​

Are you thinking–or already in the process–of selling your car online? You may have received an email claiming it's from a buyer, and they've mistakenly ‘overpaid’ you.

The email looks so official you can’t help but take it seriously. But beware - this is just a classic example of a classified scam, which has been on the rise recently.

That's exactly why the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) Scamwatch has been urging all Aussies selling their vehicles online to be extra careful.

'Selling a car on a platform like Carsales? Careful of scammers pretending to be genuine buyers,' Scamwatch said.

Another scam is running rampant. Image Credit: Shutterstock

'Scammers may pretend to be genuine buyers and ask you to pay back a “difference” due to a “banking error” or for courier costs,' Scamwatch continued.

‘They may even send a fake invoice. Cease all contact with them.’

The fake invoice will claim the recipient needs to pay a courier fee of $1,500 and provide proof of payment before the money can be disbursed into their account.

Beware of classified scams. Image Credit: Scamwatch

One example of the scam email reads, 'Get back to us with the transfer receipt to verify that you are the legitimate seller, and confirm the courier fee is paid. We shall verify, and your account will be credited promptly once the confirmation is received.’

This type of scam is known as a 'classified' scam and frequently targets people buying or selling goods on classified websites. Scammers often concoct stories, such as requiring your assistance to pay an agent or a third party for upfront costs like transportation or insurance. In some cases, they might even promise you reimbursement for these additional costs.

Sadly, this isn’t the only type of scam doing the rounds. Another popular method is when the scammer sends a cheque for more money than the agreed sale price. They may even invent an excuse for the overpayment, such as to cover the fees of an agent or extra shipping costs.

They may then request a refund for the extra money - usually through an online banking transfer - before you discover that the cheque has bounced.

'In both cases, you will lose the money you gave the scammer, and if you have already sent the item you were selling, you will lose it as well,' Scamwatch said.

Key Takeaways

• Aussies attempting to sell their car are being targeted by criminals posing as interested buyers.
• The ACCC's Scamwatch warned people selling their vehicles on the CarSales site to be cautious.
• The fake invoice claims the recipient needs to pay a courier fee of $1,500 and provide proof of payment.
• So far this year, Aussies have lost more than $2.4 million to classified scams.

So far this year, Aussies have lost more than $2.4 million to classified scams.

Members, if you’re selling or buying anything online then please take special caution and watch out for any red flags - especially if something seems too good to be true.

You may also like to read about other prominent scams doing the rounds:

myGov refund scam

'Cash settlement' email scam

Australia Post delivery scam

As always, if you have any tips or stories to share about scams then please let us know in the comments below. And please, share this article with your friends and family - together, we can help keep our community safe.

 

[Suzanne rose]

I can guarantee if you sell a large item on line you will come across scammers .
But honestly you should be able to pick these scammers.
When I sell a phone on ebay I will never do a Buy it now , scammers seem to do it more with buy it now not bidding

 

[Pommyoz]

I nearly, nearly got caught with this. It’s so sad you have to treat everyone as a scammer. My boss’s neighbour was selling a lovely car, two men called as planned, asked to just hear the engine, got in, revved up car and reversed around the garden and drove out. With accomplice in his car following. Never seen the car again! Brazen, I don’t know what that means, awful.

 

[Nana Zorak]

​

Are you thinking–or already in the process–of selling your car online? You may have received an email claiming it's from a buyer, and they've mistakenly ‘overpaid’ you.

The email looks so official you can’t help but take it seriously. But beware - this is just a classic example of a classified scam, which has been on the rise recently.

That's exactly why the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) Scamwatch has been urging all Aussies selling their vehicles online to be extra careful.

'Selling a car on a platform like Carsales? Careful of scammers pretending to be genuine buyers,' Scamwatch said.

View attachment 18902

Another scam is running rampant. Image Credit: Shutterstock

'Scammers may pretend to be genuine buyers and ask you to pay back a “difference” due to a “banking error” or for courier costs,' Scamwatch continued.

‘They may even send a fake invoice. Cease all contact with them.’

The fake invoice will claim the recipient needs to pay a courier fee of $1,500 and provide proof of payment before the money can be disbursed into their account.

View attachment 18901

Beware of classified scams. Image Credit: Scamwatch

One example of the scam email reads, 'Get back to us with the transfer receipt to verify that you are the legitimate seller, and confirm the courier fee is paid. We shall verify, and your account will be credited promptly once the confirmation is received.’

This type of scam is known as a 'classified' scam and frequently targets people buying or selling goods on classified websites. Scammers often concoct stories, such as requiring your assistance to pay an agent or a third party for upfront costs like transportation or insurance. In some cases, they might even promise you reimbursement for these additional costs.

Sadly, this isn’t the only type of scam doing the rounds. Another popular method is when the scammer sends a cheque for more money than the agreed sale price. They may even invent an excuse for the overpayment, such as to cover the fees of an agent or extra shipping costs.

They may then request a refund for the extra money - usually through an online banking transfer - before you discover that the cheque has bounced.

'In both cases, you will lose the money you gave the scammer, and if you have already sent the item you were selling, you will lose it as well,' Scamwatch said.

Key Takeaways

• Aussies attempting to sell their car are being targeted by criminals posing as interested buyers.
• The ACCC's Scamwatch warned people selling their vehicles on the CarSales site to be cautious.
• The fake invoice claims the recipient needs to pay a courier fee of $1,500 and provide proof of payment.
• So far this year, Aussies have lost more than $2.4 million to classified scams.

So far this year, Aussies have lost more than $2.4 million to classified scams.

Members, if you’re selling or buying anything online then please take special caution and watch out for any red flags - especially if something seems too good to be true.

You may also like to read about other prominent scams doing the rounds:

myGov refund scam

'Cash settlement' email scam

Australia Post delivery scam

As always, if you have any tips or stories to share about scams then please let us know in the comments below. And please, share this article with your friends and family - together, we can help keep our community safe.

I have received the Australia Post delivery scam in 2 days but I deleted it both times. The trouble is I am actually expecting a delivery from them for my "falls alarm" which I expected to be here by now.

 

[Jarred Santos]

I can guarantee if you sell a large item on line you will come across scammers .
But honestly you should be able to pick these scammers.
When I sell a phone on ebay I will never do a Buy it now , scammers seem to do it more with buy it now not bidding

A handy tip!

I nearly, nearly got caught with this. It’s so sad you have to treat everyone as a scammer. My boss’s neighbour was selling a lovely car, two men called as planned, asked to just hear the engine, got in, revved up car and reversed around the garden and drove out. With accomplice in his car following. Never seen the car again! Brazen, I don’t know what that means, awful.

The nerve of these criminals, honestly!

I have received the Australia Post delivery scam in 2 days but I deleted it both times. The trouble is I am actually expecting a delivery from them for my "falls alarm" which I expected to be here by now.

Oh no, @Nana Zorak! Maybe you could phone AusPost at 13 POST (13 7678) or check their contact details here to follow up on the delivery: https://auspost.com.au/help-and-support

 

[Ezzy]

Thankyou for all the advice given here. I hope to sell a Scooter soon & now have visions of a "buyer" starting this up & riding off, unless l chain the front wheel to an immobile object when this is done. On the stand the rear wheel slowly turns because this is an automatic.