Summer is Here.

I love that more and more people are finding ways to recycle, reuse, and upcycle. There was a time that the only way to purge your previously loved items was a garage sale. Now, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Nextdoor, VarageSale, and Offerup are just a few online platforms that let you sell and resell anything from cars to sofas.


Many people have great luck selling their wares on these sites. Unfortunately, as with most things, scammers are surfing these sites, not looking for a dining table and chairs, but for an opportunity to take your money and/or your personal information. 

 

This month’s Scam Spotter highlights some of the red flags surrounding buying and selling online. 



Beth

Spot Scams on Social Media Marketplaces



Whether you are buying or selling something on a social media platform, it’s hard to know with whom you are doing business. 

 

Remember:

  • trust your gut – if something doesn’t feel right, don’t proceed with the transaction,
  • deal only in cash,
  • provide as little personal information as possible,
  • exchange items in daylight with people around
  • if the offer sounds too good to be true, steer clear no matter how tempting 

 

You may be dealing with a marketplace scammer if:

  • the item’s price is too good to be true
  • the buyer or seller’s Facebook profile is brand new or the person doesn’t have a profile at all
  • the buyer wants to pay by gift card or send you a prepaid shipping label
  • the buyer overpays and wants you to send them the difference
  • the buyer or seller wants you to send a text to arrange a pickup
  • the buyer wants your phone number right away, which may be used to register for a Google Voice number to steal your identity.

 

If you are a buyer:

  • make sure you see the item before you agree to purchase it,
  • don’t send a deposit to hold the item,
  • test out the item before you buy it,
  • stay on the app to finalize the negotiations,
  • don’t provide payment for a prepaid shipping label.


Even with the best precautions, any of us can fall prey to a crafty spammer. If you’ve experienced a Facebook Marketplace scam, follow these directions to report it.

 

Facebook Marketplace does have purchase protection. Before you reach out to Facebook about an issue, you first need to contact the seller to determine if the problem can be amicably resolved. If the issue cannot be resolved, pursue the purchase protection option here.  

How Does Email Get Hacked?


  • You were tricked into giving a scammer access through a phishing attack.
  • You forgot to sign out of a public or shared device.
  • Hackers stole your information over a compromised Wi-Fi network.
  • Your account information was leaked in a data breach.
  • Malware was installed on your device when you clicked on an unsecured link.

 

In general, just opening an email isn't going to get you hacked. However, clicking on links or attachments in an email can be very dangerous.

 

What Happens if You Click on a Phishing Link?

Clicking on a phishing link or opening an attachment in one of these messages may install malware such as viruses, spyware, or ransomware on your device. This is all done behind the scenes, so it is undetectable to the average user.

 

Spammers can tell if you open an email when you or your email application interacts with the message. When your webmail or mobile email app automatically download things like photos or graphics, the spam sender immediately knows their content was viewed.


Can Someone Hack Your Facebook by Messaging You?

There are many ways your Facebook account can get hacked. Perhaps someone is sending messages on your behalf or posts something pretending to be you.

 

If you can still log in to your account, here’s what to do if you think you’ve been hacked:


Change your password right away. If you can’t log in, request a password reset. If that doesn’t work, it’s possible that someone has changed the email address on the account.  Report to Facebook, so they can help stop it from happening to others.


To regain control of your account, visit your Facebook profile page, go to Settings & Privacy, then Security & Login, and see if you recognize every location or device listed. If you don’t recognize a location or a device, press the three-dot menu and select “Not you?”. This will log you out and will help you further secure your account. 


Do you suspect you've been scammed or exploited?

Report it to us by calling our Fraud Hotline.


Contact


The Denver DA's


FRAUD HOTLINE


720.913.9179

Denver District Attorney's Office | 303-913-9000 | 201 W. Colfax Ave. | DenverDA.org

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