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Media > Newsletters > Consumer Advocate > September 2011 > Buying online? Beware of payment scams

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Buying online? Beware of payment scams

9/21/2011

Scam artists may try to lure buyers away from the established payment mechanism so that they can more easily steal buyers’ money.

They often prefer payment via wire transfer, because a wire transfer leaves very little paper trail, helping scammers get away with their ploys.

Scammers may use other tactics to trick buyers online. For example, they may “borrow” photos from a legitimate company’s website, and then repost the photos to make potential buyers believe their (phony) offer is real.

Anytime you shop online, be very cautious and research the seller as much as possible. If a seller asks you to send payment via wire transfer, it’s likely a scam.

 

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