The Sûreté du Québec warns Internet users who use classified ad sites on the web and asks them to be particularly careful since fraudsters have more than one trick up their sleeve.
“If you’re in doubt, if it’s too good, if something seems suspicious to you, don’t do it. In any case, make sure that the payment is valid before handing over your products to the buyer. It is also important to meet the buyer or seller in person in a neutral place without giving your real address,” explains Audrey-Anne Bilodeau, spokesperson for the Sûreté du Québec.
One of the latest discoveries of recent years is the “pick up” service for purchases. You are selling a product, for example a camera. The buyer contacts you and offers you an attractive price for your camera, but he explains that a courier company will pick it up since he cannot come. The presumed buyer also assures you that he will bear the costs of collecting and transporting the camera to his home.
Then you receive an email from the delivery company telling you that they will be at your house in two or three hours. In the email, you are told that you must electronically advance money for the insurance, but that the amount will be refunded to you in cash by the courier upon collection of the property.
“The messenger will never show up,” explains Sergeant Bilodeau. The goal is to get you out of money by tricking you into believing an imminent trade. It’s obvious to a lot of people except sometimes for people who really need to sell their product to have money quickly.
The policewoman adds that there is a whole section dealing with fraud on the Sûreté du Québec website. It invites citizens to refer to it in case of doubt: https://www.sq.gouv.qc.ca/services/prevention/
Reference-www.journaldemontreal.com