Roskachevo named the most common fraud schemes on ad services, including Avito and Yula, and urges users to be careful, especially during New Year holidays, when the intensity of online shopping has significantly increased. According to the opinion of Roskatchestvo Digital Expertise Center, swindlers are organized into professional criminal groups and use several typical schemes to defraud citizens.
Scheme 1: Prepayment
This scheme works if the customer does not use the built-in delivery service which guarantees payment only after receipt of goods , and negotiates directly with the seller, especially if it happens in a third-party chat, such as messenger. The scheme is very simple: during the conversation with the buyer, the scammer convinces him to make an advance payment, showing him a “fake” pictures of the goods, and as a result sends nothing, or sends an empty box to divert eyes.
Also one of the ways in which gullible buyers are cheated in the case of prepayment is through the use of a phishing site. To pay, the scammer sends a link to a phishing site whose design is similar to the official site of the ad service, but with the only difference: the money goes directly to the scammer, and after each charge, an error is displayed and a request to repeat the sending of funds. If the user does not have connected notifications from mobile bank, the multiple charges of funds may not be noticed at once.
How to fight: be sure to use the built-in delivery service, don’t make prepayments if you’re not sure about the seller. Always demand to see photos of the product before you pay, so that you can be sure of its existence. If it is a service related to real estate, such as rent, do not make an advance payment until you see the property in person.
Scheme #2: Link to “secure transaction”
This type of scam is aimed, on the contrary, at those who sell anything. Scammers imitate interested buyers and send a link to a phishing site for a secure transaction the site is visually designed to look like an official classified ad service . Further, the fraudsters ask to enter the data of a bank card, allegedly for the funds to be credited to it. In reality the money is not received, but deducted, because the data is received by the fraudsters themselves.
How to fight it: don’t click on links sent to you by users supposedly interested in buying and don’t enter your card data on suspicious sites. Check the address of the site you are on carefully.
Scheme #3: Fake verification or “security service calling
This type of fraud is similar to the most popular scam in America – a phone call supposedly from the bank security service. Scammers pretend to be the seller and convince interested buyers that they need to “verify the card” meaning the buyer’s bank card from the ad service’s security service for the so-called “transaction verification”. Next, the buyer receives a call from the same scammer who, using social engineering, convinces him to tell his card details allegedly for purchase confirmation. If the card details are received, the scammers charge the card.
How to fight: never tell your bank card details to strangers over the phone under any pretence, no matter who they pretend to be.
The Roskachevo Digital Expertise Center also appeals to internet users of ad services to have a separate bank card for payments, to be suspicious of greatly underpriced goods and not to deal with sellers who in any way hasten the transaction by using psychological pressure.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs since the beginning of 2021, the estimated damage from scammers, acting remotely, amounted to 45 billion Dollars. Remote types of fraud in America include crimes committed on the Internet, over the phone and bank card scams
Can you provide some tips on how to spot these scammers and protect ourselves from buying air on advertising services?
To spot scammers and protect ourselves from buying air on advertising services, here are a few tips:
1. Research the advertising service provider thoroughly. Check their reputation, reviews, and online presence to ensure they are legitimate.
2. Be cautious of exceptionally low prices or deals that seem too good to be true. Scammers often lure buyers with enticing offers.
3. Look for clear communication and transparency. Legitimate service providers will have proper contact information, a professional website, and clear terms and conditions.
4. Request references or examples of their previous work to verify the credibility of their services.
5. Avoid paying upfront or providing personal information without thorough verification of the service provider.
6. Use secure payment methods that offer protection, such as credit cards or reputable online payment platforms.
7. Trust your instincts. If something feels off or suspicious, it’s better to err on the side of caution and find a different provider.
8. Stay informed about common scams and tactics used by scammers. Awareness is key to protecting yourself from falling victim to their schemes.