(Tweed, ON) – On June 1, 2015 members of Central Hastings O.P.P received a complaint from a Tweed resident after being defrauded over a thousand dollars in a real estate scam.
The complainant reported she responded to an apartment advertisement in the Hamilton area on an online classified website. She exchanged several emails with someone who claimed to be the property owner. He alleged that he had recently relocated to the United States so he required the complainant to send money to him via wire transfer. The male continued to request additional money.
After becoming suspicious of the transaction the complainant had someone attend the actual property location only to discover that the online advertisement was a scam. The legitimate owner confirmed that his house was for sale however there was no apartment to rent nor did he know the name of the person the complainant had been corresponding with.
The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre advises online shoppers to:
• When buying anything on an online classified site, a buyer should meet with a seller in person. Ensure that you can view the property or product for sale.
•Deal with companies or individuals that you know by reputation or experience. If you are not familiar with the company, do some research. Reputable on-line merchants will post plenty of information about themselves, their location, their phone and fax numbers
•Do not be lured into using payment methods other than the options recommended by the Internet auction site. Do not pay by sending cash, money transfers or money orders
•Be wary of phishing e-mails that ask for personal or financial information.
•If you plan to buy something, go directly to a store’s website by manually typing its address into your web browser. Don’t click on links in an e-mail message even if you know who sent it.
•Monitor your bank and credit card statements on-line. Electronic statements allow you to review your purchases and payments as they happen rather than waiting until the end of the month to review your paper statement.
•Never give out your social insurance number, date of birth or driver’s license number to a seller.
•Always remember, if an offer sounds suspicious or too good to be true, it probably is.
http://www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca/index-eng.htm