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 completing the transaction.
Examples of Online Scams:
Someone claims that MyCollectablesClassifieds.com will guarantee a transaction, certify a buyer/seller, or claims that MyCollectablesClassifieds.com will handle or provide protection for a payment.
- These claims are fraudulent because MyCollectablesClassifieds.com is not a party to any transaction.
- Scammer will often send an official looking email that appears to come from MyCollectablesClassifieds.com, offering a guarantee, certifying a seller, providing payment services – all such emails are fakes! MyCollectablesClassifieds.com does not send out emails representing a buyer or seller.
Distant person offers a genuine-looking (but fake) cashier’s check:
- You receive an email offering to buy your item, sight unseen.
- Cashier’s check is offered for your sale item, as a deposit for an apartment, or for your services.
- 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 3rd party (shipping agent, business associate owing buyer money, etc).
Someone requests wire service payment via Western Union or MoneyGram:
- Scam “bait” items would include high value collectable items, such as, gems, coins, stamps.
- Often claim that an MTCN or confirmation code is needed before he can withdraw your money – this is FALSE, once you’ve wired money, it is GONE.
- Common countries currently include: Nigeria, Romania, Ukraine, Spain, Italy, Netherlands United Kingdom, – but could be anywhere.
- Deal seems too good to be true, price is too low.
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, address, etc for printing on the fake check.
- Deal seems too good to be true.
Distant seller suggests use of an online escrow service.
- Most online escrow sites are FRAUDULENT, operated by scammers
- For more info, do a google search on “fake escrow” or “escrow fraud“
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
- Deal often sounds too good to be true
Foreign company offers you a job receiving payments from customers, then wiring funds
- 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
Who should I notify about fraud or scam attempts?
U.S. Federal
- Internet Fraud Complaint Center
- FTC Video: How to report scams to the FTC
- FTC online complaint form
- FTC toll free hotline: 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357)
- Consumer Sentinel/Military (for reports from services members or their families)
- SIIA Software and Content Piracy reporting
Canada
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre or 888-495-8501 (toll-free)
- RCMP
If you are defrauded by someone you’ve met in person, contact your local police department.
If you suspect that a MyCollectablesClassifieds.com listing may be part of a scam, please email us the details