Chesa Keane, an Associate member of Global Travelers, is a long-time consultant in many aspects of IT. As members of a virtual Rotary club, we are all, by definition, on-line to various degrees. And, like many things in life, being on-line comes with risk. Chesa has generously agreed to create a web series for our members with tips for helping us avoid becoming the victim of online scams. This is her sixth installment, focused on “buyer beware.”
You know how the saying goes. “If it seems too good to be true, it usually is.” And yet, as consumers of social media, we often ignore this adage.
Here’s an interesting statistic from Chase: Nearly 50% of scams reported to Chase originate on social media. This would include FaceBook, X, TikTok, Instagram, Craigslist and NextDoor, to name a few. Generally speaking, the most common categories of scams are:
In other words, things we all want and need. Things where a “good deal” is often irresistible.
The Internet and social media platforms provide a vast array of options for efficiently buying and selling, often at reduced prices by eliminating the middle man. But, the Internet also gives us an unsafe environment and requires us to participate with extreme caution. Scams abound. Let’s explore how a few of these scams might be perpetrated.
The scam begins with a fake ad offering merchandise or cars or rental properties and, sadly, home services. We used to be able to go to the newspaper classifieds and look for a used car or refrigerator or computer and feel pretty confident we would be okay with someone’s offer.
We clearly know that cash is king in a stranger-to-stranger transaction, but now we must be careful of opening up our home or going to someone else’s home to find out about this purchase – especially if you are a woman.
More than ever, do not use your credit card or a check when purchasing an item from a stranger because it provides too much information that can give the scammer a doorway into your private finances.
Making a purchase through Craigslist or NextDoor or FaceBook usually means you are going to meet someone face-to-face. Be sure you feel safe before entering a stranger’s home or inviting them into your home. Meeting in a public place is usually better. (Take a page from spy novels…) But this warning is rather obvious. In fact, it is a good idea to avoid these transactions altogether if you can only meet the stranger by yourself.
However, you may have also run into the purchaser who wants you to ship them your goods to another city. This usually ends up with you sending your stuff away and the money (check) not coming through or bouncing at the bank. Cash is king. Never ship what you are selling. They must pick it up and pay with cash.
The bottom-line: social media marketplaces can be a great way to get much-needed items at a good price, but proceed with extreme caution. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
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