Your Lake of the Ozarks Mortgage Lender: Avoid Being Scammed on Craigslist and Similar Sites

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Avoid Being Scammed on Craigslist and Similar Sites

Everyone is always looking for the best deal they can find. Lakelender Michael Lasson can get you a great deal on your home loan at the Lake of the Ozarks, but when it comes to other items, you'll have to look elsewhere. Whether its on a house or a car, the lower the price, without sacrificing quality, the better! Craigslist.org is a great place to find great deals on items that you don't want to buy brand new. Unfortunately, there are a lot of scammers on the site. Kiplinger.com has some great tips on how to avoid becoming a victim of the latest con targeting bargain hunters using the site.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning users of this popular classifieds site of a new, elaborate scam. This scam typically involves big-ticket items such as a car or boat, at lover than average prices. Buyers who email this seller are asked to make a purchase through a third-party company called Easy Yard Sale. The company has a legitimate looking website and the seller claims that he's using the company to quickly sell items he inherited from his deceased father, according to the BBB. Buyers are asked to wire money to Easy Yard Sale and then they will ship the item. However, the items are never delivered and the seller, nor Easy Yard Sale aren't responding to emails.

To avoid scams on Craigslist, the BBB recommends that you follow these tips:

Meet the seller and see the item. Whenever possible, don't purchase anything before you actually see it so that you know its actually exists and that its in good condition.
Buy directly from sellers, not escrow or shipping services. According to the BBB, there are many other scams similar to this one involving fraudulent services and companies that con artists use to make it difficult to track payments and get your money back. Therefore, if a seller asks you to use a third-party, request to make the purchase directly from the seller, If he or she will not agree, it could be a red flag.
Never wire funds or use a pre-paid debit card. Once you send money using these methods of payment, it's nearly impossible to reverse the transaction or trace the money.

For more information on avoiding fraud and identity theft, visit: http://www.kiplinger.com/fronts/special-report/scams/

I would love the opportunity to help you manage your Lake of the Ozarks Mortgage Loan or refinance. Give me a call at (573) 746-7211 or send me an email at mlasson@fsbfinancial.com with any questions you may have!!

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