Karen Collier
Herald Sun
April 17, 2012
SNEAKY online shopping con artists are using a charm offensive to swindle millions of dollars from victims worldwide.
The criminals build trust through personal emails, text messages and phone calls and are untraceable after ripping off unsuspecting targets.
A Melbourne teacher has revealed how he was recently cheated out of almost $13,000 while selling a diamond engagement ring on an online auction site.
The crestfallen man said a bogus buyer from the UK agreed to pay $8900 for the ring and established a friendly rapport through several email and phone chats in the early hours of the morning.
He was emailed false PayPal processing documents to persuade him to send the ring, and was then tricked into sending a $4000 money wire transfer to unlock the ring payment.
A recent Australian Competition and Consumer Commission report revealed consumers and small businesses lost more than $85 million last year to fraud.
Consumer Affairs Victoria director Dr Claire Noone warned people were exposed when they dealt outside reputable website payment systems.
“This incident is a type of online shopping scam, which usually involve scammers posing as an interested buyer of a product and then making excuses for delays in transferring their payment,” she said.
“The scammer will then ask their victims to wire them money to pay for fees or taxes in order to release the payment.”
Other reports to CAV include:
A MAN who lost $1700 after paying for an iPad and iPhone, advertised on a trading post website, directly into a fraud’s bank account.
A RENTER who posted an ad on an accommodation-seeking website was emailed by a woman offering an East Melbourne apartment for $150 a week while she was away on business in London.
She emailed photos and asked for a $1200 for the bond and first month’s rent, which was paid by Western Union money wire.
AVOIDING ONLINE AUCTION SCAMS
IF the buyer or seller has a very poor feedback rating, this usually reflects that other users have had poor transaction experiences with that person in the past.
NEVER agree to complete a transaction using money wire or cash, even if offered a greater sum, as you will no longer be protected by the auction website should a payment dispute arise.
ONLY pay for goods or accept payments using secure payment systems. Look for an unbroken key or lock at the bottom of the browser window, and/or a web address beginning with ‘https’
DO not use the online auction site if adequate information about privacy, terms and conditions of use, dispute resolution or contact details is not readily provided
IF you are selling an item, do not mail the item to the buyer until you have received payment and are certain that the funds have arrived in your account
IF you wish to dispute a transaction, contact the seller first and see if the issue can be resolved without intervention, however do not transfer any further funds. If you cannot resolve a problem directly with the seller, contact the auction website for assistance
IF you have paid by credit card for goods that have not been received, you may be eligible to receive a chargeback from your bank
REPORT scams to Consumer Affairs Victoria at 1300 55 81 81.
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