How to spot and avoid scams in online ads

Online ads can be a great way to buy and sell used items and search for your next apartment—or even a new job. But online marketplaces are also a prime hunting ground for scammers, who have figured out plenty of ways to fleece people looking for a bargain. Here are some common traps to watch out for, plus some tips for how to stay safe when buying and selling online or considering a job offer.

You find an apartment or vacation rental listing online. The description is detailed, the photos look genuine and the price is likely lower than the going rate. You respond to the ad and, because the place is so popular (or for some other seemingly legitimate reason), the person who replies tells you they need an e-transfer to hold the place for you or guarantee a visit. It’s only when you knock at the door that you realize you’ve been scammed. The real owner of the place has no idea that someone has posted a fake ad online using photos taken from social media or a property rental website. The apartment or cottage isn’t really available to rent.

Watch out for this kind of scam in ads for pets, used cars and RVs too.

A scammer says they’re interested in buying something you listed for sale on an online platform, like Marketplace. They say they want to buy the item, but they’re out of town right now so they can’t pick it up. They offer to send you an Interac e-Transfer® right away to reserve the item. Then they email you an Interac link. You enter your banking information to accept the transfer, but without realizing it, you’ve actually just given the scammer access to your account. The link was fake.

Sometimes, the scammer might use the Request Money feature instead of the e-Transfer feature, in the hopes that you don’t notice so they can take your money.

In some cases, the scammer might offer to send you a cheque until they can pick up the item. When you get the cheque, you realize it’s for too much money. The scammer claims it was a simple mistake. They tell you to cash the cheque and send the rest back by e-transfer. The cheque is fake, so you lose the amount you thought you were depositing as well as any money you transferred to the scammer.

You notice a job posting online for administrative or remote work (but it’s fake). The job involves simple, repetitive tasks, like data entry or reacting to posts on social media (commenting or liking posts, for example). You’re promised high pay, great commissions—or both! The employer might tell you that you need to pay a registration fee to get started. Or you might receive a fraudulent cheque to purchase the equipment or supplies you need for work, with the employer asking you to send back some of the money.

And to “hire” you, the fake employer asks for all kinds of personal information, just like an actual employer would. They may go as far as asking for your banking information and social insurance number, saying it’s for payroll.

These jobs can seem real at first, but they’re really just meant to steal money or identities from their “employees.” Remember though that it’s not just online ads: scammers also use text messages to contact potential victims.

Scammers are sneaky and often have more than one trick up their sleeve. Details vary from one scam to another, but the approaches they use tend to be quite similar. Keep your eyes peeled for the following signs of a scam.

Someone wants to buy your item for more than the asking price? You’re offered a job right away, without any reference checks, or a really great salary for very easy work? Trust your instincts. If something seems too good to be true, it could be a scam.

Also, be suspicious if a rental property or an item for sale is listed for an unusually low price, even if the seller gives you a convincing explanation. This is a common tactic used by scammers to lure potential victims.

Scammers may ask you for a deposit or for payment in advance and tell you it’s because of high demand or because they’ve been let down before by potential buyers who weren’t serious. This is a tactic they use to scam many people out of large sums of money at the same time before vanishing and leaving them high and dry.

If the tables are turned and someone sends you more money than agreed, decline the payment and insist on the correct amount. This is a common tactic used to scam people not once, but twice. You don’t get their money because the initial payment is fraudulent, and if you’ve refunded the scammer’s overpayment, you lose that money too.

When it comes to job offers, a real employer will never ask you to make a deposit or pay for the things you need to do your job. Be careful if you receive this kind of offer from an employer online.

The person you’re exchanging messages with can’t meet you in person? They might say they’re out of the country, taking care of a sick family member or live too far away to risk a wasted journey. Beware: This is often a sign that they’re getting ready to scam you. For example, they might offer to send a courier to collect the item. It’s also a red flag if someone insists on communicating by text, instant message or email and claims their connection isn’t good enough to speak to you live. All of these communication methods make it easier for scammers to conceal their identity.

Be especially on your guard when communicating with someone whose online profile is scant on detail. If they recently joined the platform, don’t have many friends, and you don’t see any (or very few) photos, posts or previous transactions, it could be a fake account created by scammers to stay anonymous.

If you suspect you’ve been a victim of a scam, don’t blame yourself. Scammers are constantly refining their tactics and can be very convincing.

It’s important to act quickly and notify:

• Your financial institution
• The Canadian credit bureaus: TransUnion External link. (1-877-713-3393) and Equifax External link. (1-800-465-7166)

  Exter(

The police (so you can file a report)

You should also report the incident to the online platform you used, as well as to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre External link.. You’ll be doing your part to fight fraud and help other people avoid falling into the same trap.

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