I do want to sell my wedding dress
Warning as fraudsters target the brides who say...
THE market for second-hand wedding dresses is growing rapidly as bargain-hungry brides seek out designer labels at knock-down prices. But this burgeoning industry is also attracting the interest of criminals who are either looking to launder money – or trick sellers into giving out key bank details so their accounts can be emptied.
One bride told The Mail on Sunday she recently gave up trying to sell her wedding dress online because she was being contacted only by bogus buyers.
She says a number of individuals offered to pay the asking price for her dress, plus an inflated fee to cover ‘courier’ costs. They then wanted her to transfer this ‘extra’ money she received into another account from which she was told the courier costs would be met.
Such a tactic is employed by criminals to launder money because it disguises the original ownership of the cash. Eddie Townsend, of Action Fraud – the national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime – says fraudsters are regularly targeting people who trade online. Wedding dress sales, he says, are one of the areas where fraudsters are prevalent – in part because the market is relatively recent and growing rapidly.
He says: ‘Consumers must be vigilant and have their eyes open to potential scams.’
Jo Hanby is founder of website Sell My Wedding Dress, part of a burgeoning market for trading preowned dresses. She says the vast majority of her site’s users are legitimate, but she is aware that fraudsters are constantly trying to hoodwink unwitting buyers and sellers.
She adds: ‘The advice is the same whatever you are buying or selling online. You must have your wits about you. If something seems too good to be true, leave it well alone.’
HOW TO AVOID FALLING FOR A SCAM
THERE are ways to avoid being a victim of fraud if you are selling items online. A genuine buyer will never offer to pay more than your asking price, so this should set alarm bells ringing. If someone sends an overpayment, return it and ask for the correct amount.
If you have set up a PayPal account to accept payments, always log in yourself so you know you are using the legitimate website. Do not use a link in an email sent to you by a potential buyer. If someone emails you a link to the PayPal website and asks you to re-enter your information do not be fooled. They are simply phishing for banking details that can be used to defraud you.
PayPal will never request that you send money in order to release funds owed to you or to release a transaction currently on hold. Also, it is imperative to wait for funds to be cleared through your bank account – or for a cheque to clear – before you send any item to the buyer. Finally, be suspicious of offers to pay via MoneyGram or Western Union as these payment methods are not traceable.
HOW DO WEDDING DRESS WEBSITES WORK?
IF YOU want to sell your wedding dress, you will first need to register with a chosen website. You may have to pay to do this.
For example, Sell My Wedding Dress charges from £10, while Still White charges from £17.
You can then list your wedding dress online, including a description, photographs and your asking price. Potential buyers will then contact you through the website to ask questions and make offers.
Expect your dress to take between two and six months to sell. Newer styles and recognised brands sell fastest.
Once a price is agreed with a buyer, it is advisable to use a third party payment provider, such as PayPal, for the transaction. This is linked to your bank account but is a more secure way to receive payments as you do not have to give out your bank details.
Hanby says: ‘Always wait for the funds to be cleared into your own bank account – once they have gone through PayPal – before shipping your wedding dress.’