You don’t find out the bills are counterfeit until you try to buy something using the bills or when you deposit the bills in the bank. When the scammer shows up, they pay for your item in crisp, new (but unfortunately counterfeit) bills. The buyer (i.e., scammer) will agree to your price, so you set up a time and place to meet to make the transaction. This scam is a bit tough to foil unless you’re an expert at detecting counterfeit bills. Later on, when the bad check bounces, you’re not only out the “overpayment” and the item you had up for sale, but may also have to pay a bad check fee to your own bank. They will then ask you to simply refund the overpayment in cash. The check is usually for an amount larger than the amount of the sale. The scammer will then send you a bad check instead of paying through the app. They will then send back a malicious link designed to steal your OfferUp login and password, or other information. The bad guy will then come up with an excuse to text you, perhaps claiming they need to send a code to verify that you are a real person. When You’re the Seller Code Verification & Bad Check ScamĪn OfferUp scammer will pose as a buyer for an item that you’re selling and will attempt to get your (the seller’s) phone number. You can anonymously report insurance fraud or vehicle theft by calling toll-free at 800-TEL-NICB (80), texting keyword “fraud” to TIP411 (847411), or by submitting a form on the NICB website. In some cases, buyers have found GPS trackers hidden in the vehicle, as the seller intended to track the vehicle to the buyer’s location and steal the vehicle in order to sell it again. The vehicles are listed quite a bit below market value and are being sold using a fake VPN number and/or a fake title. Used Vehicle Scamsīe on the lookout for used vehicle scams. This allows the bad actor to sell the same item multiple times, while never delivering even one item. The scammer will then ask you, the buyer, to pay via wire transfer, a gift card, or some other method of payment that makes it tough for buyers to get their money back. The scammer then says in the listing to email them about the listed item instead of clicking the Buy button. In each account, the same email address is listed as the contact method. Multiple Postings ScamĪ scammer creates several seller accounts on OfferUp, posting the same listing on each account. Once you send the requested amount, the scammer will block you on the app and never send the item that you supposedly purchased. To make up for the extra shipping charge, they’ll give you the item at a rock-bottom price. The scammer will come up with a reason they must sell the item in a hurry, and they’ll tell you that you’ll need to pay for rushed shipping. The bad actor will pretend to be in a hurry to sell an item. This allows the scammers to drain your bank account, make fraudulent charges on your credit or debit card, or steal your identity. You may also be asked for credit card information. When you attempt to buy the item, you’ll arrive at an online payment form, where there are (supposed) options to pay using a wire transfer, gift card or electronic check. In addition to the malware, the fake OfferUp website will offer fake items on the site to entice you into attempting to purchase these items. Once you (the victim) click on the link to visit the website, the fake website will install malware on your device. The bad actor will then email links to the fake site or will advertise on other websites, social networks and other online locations. Scammers will create a fake website that looks like the actual OfferUp website. When You’re the Buyer Fake OfferUp Websites There are numerous scams that the bad guys will use to try to separate you from your hard-earned cash or items. Types of Offerup Scams You Might Encounter In this article, I tell you about the types of scams you could face on OfferUp, as well as the best ways to avoid being scammed. However, as with any online marketplace, the bad actors of the world will attempt to scam unwitting buyers out of their items or their hard-earned cash. The app offers advantages, like most buyers being near you and the company’s collaboration with local law enforcement to establish safe “Community Meet Up” spots where transactions can take place. OfferUp is a mobile-driven local marketplace similar to eBay, Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace.
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