Am I Being Scammed? 7 Red Flags To Watch Out For (Part 2)
Click here to read part 1 of this article.
5. Downpayment before meetup. Some scammers are willing to settle for less than what the fraudulent item costs. They ask for a down payment from the buyer and offers to meetup to complete the transaction. This gives a buyer some confidence in the seller since the idea of meeting up doesn’t seem to deter the seller (see Tip# 2).
Why? Why do you need to send a down payment of you’re going to meet anyway? This kind of set up is questionable in many cases. However, I would say that a down payment is reasonable if the item you are buying is big and bulky like a washing machine, or if the item is a personalized one. In which case, the seller just wants to cover some of his overhead expenses because there is also a flight risk on the buyer’s side.
6. No track record or poor feedback. Many online classified ads sites have a feedback or point system. Stand alone sites have their own testimonial page. Be sure to check that page first before pushing through with the purchase. Carefully read the seller’s feedback and make sure that those were not fabricated or manipulated. To do this, make sure that the feedbacks came from buyers with good rating as well.
Why? Scammers usually create new account each time they perform a scam. This gives them a blank slate – since previous accounts may have already been reported by a previous victim. However, there are also legit sellers who are just starting out, so you may still give them the benefit of the doubt.
7. No physical address. Check the seller’s profile for his/her physical address. Standalone sites should also have a physical office address posted in their profile or ‘about’ page. A legit business should have this publicly available, together with means to contact them (phone, email skype).
Why? A seller with an ugly intention would not post an address for fear of getting traced after a fraudulent activity. A fake address may be present so be wary of dealing with a seller or a website that looks unprofessional.
In case any of these 7 red flags come up particularly in free ads sites, I suggest that you cancel the deal and just look for another seller. It’s better to be on the safe side than risk wasting your hard-earned money.
By following these tips, you can avoid getting victimized by online scammers. Share this page to your family and friends. Let us be vigilant and help keep our online marketplace safe.
