Have you ever tried selling a car to someone who is prepared to buy it sight unseen?

NSW Fair Trading Minister Anthony Roberts said consumers should apply a very healthy dose of cynicism when buying and selling through classifieds ads.

One NSW consumer was recently asked to hand over his ‘for sale’ vehicle following receipt of a fraudulent email, allegedly from PayPal.

‘‘This is standard scam practice,’’ the MInister said.

‘‘The permutations vary but the end result is always the same – if people fall for the scam – loss of money, loss of the goods and loss of face.

‘‘Many people are scam savvy but invariably unsuspecting people fall victim.

‘‘If someone offers to buy a car or any other big ticket item from you without wanting to inspect it, you should be suspicious.’’

Classifieds scams can target both buyers and sellers

For buyers:

Buyers should beware of scammers who pose as genuine sellers and post fake ads on both online classifieds websites and in print classifieds.

The ad can be for anything from rental properties, to pets, used cars, boats, bikes, caravans, horses and saddles.

It could even include pictures and other details – often copied from a genuine seller‘s ad. In order to lure a number of victims in a hurry, the scammer advertises the item at a low price, often much lower than comparable items advertised on the same site.

When you show interest in the item, the scammer may claim that they are travelling or have moved overseas and that an agent will deliver the goods following receipt of payment.

Following payment you may receive a fake email receipt claiming to be from the website‘s secure payment provider, however, once you send money, you won‘t receive the goods and will not be able to contact the seller.

In the case of rental properties, the scammer will pose as a property owner or landlord and post a fake copy of a genuine rental property advertisement.

When you show interest, the scammer will make excuses as to why you cannot inspect the property, often claiming that they are currently overseas.

If you are still interested, they will ask for bond, rent payments or deposits in advance. You will never receive the keys to the property and the scammer will disappear with your money.

If you have handed over copies of personal identification documents, or other personal information, these could be used to commit identity fraud.

For sellers:

Scammers posing as genuine buyers also target consumers who sell goods through print and online classifieds websites.

The approaches used by scammers vary, but often they will contact you wanting to buy your goods, but will make up stories such as needing your help to pay an agent or third party for upfront costs like transportation or insurance.

The scammer will promise you reimbursement for these costs, however once you have paid, there is no reimbursement and it is often too late to recover the money and/or contact the ‘buyer’.

Another variation is when the scammer poses as a buyer and makes you a generous offer for the item you are selling. If you accept the offer, the scammer then sends you a cheque, but the cheque is for more money than the agreed sale price.

The scammer will invent an excuse for the overpayment, for example to cover the fees of an agent or extra shipping costs. The scammer might just say that it was a mistake.

The scammer will then ask you to refund the excess amount – usually through an online banking transfer or a wire transfer. The scammer is hoping that you will do this before you discover that their cheque has bounced.

You will have lost the money you gave the scammer and if you have already sent the item you were selling, you will lose it as well.

The Minister said consumers should apply the maxim that if something seems too be good to be true, it probably is.

‘‘Beware of products, services or rental properties advertised at very low prices, often lower than comparable items advertised on the same and other websites,’’ he said.

‘‘Don‘t trust the legitimacy of an ad just because it appears in a reputable newspaper or classifieds website – scammers post fake ads in these too.

‘‘Where possible, avoid any arrangement with a stranger that asks for up-front payment via money order, wire transfer or international funds transfer. It is rare to recover money sent this way.’’

‘‘Do an internet search using the exact wording in the ad – many well-known scams can be found this way.’’

Go to www.scamwatch.gov.au or call 1300 795 995 for further information.

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