FRAUDSTERS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF CORONAVIRUS
Riders are urged to be vigilant buying online during Covid-19
Fraudsters have been using the cover of coronavirus to attempt to take people’s money when they are buying bikes online. The nature of their scam is nothing new, but travel restrictions and people’s concerns about meeting strangers have offered them the perfect way past defences.
What happens
This type of fraud takes place via most online selling methods but is prevalent on auction sites, including eBay where a decrease in genuine listings due to lockdown has made the volume of scam listings more noticeable. Often the advert includes good quality photographs and a reasonably detailed description because it is a carbon copy of a genuine advert that’s appeared in the past. But the ‘vendors’ usually fall down when questioned more closely.
“I am a member of a motorcycle forum and recently a member highlighted several adverts on eBay that were for motorcycles which had already been sold,” reported one MCN reader, who wished to remain anonymous. “Three adverts had been copied. I replied to one asking for more information and the guy encouraged me to send cash to an escrow account for the bike.”
Watch out
In the adverts that MCN has seen, the seller replaced one of the photographs with some text which includes an email address to contact them directly. They often claim this is ‘easier’, but doing so takes you out of the loop of protection eBay offers to buyers. This scam has become easier to carry off because viewing a bike in the metal has been made harder due to Covid.
“The responses to most of the enquiries we sent were all the same,” adds the reader. “Viewing under Covid-19 lockdown was not possible and to pay cash to the escrow account with the bike delivered on a five-day returns policy if we didn’t like it.”
MCN contacted eBay, presenting them with a fraudulent listing, with the site responding: “The listing you shared was confirmed fraudulent and has been removed by our fraud team. We invest heavily in teams dedicated to fraud prevention, customer service and law enforcement liaison to ensure the safety of our users.
“We urge users to use their best judgment and follow the tips on our safety centre for buying vehicles safely. It is always advisable to make payment once the buyer has viewed the item in person. We recommend treating with caution any request for bank transfers in advance of viewing the vehicle.
“Anyone who is concerned they have been a victim of fraud should get in touch with eBay customer services.”
‘They tried to get me to send cash’ MOTOR CYCLE NEWS READER