Help:
Identifying scams
Almost everyone will be the target of a scam at some time, whether it be over the phone, in the mail or online.
Keeping up to date with the more common ones and being wary of offers that sound ‘too good to be true’ will help you avoid becoming a victim.
How do I identify a scam?
Trading Post® has a scam discussion forum dedicated to providing regular updates on scams targeting online traders, including those that have been detected on Trading Post® Online. We encourage you to check it regularly for updates.
Please beware of:
- buyers who ask to you to send items overseas
- sellers who ask you to send funds overseas
- sellers who will not provide a contact details to after you agree to buy the item.
Read protect yourself for some other tips on avoiding scams and other forms of online fraudulent activity.
Latest internet scams
To help our members stay informed about scams operating across online trading websites, we update this page as scams are detected by or reported to Trading Post®. We recommend that you check this page regularly.
For further information on trading safely read about other scams on our Trust & Safety forums
.
Two scams that have been recently reported to Trading Post® are outlined below.
Overseas buyers scam
The buyers operating this scam claim to be overseas customers and request personal and financial information by email. Their intention is to use this information to commit fraud or identity theft.
An example of an email reported to Trading Post® is below.
Example
Dear Tradingpost Member,
Is nice knowing someone like you on tradingpost, I will be happy to purchase your Item which is forseller. I will beglad if you can arrange for the shippment to West Africa {Nigeria},for my friend in music industry, due to my work iwill not have a chanse to receive the item, that is why i want to buyit directly to my friend in nigeria.
I will be responsible for the payment via Bank Draft .Kindly mail meyour full name and address,and your Bank Details, inclding thetotal and shipping cost of the Item to Nigeria via Register Delivery, and plus the insunrace of the item. As soon as i hear from you, I will contact my Financial Institute immediately to proceed with the transfer of the money in to your account.
Awaiting your response.
Regards.
New and used cars scam
Apparently this scam has now extended itself to high-value items as well motorbikes, tractors, computers/laptops, mobile phones and cameras.
Fraudulent sellers are operating this scam across websites that advertise new and used cars. They advertise cars at lower than market value and advise interested buyers that the car is located overseas.
The seller tells the buyer that they want to complete the transaction using a third party service that will hold the funds until the car or item is delivered and inspected by the buyer (eg Trading Post Buyer Protection Program or another finance provider).
If the buyer agrees to these terms, the seller:
requests contact details from the buyer so the transaction can commence, and
describes a Buyer Protection Program from which they will receive an invoice that contains instructions to send the payment via Western Union.
Please be aware:
Trading Post® does not offer a Buyer Protection Program nor do we issue invoices containing payment instructions.
If you have received an email with subject lines similar to the following, these emails have not been sent by Trading Post®:
- Trading Post Purchase Protection - Case ID: 85230210235
- Trading Post Purchase Invoice # 85230210235
- Trading Post Purchase Invoice #BT758858889.
If you suspect a scam
If you suspect a scam, we recommend that you:
- cease all contact with the seller
- do not respond with your personal or financial information
- please report it by emailing our Trading Post Online team . Include copies of the emails and other relevant information. We will check the validity of the seller and ad and advise you accordingly.
Scamwatch
You might also like to consider visiting the Scamwatch website which is provided by the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC).
It provides information on:
- common scams
- how to spot a scam, and
- what action to take if you are the target of a scam.
Simply go to www.scamwatch.gov.au
