**** Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre Release
Fraud alert!
Will you be shopping on Black Friday and Cyber Monday? Watch out for the red flags of a scam
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Fraudsters are creating websites claiming to have available tickets at a discounted price. As many people are starting to attend concerts and events, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre has received reports from victims who have purchased tickets without receiving them. In some cases, victims receive the tickets but are advised by the venue that the tickets are fraudulent or duplicates.
Warning signs and how to protect yourself:
- Be wary of unauthorized sellers
- Purchase concert and event tickets from authorized event merchants only
- Look for spelling mistakes in the web address and on the website
- Be cautious of blowout sales or greatly reduced ticket prices
- Locate and verify the company’s contact information (address, phone number, email) before you buy
- If you make an online purchase, always use a credit card or payment method that gives you the option to dispute a purchase
Scammers are constantly creating fake ads online. To reach potential victims, they use:
- classified ads sites
- resale sites
- website pop-ups
- fake company websites
Items offered for sale in these scams can be almost anything, including:
- event tickets
- puppies
- electronic equipment
- clothing
- apartment, cottage, or vacation rentals
- motor vehicles
A good rule of thumb: if the asking price of a product is too good to be true, it is.
Watch out for the following scams:
Vendor fraud
If you’ve posted an online ad for yourself or your business, you may be contacted by a scammer. They claim to be located out of town and offer to buy the item unseen. When it comes time to pay, they use various tactics to scam you and avoid paying.
Tactic one: Spoofed payment
You receive a message or email money transfer notification that claims the payment is pending. The message says that the funds will cover the cost of the item, plus shipping. However, to release the funds, you must provide a tracking number for the shipment.
You ship the item and provide the tracking number, only to discover that the payment notification is spoofed and no payment is pending.
Tactic two: Account problems
The scammer tells you that they cannot send the payment due to a problem with your Paypal or bank account. According to the scammer, you need to pay $500 to get a business account with the selected payment provider to complete the transaction. The scammer offers to pay this fee if you reimburse them for the cost.
The scammer directs you to send the reimbursement using a money service business such as MoneyGram or Western Union. After you send the reimbursement, you discover that there is no payment pending.
Tactic three: Overpayment
You receive a payment for more than the asking price. The scammer asks you to deposit the funds and wire the excess funds immediately back to them. After sending the funds, you discover that the payment was fraudulent.
Scammers use compromised bank accounts, fraudulent cheques and stolen credit cards in overpayment scams.
Counterfeit merchandise
Counterfeiters use websites that have the same look and feel as a legitimate manufacturer to sell products at big discounts. The products are far inferior and could pose significant health risks. For example, counterfeit jackets have been found to contain bacteria, fungus and mildew.
Red flags to watch for:
- Warnings posted online
- No customer phone number or email listed on the website
- An odd or different name on your credit card statement
- The transaction is in different currency
- The product packaging has no labels
- The quality of product is bad
- The price is hugely discounted
