the car was released, arrived at their holiday accommodation to find the real owners still living there, or paid a deposit on the ‘deal of a lifetime’ that turned out to be a scam of the same proportions,” says Twilley
However, according to Captain PN Naaidoo, communications officer at Berea SAPS, no complaints have been received recently from people who have fallen victim to scamsters.
“We constantly make the public aware of scams that are happening. They must not part with their money if they are unsure,” said Naidoo.
Virseker offers the following tips when your selling and buying:
- Ensure your ad or conversation with a potential buyer excludes particulars that they could use to trace your physical address before you’ve screened them.
- Don’t share details like your vehicle’s registration number or VIN – this could be used for identity theft.
- Avoid buyers who insist on using global money transfer services like Moneygram or Western Union.
- Report suspicious buyers to the respective site’s administrators.
- Rule number 1: if a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.
- Don’t take cash with you the first time that you meet a seller. After you’ve verified that it’s a legitimate deal, you can draw the money from a nearby ATM.
In conclusion, Twilley said, “Claims for fraud through classifieds, online or otherwise, are assessed on individual merit and there is no guarantee of payout – especially if you were negligent. Clichéd as it may be, the best rule of thumb is to always rather be safe than sorry”
