SAPS warn against “buying on the street” after social media scams
A shopper is now able to buy goods or services and have it delivered at their doorstep the following day at the click of a button. In turn, this also created a lucrative platform for criminals to target their victims. The SAPS advises online shoppers to follow their instinct in general, especially when in doubt about pursuing with a deal.
A popular e-commerce site is that of Facebook’s ‘Marketplace’ where items and services are sold at a bargain price.
People should stay informed about the latest banking scams and fraudster activities to avoid falling prey to these crimes. The age-old idiom rings true: “When something seems too good to be true, it usually is.” But, how does one differentiate between a genuine deal and one that is advertised to lure you into a trap?
If a buyer suspects that an online advertisement is fraudulent they should conduct a ‘reverse image search’ on Google. By doing this it will reveal the original source of the image. Online scammers sometimes use genuine images they obtained from another site to use with their fraudulent advertisement.
Furthermore, buyers should be weary of buying items ‘on the street’. Meaning, criminals will pressurise unsuspecting victims to meet up in a remote location as it might enable them to ‘get away’ easily with the crime.
Always remain vigilant if you or your loved ones are planning on buying or selling items online!
BASIC ‘MARKETPLACE’ SAFETY TIPS
Not all deals have ‘hidden agendas’, but the following basic safety tips should always be considered before buying or selling online:
• Avoid communicating with buyers or sellers outside Facebook;
• Don’t share your personal information such as banking details;
• If you are meeting a buyer or seller in person, arrange to meet in a public and well-lit area or at the nearest police station;
• Do more research on the buyer or seller by visiting their private Facebook profile, a ‘red flag’ is raised when his or her profile was only recently created.
