We have been getting a spate of reports and comments about potential scam replies to 'wanted' adverts.
All of these run along the same lines of someone replying saying either they have what people are looking for, or they know someone who does. The fundamentals are always the same. Payment will be asked for in advance, pictures will be provided and then the 'item' will mysteriously vanish. Together with the seller and your money.
Please do your homework and take sensible precautions. If you don't know the seller, then make sure the item can be collected and funds exchanged at that time. Escrow methods and the like are often not worth the paper they're (not) written on, as the 'seller' is always able to provide what appears proof of posting, ownership, etc., so your money is unrecoverable.
The majority of these scams are always for an item that is supposedly to be shipped from overseas, or at least far enough away for it to be unrealistic to collect. Most of them are obvious, but some are relatively sophisticated.
It's really simple. If you cannot be 100% certain that the item and the seller are genuine, then walk away. No matter how much you want the item, what you don't want is a gap on your rack where it ought to have gone, and a similar gap in your bank account.
All of these run along the same lines of someone replying saying either they have what people are looking for, or they know someone who does. The fundamentals are always the same. Payment will be asked for in advance, pictures will be provided and then the 'item' will mysteriously vanish. Together with the seller and your money.
Please do your homework and take sensible precautions. If you don't know the seller, then make sure the item can be collected and funds exchanged at that time. Escrow methods and the like are often not worth the paper they're (not) written on, as the 'seller' is always able to provide what appears proof of posting, ownership, etc., so your money is unrecoverable.
The majority of these scams are always for an item that is supposedly to be shipped from overseas, or at least far enough away for it to be unrealistic to collect. Most of them are obvious, but some are relatively sophisticated.
It's really simple. If you cannot be 100% certain that the item and the seller are genuine, then walk away. No matter how much you want the item, what you don't want is a gap on your rack where it ought to have gone, and a similar gap in your bank account.
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