Fraud on Classified Ad Platforms
Schemes against buyers and, often overlooked, against sellers.
Besides the well known scheme against buyers who pay for goods that are never delivered, there is a scheme against sellers: a supposed interested buyer wants to pay through a secure payment service, then reports a problem and sends a link to a fake payment page. There the seller is asked to enter bank details or link an account, after which the account is emptied. To tell them apart: a platform's genuine payment function always runs within the platform, never through a sent external link.
The relevant statutes
Are you affected? There is a detailed guide with step-by-step instructions:
→ Classified ads fraud: how to get your money backWhat you can do now
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Related terms
General explanation for self-help, not legal advice (RDG). Individual cases may differ: if in doubt, contact a consumer advice center or a lawyer.