A courier picks up my goods or scams on online bazaars

Fake courier company

If you’ve ever sold on an online marketplace (e.g. Facebook Marketplace, Sbazar or Bazoš), you’ve probably experienced this scam first-hand. The way it works is that as soon as you post an item for sale (for example, a used sofa), you get a call from a serious bidder within moments. He or she wants to buy the seat, but unfortunately doesn’t have time to come and get it in person. But no matter, he sends a courier to pick it up. The courier is always a well-known company, such as DPD. However, you have to pay the courier, with the understanding that the seller will reimburse you for the transport afterwards.

The buyer will ask you for an email address for the courier service. You will then receive an email from the courier with a link to the company’s website. The email and website look at first glance like they are from a real company. However, if you look at the name of the email address, you can probably tell that something is not right. Similarly, the text in the email and on the website should give you pause. You’ll find strange phrasing and lots of mistakes.

Ukázka komunikace s podvodníkem

However, many people don’t think to question the email or the page, so they open it. They then fill in their credit card details, including a security code, or enter their internet banking access details. This gives the fraudster access to their bank account. They then send the money from the account to their own account or even arrange a quick loan and withdraw the money immediately.

Sometimes these cases are really bizarre. We have personally encountered, for example, a scammer who wanted to buy a LACK table from IKEA, which the seller was offering for 50 crowns. However, the scammer was willing to pay 600 crowns for a courier.

Other types of scams on online bazaars

In addition to fake couriers, there are many other types of scams that you may encounter on online bazaars. Some of the most common ones include:

Overpayment scams: a buyer buys an item from you and sends you money for it. But he sends you more money than the purchase price you set. He then informs you of his mistake and asks you to refund the extra money he paid. However, once you send the money in good faith, the buyer cancels the original payment or the bank subsequently discovers that it was a fraudulent payment and you lose all your money.

Non-delivery fraud: This is one of the most common scams. The way it works is that you look up the item you want to buy. The seller, as is customary, asks you to pay in advance. However, once you send the money, they stop communicating. You lose both the item and the money. Alternatively, the scammer may send you an empty package or a package filled with worthless contents to provide you with a tracking number for the shipment, creating the illusion of a legitimate transaction.

Counterfeit scam: In this case, the scammer offers expensive electronics or branded items worth tens of thousands. However, he sells them well below cost, and therefore it may appear to be a very good deal. However, if you buy the product, you will receive a cheap counterfeit from him. You end up paying a large sum of money for an item that has virtually no value.

How not to get burned

• Verify the buyer: If you’re selling on a platform where people have their own profiles that have additional features associated with them (such as Facebook Marketplace), then be sure to examine the buyer’s profile and look for warning signs such as a recent profile creation date, fake-looking friend profiles, and non-existent activity.
• Be cautious: A classic online transaction is where the buyer sends money to an account and you then send the goods to their address or conduct the transaction in person. So if someone comes up with couriers and similarly complicated transactions, you’d better keep your hands off it.
• Check emails and websites: If you have already received an email with a link to a website, check it carefully and compare it with the company’s official email address and website. With this comparison, you will clearly see the differences between the scam and the genuine.
• Use secure payment methods: If you like to shop online, choose secure payment methods such as a credit card with an online payment limit or PayPal.
• Insist on a video call: If you want to be more confident with the buyer, arrange a video call. This is because if it’s a scam, they’ll probably refuse.
• Educate yourself: Keep up to date with new types of online fraud. That way you can identify them early and not get scammed.

What if it’s too late?

If you’ve entered your bank account or card information somewhere, there are three steps you need to take:

1. Contact your bank: Notify your bank immediately if your information has been leaked. The bank can freeze your account and protect your money. In addition, you’ll also have to replace your passwords and credit card.
2. Contact thepolice: Report the fraud to the police. Provide them with as much information as possible, including screenshots of all communications with the fraudster and details of transactions.
3. Report the scammer: Online marketplaces have the ability to report profiles. So take advantage of this and report the fraudster’s profile. This will help other sellers in particular.

Summary

You need to be wary of common scams that you may encounter when selling and buying online. These include scams involving fake courier services, overpaying and then asking for a refund of the difference, non-delivery of goods and the sale of counterfeit goods.

In addition, precautionary measures should be taken in the form of caution when transacting with strangers, the need to check the authenticity of emails and websites, using a secure payment method and keeping up to date with new types of fraud. In case fraud has already occurred, it is important to contact the bank, the police and report the fraudulent seller on the platform where the transaction took place. And if you don’t know what to do and would like the help of an attorney, we’re here for you.