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Security > Internet
buying scam |
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Internet Buying Scam |
By mySeniorSite Staff
The RCMP’s Economic Crime Unit is seeing an increase in
reports of a particular fraud that is becoming more
prevalent in internet based sales. Essentially all
persons trying to sell items over the internet (ie.
Craig’s List, EBAY etc) should take note:
Here are some warning signs commonly seen in this scam.
The victim who is selling an item on the internet is
contacted by someone outside of the country, usually
saying they are from England or other overseas location.
The suspect sends a cheque to the victim for the
goods/service, but substantially overpays. The suspect
will ask the victim to send the difference back to them,
usually by wire transfer or via a similar method
available at “cheque cashing” stores, that is not easily
traceable. Weeks later the victim's bank calls them to
notify that the original cheque was a counterfeit.
The victim is then on the hook for the entire amount.
There is also another slight variation on this scam:
The victim is contacted by e-mail, usually because they
are selling something or looking for work. The suspect
"hires" them to be a "payment agent". The victim is sent
large cheque from a "client" company. The victim
deposits the cheques into their own account. After the
bank hold is released (about 5 days)the victim follows
instructions and wires the money out of the country. The
victim keeps 5 to 10% of the cheque’s value, for
payment. Later on the bank realizes the cheques are
bogus and victim is on the hook, again.
In a recent example from North Vancouver, the victim
cashed two cheques for $124,000 and wired the money to
both South Korea and Hong Kong. Now the bank is pursuing
them for the full amount.
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