2023-05-25 06:21:00
fraud attempts
Whatsapp terror on Ebay classifieds: How to protect yourself from scammers
Good attempt: On closer inspection, many inquiries on Ebay classifieds turn out to be clumsy attempts at fraud.
© Pheelings Media
Anyone who wants to buy or sell a coveted smartphone or other popular goods on Ebay classifieds will sooner or later come into contact with scammers. Against the background of a current stitch, he tells you sternhow to trade more safely in the marketplace.
Another scam is making the rounds on Ebay classifieds. The police warn against misuse of the “Secure payment” function in connection with Whatsapp messages to sellers. It works like this: Supposedly interested parties strike without lengthy negotiations and want to complete the purchase with the platform’s own payment function. Messages then follow via Whatsapp, which is often stored in the advertisement, which should confirm a payment and ask you to deposit credit card details via a link so that the money can be paid out.
Behind this link is a live chat in which alleged Ebay classifieds employees want to take care of the payment process. If you give out the credit card data there, the fraudsters will inevitably debit you – and certainly no incoming payment.
How to protect yourself as a buyer on eBay classifieds
To prevent scams like this – and many other attempts to steal either goods or money from honest buyers and sellers on Ebay Classifieds – there are a handful of golden rules that will avoid the worst without much effort.
For buyers, if an offer is too good to be true, it probably is. Particularly low prices for very popular items, such as a Playstation 5 or the latest iPhone, serve to create pressure and provoke unwise decisions. In the case of such offers, pay particular attention to the following details:
- How good is the seller’s communication? Is the language conspicuously flawed, or is it possible to have coherent conversations?
- How old is the seller’s account? To do this, click on the other person’s symbol in the chat or tap on the three dots at the top right edge in the app to go to the profile. There you can find out how long the person has been there and how other users have rated the purchases and sales. If they are brand new accounts with no ratings whatsoever, just one active ad and no history, you should steer clear.
- If the payment function “Pay securely” is offered, the entire process must be carried out via the eBay classifieds website. There are no live chats with employees, no confirmation links via Whatsapp and generally no steps that take place outside of the platform.
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You can do that as a seller
Basically, the same advice and rules apply to sellers. However, since you become a kind of magnet for fraud attempts with good offers, there are also a few helpful tips:
- Do not include your cell phone number in the ad. Only registered users can access this information, but an Ebay classifieds account is quick to set up. This prevents you from being contacted unsolicited on Whatsapp and asked for transactions other than Ebay classifieds.
- For very expensive items, it is also advisable to only give the address vaguely. In any case, it doesn’t help much when you sell if you give your exact address – but if someone wants to know where to get something, the information is worth its weight in gold. Only share your private address – if at all – if you have already spoken to your counterpart and have a good feeling about it. If that doesn’t happen, it’s better to choose a neutral place near you for a handover when you pick it up.
- When paying via Ebay classifieds (“Pay securely”), everything takes place within the platform, the buyer does not need your credit card or account, because the money goes first to the platform, which then transfers it to you.
By the way: Sellers can also check the buyer’s profile by clicking on the chat symbol or the three dots in the app. Again, new accounts don’t hide scammers per se, but veteran accounts are more likely to have honest intentions if they haven’t been hacked.
Help when it’s too late
If the child fell into the well and you passed on your credit card details, contact the blocking hotline 116116 immediately. Reporting to the police can do no harm, but is rarely successful. If you have passed on login data for your account but you still have access, change the data as soon as possible.
If your mobile number has fallen into the hands of scammers, there is not much you can do. Remain skeptical even after the initial contact with the scammers when unknown numbers text you and block contacts that you cannot identify.
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