West Shore RCMP are warning the public about a scam involving e-transfers and an online marketplace, after receiving several reports about the fraud.
Police said they have received about five reports over the past few weeks about the scam, where the fraudster claims to be interested in buying or placing a hold on an item listed on one of the Used.ca sites.
The scammer offers to send an e-transfer. When the sellers receive it, they’re asked to enter their bank-account information, but the scammer is actually directing the seller to a fraudulent link.
The scam relies on the fact that the usual way of dealing with e-transfers is “incredibly similar,” so sellers think the process is legitimate, said West Shore RCMP Cpl. Nancy Saggar.
“So when the person clicks on the e-transfer, it looks like it’s going to a regular type of e-transfer site.”
When the sellers provide the bank account information, the scammer reroutes money from the seller’s account to their own, police said, with the intent of draining the seller’s account.
One way sellers can avoid being scammed is by setting up auto-deposit so no banking details are involved, Saggar said.
Police said Used.ca staff have been informed about the scam and are in the process of letting subscribers know.
Sellers should beware of buyers who seem overly eager and want to place a hold on the item for sale, or who say they cannot pick up the item right away, police said.
Buyers asking sellers to respond using their personal e-mail addresses should also raise alarm bells, they said.
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