New to me kijiji scam

Dacotensis · #1 03-02-2015, 05:23 PM

I have to deal with emails and texts inquiring about various items.
It bothers me...
I'm directed to email an address, or respond to say some super long-
distance text #. I never respond so I don't know why "they" keep trying.

The new to me scam was to text me to inform my ad is expiring.
I am told to sign into some kijiji address.
I'm sure at this time I will be told to enter all my personal info.
Or there will be a cost to renew.
Or they will plant a virus.
Or all.

I would recommend going to your kijiji account through normal means.

As a rule I do not respond to any email or text inquiries on my ads.
This helps to rule out the scams and midnight impaired shoppers.
Talking to someone via phone also allows me to gauge their commitment level.
Since they've taken the step to read my ad and comprehend it to the point they actually call, im pretty sure they have cash in their pocket and are ready to come buy the item.
If I see a call with no caller ID, I wait and see if they will leave a message.
Their call is not that important to me.

I'll write a short about a cheque cashing scam I feel I was exposed to.

Be aware guys.
Dac

skidderman · #2 03-02-2015, 05:57 PM

I had an e-mail the other day saying I needed to respond to my pay pal account. Same idea. If you go in from your e-mail they have all the info needed
to go into your pay pal account.

pikeslayer22 · #3 03-02-2015, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dacotensis

I have to deal with emails and texts inquiring about various items.
It bothers me...
I'm directed to email an address, or respond to say some super long-
distance text #. I never respond so I don't know why "they" keep trying.

The new to me scam was to text me to inform my ad is expiring.
I am told to sign into some kijiji address.
I'm sure at this time I will be told to enter all my personal info.
Or there will be a cost to renew.
Or they will plant a virus.
Or all.

I would recommend going to your kijiji account through normal means.

As a rule I do not respond to any email or text inquiries on my ads.
This helps to rule out the scams and midnight impaired shoppers.
Talking to someone via phone also allows me to gauge their commitment level.
Since they've taken the step to read my ad and comprehend it to the point they actually call, im pretty sure they have cash in their pocket and are ready to come buy the item.
If I see a call with no caller ID, I wait and see if they will leave a message.
Their call is not that important to me.

I'll write a short about a cheque cashing scam I feel I was exposed to.

Be aware guys.
Dac

IMO you are missing out on sales if you will only reply to calls...in the last 5 years I have bought at least 30 items off Kijjiji to the tune of probably 100 grand. I will not respond to an add with just a phone # as I like to deal via email or text. Once the deal is made I will make contact via telephone conversation.

CaberTosser · #4 03-02-2015, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skidderman

I had an e-mail the other day saying I needed to respond to my pay pal account. Same idea. If you go in from your e-mail they have all the info needed
to go into your pay pal account.

When Paypal emails show up in my inbox I know they're fraudulent: I don't have a Paypal account. I can't rationalize doing business with a company that has such blatantly anti-firearms policies (and funds the anti's no less).

Spidey · #5 03-02-2015, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaberTosser

When Paypal emails show up in my inbox I know they're fraudulent: I don't have a Paypal account. I can't rationalize doing business with a company that has such blatantly anti-firearms policies (and funds the anti's no less).

Paypal does this? Well, I'll be cancelling that service asap. Sheesh!

qwert · #6 03-02-2015, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pikeslayer22

IMO you are missing out on sales if you will only reply to calls...in the last 5 years I have bought at least 30 items off Kijjiji to the tune of probably 100 grand. I will not respond to an add with just a phone # as I like to deal via email or text. Once the deal is made I will make contact via telephone conversation.

X2
People who fail to answer because I am calling with Skype and they do not recognize the caller ID # will not get a message or a 2nd call. I have just about given up on the telephone and avoid using it whenever possible. Those who fail to answer Emails will never get called.

CaberTosser · #7 03-02-2015, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spidey

Paypal does this? Well, I'll be cancelling that service asap. Sheesh!

This is a cut and paste from PayPal's terms of use, bolding and color by me. I found out about it on CGN where a user had his funds frozen for a few months by PayPal due to a firearm (or possibly it was a scope?) transaction that went into dispute. Do you think that an institution that's essentially acting as your bank should be telling you what to do with your money or guns?

Prohibited Activities

You may not use the PayPal service for activities that:

1.violate any law, statute, ordinance or regulation.

