Better Business Bureau serving Canton Region and Greater West Virginia offers tips and advice for consumers to avoid fraudulent practices.
Selling items on an online marketplace like Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace can be an easy way to make extra money and get rid of things you don’t need.However, scammers are using a clever trick to target sellers and set up a phone number in their name.
You list an item and get an immediate response from a potential buyer. The “buyer” claims to be very interested in your item, but they want to make sure you are legitimate first. The scammer asks for your phone number, so they can text you a verification code. They instruct you to reply with the 6-digit code on the platform where your item is listed.
Sounds reasonable, right? However, here’s what’s really happening.The scammer is setting up a Google Voice number linked to your phone number.If you send the verification code, the scammer will be able to complete the account set up. Then, the scammer can then use that phone number to conceal their identity. Or, if a scammer gets your Google Voice verification codeandother information about you, they can pretend to be you and open new accounts in your name.
One seller toldBBB Scam Trackerabout their experience listing and item on Facebook Marketplace and getting a response from an interested buyer. “He asked if he could call/text me. Then, I agreed and he said, ‘Ok first I want to verify you. If you’re real I will trust and meet you. Can I send the verification code to your phone number?’” At that, the seller got suspicious and asked if it was a scam. He didn’t hear from the man again.
How to avoid marketplace scams
Guard your personal information. You don’t need to give someone your phone number to make a sale on an online marketplace. Be sure you know who you are speaking with before you share it. Never give out your phone number in public social media posts.
Watch out for red flags. Avoid making transactions with people who offer you deals that sound too good to be true (i.e. overpaying for an item you listed for sale) or people who pressure you to make a deal quickly.
Understand marketplace policies. Most online marketplaces encourage you NOT to take transactions outside of the platform. If someone asks you to carry out transactions elsewhere, be wary. Understand how the platform you use verifies both sellers and buyers and stick to their guidelines when selling and buying items.
For more information
Get more tips by reading theBBB Tip: Selling used items online at www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/22572-selling-used-items-online. If you’ve spotted ascam(whether or not you’ve lost money), report it to BBB.org/ScamTracker. Your report can help others avoid falling victim to scams. Find more information about scams and how to avoid them atBBB.org/AvoidScams.
For BBB information
Visit bbb.org/canton or call 330-454-9401 to look up a business, file a complaint, write a customer review, read tips, find our events, follow us on social media, and more!
Potential buyers who ask for personal information like your email address or phone number or request the funds quickly are most likely scammers. Be sure to review the account of any potential buyers.
Avoid adding any personal information in the posting, including your name, real phone number or real email address. Always use the generated email address on your Craigslist posts. This creates a random email address, so the poster doesn't have your real email on file.
For your protection, don't share any personal information in messages with buyers or sellers. This includes your phone number, email address, home address, or OfferUp account password.
Always follow Facebook Marketplace's rules, and ensure you only use the app to communicate. You want to keep your phone number private because then someone could potentially steal your identity or use your phone number to create a Google Voice number. This can also be used to scam other people.
Savvy scammers know that by hijacking your mobile phone number they can assume your identity, intercept security protocols sent to your phone, and gain access to your financial and social media accounts.
Scammers are now responding to ads but tricking sellers into thinking they are busy at work and can't talk until later. Instead of leaving you with a contact number, they request you enter your phone number into a website that “stores information” for them. Don't fall for it!
By writing it out people avoid the system testing to restrict sharing. It's obviously impolite to call a number in response to a craigslist ad too late in the evening, but I think it's accepted that one can email anytime.
While a work phone number builds trust, make sure that you don't share your personal mobile number. If you put your personal number on your business website, you might get calls at all hours, including during holidays or when you're with your family.
What to do if a scammer has your phone number. If the worst happens and a scammer gains access to your phone number, you still have options: Contact your service provider immediately and explain the situation. If need be, ask them to put a temporary freeze on your line so that scammers can't use your number.
I would never do it today even if it was allowed. One of the more common recent scams is for fraudulent buyers to extract your phone number (which 9 times out 10 these days is a mobile number) so that they can send you fake messages that claim you have been paid.
If you have encountered illegal activity or a crime, we strongly recommend contacting local authorities. The police will need relevant details from you such as the user profile of the individual you were in contact with on OfferUp.
Verifying buyer information can be done by searching their name, email, phone number, or address on Google or social media platforms. This can help you confirm their identity or spot any red flags.
If you suspect you're dealing with a catfish, use an online reverse image search to find out if the person's photos are on anyone else's online profiles. You can also search their messages online. Take any particularly unique or romantic lines they've written to you and search to see if they pop up anywhere else.
To help protect your safety, do not share personal information – like your email or phone number – with people you do not know. Instead, communicate through Messenger about potential Marketplace transactions.
“They reach out to you about what you're selling, and then they ask you for your phone number.” Wetzel says the scammer will then say they're going to send you a six-digit code, so you can prove to them, you're a real seller. The BBB shared these examples of scam messages.
Don't share personal information such as your home address. Create a meeting plan and share it with a trusted friend or family member. You can tap Send Plan in Messenger to send your meeting plan to someone in your Facebook Friends list so that they know the location, time and date of when you're planning to meet.
Introduction: My name is Melvina Ondricka, I am a helpful, fancy, friendly, innocent, outstanding, courageous, thoughtful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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