Be Aware of Scams

It is the unfortunate truth that there are people who use sites such as this one, posing as both buyers and sellers who are trying to run scams.

As a general rule, always be cautious and use common sense with any financial transaction.

Buyers

DO:

Do research into the item you are buying. This can help you see any inconsistencies in the seller's ad.

Ask questions. Ask for more details or photos of the item. Check they are consistent with other information you have about the item.

DO NOT:

Send money out of state. Most people selling in areas a long ways away from them are scams.

Use a cashier's check, money order, or wire transfer (Western Union and others) to pay for items. These payments are untraceable, non-refundable and a favorite of scammers.

Trust deals which are "too good to be true". They frequently are.

Sellers

DO:

Be wary of non-local buyers. Even if your item is a really good deal, ask yourself if someone in a different state would really be better off paying for shipping on your item rather than just finding a similar deal locally.

DO NOT:

Accept cashier's checks or money orders as payment without waiting for them to fully clear in your account (28 days). Many scammers use fake cashier's checks and some banks will tell you the money is available to you but later remove that money when they find the check to be forged.

Accept payment for more than the agreed amount and then "refund" the difference. This is a very common scam.

Refund the buyer's payment without waiting for their payment to clear. This is a very common scam.

For further information, try the American Banker's Association Consumer Tips, the FBI E-Scams Warnings, or do a Google Search for "Cashier Check Fraud" or "Escrow Fraud".