Common Scams

How to Spot a Scam

Although rare, scams occur in every category. If a deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If the grammar and spelling are poor and no contact information is listed, you should also proceed with caution and pay extra attention.

Common Scams

Fake Vehicles

• It could affect any category from cars, motorcycles, through boats and powersports vehicles, to RVs or tractors.
• Usually, they copy real ads for real vehicles and decrease the price.
• The seller will claim they had to move or give another excuse for why you can't see the vehicle in person (examples: they moved overseas and can't register the vehicle, the moved for a job, they are in the army or on the "high seas", etc.)
• They will create a sense of urgency and pressure you to decide fast.
• They will ask for money for the vehicle, but will never ship it.
• Sometimes, they might pretend to use a protection program, but they are faking the email addresses and logos of other companies (examples: Oodle "Bill of Sale", Paypal confirmation program, eBay vehicle protection).

Fake Animals

• It could affect any category such as dogs, cats, horses, birds, monkeys -- anything that tends to be expensive and they can trick you with a really good price.
• The seller will claim they had to move or give another excuse for why you can't see the animal in person (examples: moved to Africa for missionary or development work, sold the pet but know someone else who might be selling one somewhere else, sold the pet to someone who moved overseas and now they want to sell it back, etc.).
• hey will ask for shipping money even if the animal was initially listed as free. The animal will never arrive.

Fraudulent Buyers

• They will ask if you would be willing to ship your item, often to overseas. (Examples: it's a gift for someone who is studying or working in Africa, it's for their client, etc.)
• At best, you will ship your item and not receive any money.
• They might send you check for more money than you asked for and ask you to send some amount back under a complicated excuse. (Examples: send money to their "shipping agent", the check was from their "client" and they ask you to send them their cut, they made a mistake). 
• The check is fake and your bank will bounce it in a few weeks.

Work from Home Jobs

• They will give you a work-from-home job.
• They will send you a (fake) check so you can furnish your home office and ask you to send money to various providers for equipment.
• The equipment will never arrive and your bank will bounce the check after a few weeks. Some people have lost $1000s this way.

Fake Rentals

• They will post an ad for an apartment for rent that is very cheap. 
• Usually, they copy legitimate ads for real apartments and decrease the price.
• They will ask you to send them money for deposit and shipment of the keys.

Fraudulent Renters

• They will tell you they really want to rent your apartment, but are overseas or somewhere far. (Examples: models from London, professors from overseas, etc.).
• They will offer to send you a check for rent and deposit as soon as possible, but then make up an excuse and ask you to send them all or some of the money back. (Examples: they changed their mind, they sent too much by mistake, the check was too large because it was from their agency, etc.)
• The check is fake and your bank will bounce it in a few weeks.

Electronics Scams

• Ads for unlocked expensive phones, brand-new brand-name electronics.
• Usually, they will simply take your money and never send the goods.
• This one is harder to tell, but we advise that you only buy electronics in person, or from someone you know. Don't buy from someone who seems to have a lot of different items and is dealing through an email address or chat and doesn't have a professional-looking website. If they have a website, they might be a legitimate seller, but it is not guaranteed. 

Sample Scam Emails

Here are some samples of fraudulent email messages. Remember, these examples are just a fraction of the messages that are used to defraud trusting buyers. Use your judgment while buying and selling online, and don't complete a transaction if you don't feel absolutely safe.