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The phishing email may ask you to share your login information or financial data, like credit card or banking numbers. Scammers may try to make a dangerous email look like it came from eBay by including the eBay logo and even a fake eBay email address. They are disguised to look like legitimate messages. Phishing attacks are emails aimed at stealing personal information. Fake eBay emails try to steal information Related: Tap or click here to learn how to spot a Craigslist scam.Ģ. Hopefully, you won’t need to defend yourself against this sort of scam, but be prepared to do so if necessary. Take photos prior to (and even during) packing and take stock of components and accessories.
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To avoid this sort of issue, document the items you have for sale. This type of scam may also crop up in the form of a bait-and-switch where the buyer swaps a less valuable item for a more valuable one and then makes a refund claim to eBay. “The school of hard knocks provides a great education it just sometimes has a very high tuition!” our listener said. The auction site sided with the buyer in this dispute. Learn more about fraud prevention and reporting at. Share this information with friends and family.Don’t be embarrassed to report if you shared personal financial information or suffered a financial loss.Ask someone you trust for advice before making any large purchase or financial decision.If you receive a questionable call, hang up, and report the call to our Office of the Inspector General.Caller ID or documents sent by email may look official but they are not. Scammers pretending they’re from us or another government agency.Any call asking you to pay a fine or debt with retail gift cards, wire transfers, pre-paid debit cards, internet currency, or by mailing cash.A caller saying there is a problem with your SSN or account.Ask for personal details or banking information to give you a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA).ĭon’t be fooled! You should look out for:.Ask for gift card numbers over the phone or to wire or mail cash.Require payment by cash, gift card, pre-paid debit card, internet currency, or wire transfer.We may call you in some situations, but will never: Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money. They often demand payment via retail gift cards, wire transfers, pre-paid debit cards, internet currency, or mailing cash. Scammers may threaten arrest or other legal action, or may offer to increase benefits, protect assets, or resolve identity theft. The latest scam trick of using robocalls or live callers has increased.įraudsters pretend to be government employees and claim there is identity theft or another problem with one’s Social Security number (SSN), account, or benefits. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. If there is a problem, we will mail you a letter.
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