Online scams: “If it sounds to good to be true, it usually is”

Selling your items online is easy, convenient, effective and fun. But any time you publish information online, or for any reason send a payment to someone you do not know, you could expose yourself to online fraud. Online classifieds are so popular because they work so well for so many people. Be constantly alert to suspicious contacts or activity, and chances are you can avoid becoming a victim of cybercrime. Here are a few tips for protecting yourself.

Avoid confusing or complicated requests regarding payment for items you are selling online. For example, if a someone offers to send you a cashier's check for more than what you are selling an item for, and then asks you to wire the difference back, it’s probably from someone who has an intent to defraud you. Cashier's checks are easy to counterfeit. If you send a payment to anyone, your bank will hold you liable for covering a bogus “overpayment.” These types of “overpayment” scams are very common.

Verify payment whenever you sell something online. Always demand that the payment offered is the same as your selling price. Make sure that any cashier's or certified check you receive is valid with the issuing bank. Double check phone numbers or any other personal information listed on the check. Verify check routing numbers through the issuing bank and make sure that there are sufficient funds to cover the check.

If you wire deposits or payments using Western Union or MoneyGram, use extreme caution! Sending money in any form overseas should be avoided at all costs. Many Internet scams involve Western Union and MoneyGrams, because international transactions involving these types of payment are completed quickly. These types of transactions can be sent nearly anywhere in the world and are difficult to trace. While there may be that very rare exception, it is very unlikely that anyone from overseas would ever want to buy something you are selling on local classified ads.

Sell to someone in your local area. While face-to-face transactions not always possible, practical or even desirable, they may be the safest way to deal. Use the telephone to communicate and avoid people who will only communicate by email. Avoid people who contact you from outside the country. There may be a number of reasons why you should or should not deal with a potential buyer. But generally speaking, the more local a buyer is, the better it may be for you.

Always use commercial, regularly-updated anti-virus software. Scan all e-mail attachments before opening them, and be absolutely sure what you are opening before you click on it.

Report any suspicious activity anytime you have reasonable suspicion that someone may be trying to defraud you. The minute you feel uncomfortable about how or why you are being contacted, immediately stop communication. If you believe that you may have become the victim of fraud, take immediate action to cancel or reverse any transactions that are involved and/or stop payment. Report the incident to local law enforcement activities.

If you wish to report a Computer Crime in Virginia, contact the Virginia Attorney General’s office at (804) 786-2071 or at cybercrime@oag.state.va.us. Send any emails you suspect are fraudulent directly to the Federal Trade Commission at SPAM@UCE.GOV. You may also file a report with the Internet Fraud Complaint Center.

Online classifieds are a convenient, powerful and fun way to sell your items. But always be careful. Remember the old adage, “An ounce of prevention is worth of a pound of cure.” Don’t allow unscrupulous individuals who unlawfully abuse the Internet to make you a victim of an online scam.