Payment Scams

Purchasing a product or a service from a scammer

Description

A payment scam involves a fraudster tricking a victim into sending money or cryptocurrency under false pretenses. These scams can take various forms, such as posing as a legitimate business or authority, offering fake investment opportunities, or using emotional manipulation, like in romance scams. The scammer often pressures the victim to make the payment urgently, providing fraudulent account details or requesting payment in hard-to-trace forms like cryptocurrency.

Individual Product or Service Purchases

If a seller on a site like Craigslist or eBay specifically requests Bitcoin or cryptocurrency as payment, that can be a good indicator to be extremely cautious.

Never send Bitcoin to an online seller before you have received the goods or services for which you are paying. Because of the anonymity and irreversibility of the transaction, the fraudulent seller may steal your funds with little to no recourse.

eBay Motors

This pertains to the potential sale of vehicles from one person to the next. This eBay scam is fairly common, and more information can be found here: eBay safety.

Scammers on Craigslist, Upwork, and other similar sites may request that a transaction be processed through “eBay,” and then send an email that appears to be from eBay, requesting cryptocurrency as payment. Make no payment unless it is made through the official eBay payment portal.

If you have any doubts that you are a victim of eBay seller fraud, confirm your transaction and accounts with eBay directly before proceeding with any purchase.

Short Term Rentals

This includes sites such as AirBnB, Homeaway, and any other short-term rentals of property or vehicles.

Customers will be asked to pay scammers directly via Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency rather than through the payment portals on the official company website. Scammers may also claim that they are not close to the property and that your initial payment in Bitcoin is proof that you are interested in it.

These sites do not accept Bitcoin or cryptocurrency, and all payments to renters must be made through the official company’s online payment portal. Before completing any rental or purchase, always contact the company’s support line directly if you have any questions or concerns.

Red Flags

  • Urgency and Pressure: The scammer insists that you must pay immediately to avoid serious consequences or to secure an offer, giving you no time to think or verify details.
  • Unusual Payment Methods: Requests for payment in gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers are red flags, as these are difficult to trace and often irreversible.
  • Unsolicited Contact: Receiving unexpected requests for payment from someone you don’t know or from a familiar entity reaching out in an unusual way (e.g., email or text).
  • Too Good to Be True Offers: Promises of high returns, guaranteed income, or significant discounts often indicate a scam.
  • Spelling and Grammar Mistakes: Professional organizations typically avoid these errors in their communications, so poorly written messages can be a sign of fraud.
  • Suspicious Sender Details: The sender's email or phone number may not match the official contact information of the company or organization they claim to represent.
  • Requests for Sensitive Information: Scammers may ask for personal or financial details, like bank account information, PINs, or social security numbers.

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