The police have issued a warning about online scams where criminals post fake advertisements on social media and online marketplaces to steal money from unsuspecting buyers.
According to police spokesperson Sergeant Connie Moganedi, investigations have revealed that most victims deposit a large sum of cash and buy an advertisement or a picture published on social media platforms, only to discover that the seller does not exist.
“Members of the public are therefore requested to be aware of cybercriminals who target online payment platforms and online marketplaces to steal victims’ money and to ensure the credibility of the seller before they can purchase any advertised item.”
She said while some scammers will just publish an advertisement so that you can pay money directly to them, others will be less obvious.
“They’ll try to trick you into giving them personal information they can use to access your finances. steal your identity. Beware and be safe.”
How to identify a marketplace scam:
While most Marketplace users are trusted buyers and sellers, bad actors can also take advantage of the site to trick people into falling for scams. Here are a few key signs from f-secure you can watch out for that could indicate you are communicating with a scammer:
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Too good to be true: When a deal seems too good to be true, it usually is. Shoppers should be wary of any listing offering an extremely low price for a valuable item. Likewise, sellers should watch out for potential buyers who offer more than the asking price.
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Manufactured urgency: If you receive immediate messages from a buyer or seller urging you to act ASAP, exercise caution before proceeding. Scammers often use the illusion of urgency to trick buyers or sellers into going forward with less-than-legitimate deals.
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Odd payment requests: Scammers often make unusual and very specific payment requests, without flexibility. For example, Facebook recommends that buyers avoid making sales or transactions that require you to pay with gift cards. You also should verify the quality and condition of the item you are buying before exchanging money or personal information of any kind.
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Suspicious photos: If there is only one photo of an item from the site where it was originally purchased and no current photos of the item in its actual condition, be wary that the item may not exist, or may not exist in the quality promised.
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