Alert – Kijiji Scam

SCAM AVERTED
(Howick, ON) A complainant called police to report that someone tried to scam him. This is what happened. The man recently advertised car parts on the KIJIJI website for the first time. He was asking $200.00. Within 3 days he got an email from a woman stating that she wanted to buy the parts but she was from out of province. She stated that she would send enough money to cover the cost of the parts as well as shipping.

On August 26, 2009 the seller received a cheque in the mail payable to himself for $2500. Included with the cheque was a note telling the seller to send the remaining balance via western union within 45 minutes of receiving the cheque. The note instructed the seller to wire the money to a person in London, England however the cheque was written on an account from a bank in Coboconk, Ontario.

The seller immediately knew it was a scam and brought the cheque and letter straight to the police.
Our best way to combat these types of scams is with public awareness. If something doesn’t seem right, don’t get hooked in or pressured to do something you will regret. For more information on the many scams occurring, please note that there is a wealth of information located on the Phonebusters website at www.phonebusters.com .

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