Hi all,
As I know many are aware, scams are a reality when it comes to online classified services. Though systems are in place and efforts made to make life as hard as possible on those with ill intent, scams can and do take place on both the buyer and seller side of the equation from those that do not meet in person as part of an exchange to view what is being purchased.
From time to time I will make a point of making a new post to remind of the ongoing awareness that should be in place, in particular around the need to not under any circumstance send any form of payment or personal information when not seeing an item with your own two eyes when buying and not meeting and seeing the buyer in person with your own two eyes as a seller.
When there’s a new wrinkle to scams I especially like to pass that information along.
Recently I’ve been made aware of a couple situations where scammers have used Manitoba phone numbers as part of their correspondence.. one from Winnipeg, another from just outside of Winnipeg. In one case according to a report shared with me, a cheque sent from Winnipeg even had a Winnipeg address and bank on it.
In the end it still comes down to the fact that one should not under any circumstance be sending any form of money or personal information simply based on online or phone correspondence. This goes for if you are a seller and someone offers to send money or info without first seeing the item (doubly so if they’re offering to send more than your asking price). This also goes for if you are a buyer and someone is asking for a deposit or for your personal information or is asking you to click on a link without your having first met and seen the item for yourself.
In all of this, meeting in person carries with it extra caution in the Covid-19 era. When doing so one should be maintaining physical distancing (6 feet/2 metres) as much as possible and to wear a mask in situations where that distancing is not reasonable. If you don’t feel it’s going to be possible to do so, please especially during this ‘orange’ or ‘restricted’ state that Prairie Mountain Health is in consider whether or not it is critical for you to partake in the transaction at this time.
If you do happen to come across a suspected scam ad, please let me know by clicking on the report link (or flag icon) on that ad… or you can contact me any time through https://ebrandon.ca/contact.aspx
If you receive a reply that you believe may be an online scam please also be in touch through the same link. The more information I have from users the better position I’m in to make life difficult on those with less than honourable intent.
If you ever have any questions please also don't hesitate to be in touch through the same link.
Thanks to all who continue to make the classifieds such a unique, locally-operated classified marketplace for Southwestern Manitoba. This i:ncludes local buyers and sellers, this includes those who help by reporting questionable activity and this i:ncludes folks who make sure that family and friends are aware of patterns seen in typical online scams.
Thanks for reading!