(SOUTHWEST MIDDLESEX, ON) – On August 29, 2017, members of the Middlesex County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to a fraud complaint from a resident in the Municipality of Southwest Middlesex.
The seller used and on-line classifieds website to advertised farming equipment for sale. The seller offered 8 pieces of equipment, totalling $15,000. The seller then received an offer to purchase the equipment for the full asking price. However, the buyer requested that the seller cover the shipping costs up-front, approximately $1,000.
The seller sent nearly $1,000 to the fraudster using a money transfer service. The victim never received the $15,000. The equipment was not exchanged.
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC) warns about this type of scams, Consumers who sell merchandise online are susceptible to becoming victims. This can lead to the loss of merchandise