2.relate to transactions involving (a) narcotics, steroids, certain controlled substances or other products that present a risk to consumer safety, (b) drug paraphernalia, (c) items that encourage, promote, facilitate or instruct others to engage in illegal activity, (d) stolen goods including digital and virtual goods (e) items that promote hate, violence, racial intolerance, or the financial exploitation of a crime, (f) items that are considered obscene, (g) items that infringe or violate any copyright, trademark, right of publicity or privacy or any other proprietary right under the laws of any jurisdiction, (h) certain sexually oriented materials or services, (i) ammunition, firearms, or certain firearm parts or accessories, or (j) ,certain weapons or knives regulated under applicable law.

3.relate to transactions that (a) show the personal information of third parties in violation of applicable law, (b) support pyramid or ponzi schemes, matrix programs, other "get rich quick" schemes or certain multi-level marketing programs, (c) are associated with purchases of annuities or lottery contracts, lay-away systems, off-shore banking or transactions to finance or refinance debts funded by a credit card, (d) are for the sale of certain items before the seller has control or possession of the item, (e) are by payment processors to collect payments on behalf of merchants, (f), are associated with the sale of traveler's checks or money orders, (h) involve currency exchanges or check cashing businesses, or (i) involve certain credit repair, debt settlement services, credit transactions or insurance activities.

4.involve the sales of products or services identified by government agencies to have a high likelihood of being fraudulent.
5.violate applicable laws or industry regulations regarding the sale of (a) tobacco products, or (b) prescription drugs and devices.

6.involve gambling, gaming and/or any other activity with an entry fee and a prize, including, but not limited to casino games, sports betting, horse or greyhound racing, lottery tickets, other ventures that facilitate gambling, games of skill (whether or not it is legally defined as a lottery) and sweepstakes unless the operator has obtained prior approval from PayPal and the operator and customers are located exclusively in jurisdictions where such activities are permitted by law.

Dacotensis · #8 03-02-2015, 06:51 PM

Interesting.
My age demo is btwn 40-45.
I didn't grow up with texts and emails as a way of life.

If some guy has what I want and he has a phone number in the ad,
I would prefer to phone him vs text and email.

I find the written offer to be pretty hollow.
As if they don't have a spine...
So I get to choose who I spend my time on.
Happily ever after

FreeLantz · #9 03-02-2015, 07:17 PM

I buy a fair amount of kijiji stuff and I never call people, I much prefer text. I rarely answer phone calls from my own kijiji ads as well.

CanuckShooter · #10 03-02-2015, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pikeslayer22

IMO you are missing out on sales if you will only reply to calls...in the last 5 years I have bought at least 30 items off Kijjiji to the tune of probably 100 grand. I will not respond to an add with just a phone # as I like to deal via email or text. Once the deal is made I will make contact via telephone conversation.

Same here, I'll always use email as a first contact to see if it is even still for sale. If it is then we can talk on the phone, I hate paying long distance charges for nothing. No answer to email means it's sold.

schmedlap · #11 03-02-2015, 08:59 PM

One definitely gets a lot of wasteful crap responses, whether by e-mail or phone. I've learned to just respond in kind to the obvious scammers and low-ballers, with very blunt replies. In the end though, I've sold a lot of things, up to vehicles, on Kijiiji, and the great thing about is that when one has a vehicle or article with a very limited market appeal, it reaches out to people all over. The last 2 very old vehicles I sold went to a collector of such in Prince Albert (he flew in and I picked him up at the airport), and a guy from Lac La Biche looking for the exact vehicle I had. Both had been searching diligently for just such. It's that "reach" which makes it a very valuable tool for selling almost anything (?).
The one thing I learned is never (again) to put anything, no matter how weird and worthless, on there as "free". Next time I will just take it to the "Eco Centre", or put a small price on it. Unbelievable number of instant e-mails and phone calls (phone ringing in the middle of the night!) contending for free junk. "Would you be willing to deliver it?" Right, OMG, it is free - I just want someone to take it away, so I don't have to cart it to the landfill or Eco Centre - first person to show up at my door gets it. Not unlike the "free" pile one puts at the end of the driveway for one's garage sale (?). Amazing how some people just can't resist free junk, whether they "need" the item or not.

Cowtown guy · #12 03-02-2015, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spidey

Paypal does this? Well, I'll be cancelling that service asap. Sheesh!

When you cancel tell them why. That is just as important as the actual act of cancelling the account.

coreya3212 · #13 03-02-2015, 09:44 PM

I often buy on kijiji. I always email first. Usually two or three questions, when can I look at it? Where are you located roughly ? There response is how I weed out the scammers, the ones offering to ship it to me, once they gett he western union wire transfer... once I am comfortable the item is real, I line up a day to view and then I get a number and call before I leave to get directions. I never text until after I have spoken to the person, and I only make offers via email if the distance is over an hour and I am certain I want the item. Just my way of doing it. To each their own.