Beware a new online shopping scam

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 06/07/2022 (1278 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

There’s considerable risk when it comes to peer-to-peer selling on sites like Facebook Marketplace or Kijiji. Many of us know that, acknowledge it, and take necessary precautions to avoid the inherent danger that comes with meeting and making a deal with a complete stranger. Meet them in the daylight? Check. Bring along a friend? Check. Use a payment app to ensure you have the money before they drive away with your product? Check.

You may have checked every item on the safety list, and still become a victim of fraud. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is tracking a new scam that is catching even the savvy online traders.

Here’s how it works — you post something on Facebook Marketplace. A buyer agrees to purchase it and sends over the money. You receive confirmation from the payment app (in this case, Zelle) that the money is on its way to you, and was sent from the purchaser’s business account. You must upgrade your account to business to receive it. The buyer agrees to pay for your upgrade in order to make the transaction work. They send you screenshots proving the money has been sent and deducted from their account.

Shortly after the deal, the “buyer” becomes persistent that you must pay them back for the business account upgrade. If it’s a big purchase, you may think it’s easier to give in than deal with the complaints, especially since you’ve made a good deal and will still come out on top.

But then your money never comes.

The whole transaction was phony. A scammer on the other end sent fake emails from a realistic-looking payment app email address to set up the whole thing. The screenshots were fake, and now you’ve lost your item, your “business upgrade” money, and your peace of mind.

Falling victim to scammers is easier than it has ever been, as evidenced by this latest online marketplace fraud.

The BBB wants to help keep you safe by offering the following advice: do not trust people who are willing to overpay for the product. Triple-check the email addresses involved in the transaction. Scammers have gotten extremely sophisticated at mimicking real companies. An email may look real, so it’s always important to click on the sender’s full address and cross reference it with the addresses the actual company uses.

It also never hurts to double check any payment app policies the purchasers claim are in effect. And if you do find yourself being set up, report the scam to Facebook Marketplace to help others avoid the danger.

For more information, advice and or to track local scams in your area, visit bbb.org/Manitoba