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Avoiding scams and fraud
You can sidestep would-be scammers by following these common-sense rules:
- Never wire funds via Western Union, Moneygram or any other wire service - anyone who asks you to do so is a scammer.
- Fake cashier checks and money orders are common. Banks will cash them and then hold you financially responsible when the fake is discovered weeks later.
- Northwest Marketplace is not involved in any transaction, does not handle payments, guarantee transactions, provide escrow services, or offer "buyer protection" or "seller certification." Any suggestion by a seller to the contrary should be considered a warning sign.
- Never, ever give out financial information (bank account number, social security number, eBay/PayPal info, etc.)
- Avoid deals involving shipping or escrow services and know that only a scammer will "guarantee" your transaction.
Who should I notify about fraud or scam attempts?
- FTC toll free hotline: 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357)
- FTC online complaint form (www.ftc.gov)
- Canadian PhoneBusters hotline: 888-495-8501
- Internet Fraud Complaint Center (www.ic3.gov/)
- Non-emergency number for your local police department.
If you suspect that an item posted for sale on Northwest Marketplace may be part of a scam, please email the details to "abuse@nwmarketplace.com". Be sure to include the URL (or eight-digit post ID number) in your message.
Tips for recognizing scams
Most scams involve one or more of the following:
- Inquiry from someone far away, often in another country
- Western Union, Money Gram, cashier's check, money order, shipping, escrow service, or a "guarantee"
- Inability or refusal to meet face-to-face before consumating transaction
Examples of Scams
1. Someone claims that Northwest Marketplace will guarantee a transaction, certify a buyer/seller, OR claims that Northwest Marketplace will handle or provide protection for a payment
- These claims are fraudulent, as Northwest Marketplace does not have any role in any transaction.
- Scammer will often send an official looking email that appears to come from Northwest Marketplace, offering a guarantee, certifying a seller, providing payment services -- all such emails are fakes!
2. A distant person offers a genuine-looking (but fake) cashier's check
- You receive an email (examples below) offering to buy your item, or rent your apartment, sight unseen.
- A cashier's check is offered for your sale item, as a deposit for an apartment, or for just about anything else of value.
- The value of cashier's check often far exceeds your item - scammer offers to "trust" you, and asks you to wire the balance via money transfer service.
- Banks will often cash these fake checks and then hold you responsible when the check fails to clear, including criminal prosecution in some cases!
- Scam often involves a third party, such as a shipping agent or a business associate owing buyer money.
3. Someone requests wire service payment via Western Union or MoneyGram:
- Often claim that an MTCN or confirmation code is needed before he can withdraw your money - this is false. Once you have wired money, it is gone.
- Scam "bait" items include laptops, plasma TVs, cell phones, tickets - but could be almost anything.
- Common countries currently include: Nigeria, Romania, Ukraine, Spain, UK, Italy, Netherlands - but could be anywhere.
- The deal seems too good to be true.
4. A distant person offers to send you a money order and then have you wire money:
- This is always a scam, in our experience - the cashier's check is fake.
- Sometimes accompanies an offer of merchandise, sometimes not.
- Scammer often asks for your name and address information for printing on the fake check.
- The deal seems too good to be true.
5. A distant seller suggests use of an online escrow service.
- Most online escrow sites are fraudulent and operated by scammers.
- For more info, do a Google search on "fake escrow" or "escrow fraud.”
6. A distant seller asks for a partial payment upfront, after which he will ship goods
- He says he trusts you with the partial payment.
- He may say he has already shipped the goods.
- The deal seems too good to be true.
7. A foreign company offers you a job receiving payments from customers, then wiring funds.
- The foreign company may claim it is unable to receive payments from its customers directly.
- You are typically offered a percentage of payments received.
- This kind of "position" may be posted as a job, or offered to you via email.
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