Beware of Scams - How to Avoid Scams and Fraud

Thank for your using the WashingtonCounty.com classifieds.  Please read the following to avoid scams and fraud attempts on WashingtonCounty.com.

WARNING: Some items that are posted may not be real items. Do not buy anything over the Internet if you don't know who you are dealing with. If you do buy over the Internet, use a major credit card so you have recourse in the event of fraud. Call Areaguides, LLC at 1-800-221-8048 with questions and please flag any questionable ads you find on this site.

You can sidestep would-be scammers by following these common-sense rules:

• inquiry from someone far away, often in another country;
• Western Union, Money Gram, cashier's check, money order, shipping, escrow service, or a "guarantee";
• inability or refusal to meet face-to-face before consummating the transaction.

• Someone claims that WashingtonCounty.com will guarantee a transaction, certify a buyer/seller, OR claims that WashingtonCounty.com will handle or provide protection for a payment

• These claims are fraudulent, as WashingtonCounty.com does not have any role in any transaction.
• Scammer will often send an official looking email that appears to come from WashingtonCounty.com, offering a guarantee, certifying a seller, providing payment services -- all such emails are fakes!

• A distant person offers a genuine-looking (but fake) cashier's check.

• You receive an email offering to buy your item, or rent your apartment, sight unseen.
• A cashier's check is offered for your sale item, as a deposit for an apartment, or for just about anything else of value.
• The value of cashier's check often far exceeds your item - scammers offers to "trust" you, and asks you to wire the balance via money transfer service
• Banks will often cash these fake checks and then hold you responsible when the check fails to clear, including criminal prosecution in some cases!
• A scam often involves a 3rd party (shipping agent, business associate owing buyer money, etc)

• Someone requests wire service payment via Western Union or MoneyGram:

• Often claim that an MTCN or confirmation code is needed before he can withdraw your money - this is FALSE, once you've wired money, it is GONE.
• Scam "bait" items include laptops, plasma TVs, cell phones, tickets - but could be almost anything.
• Common countries currently include: Nigeria, Romania, Ukraine, Spain, UK, Italy, Netherlands - but could be anywhere.
• The deal often seems too good to be true.

• A distant person offers to send you a money order and then have you wire money:

• This is always a scam, in our experience - the cashier's check is fake .
• Sometimes accompanies an offer of merchandise, sometimes not.
• The scammer often asks for your name, address, etc for printing on the fake check.
• The deal often seems too good to be true.

• distant seller suggests use of an online escrow service.

• Most online escrow sites are fradulent, operated by scammers.
• For more info, do a Google search on "fake escrow" or "escrow fraud".

• A distant seller asks for a partial payment upfront, after which he/she will ship goods:

• He/she says he trusts you with the partial payment.
• He/she may say he/she has already shipped the goods.
• The deal often sounds too good to be true.

• A foreign company offers you a job receiving payments from customers, then wiring funds:

• A foreign company may claim it is unable to receive payments from its customers directly.
• You are typically offered a percentage of payments received.
• This kind of "position" may be posted as a job, or offered to you via email.

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