So let’s start to discover their methods. First, the fraudsters post bulk actions to the above sites. Some of the auctions sites are free and some are paid. Paid auctions give some credibility to the buyer. After they convinced the buyer that this is a good transaction because the price is very small, like 20%-40% less than the normal price, they ask your details like name, address, phone number, etc. After they have received this information from you they will send a legit fake invoice.

The invoice will come from a good and also big company like Autotrader, Yahoo Finance, eBay and will ask you to pay to through Western Union, Money Gram or wire transfer. You think that is nothing suspicious because in the invoice is told that the company will keep the funds / money until you get the object or the item. Also the company require a reply to that email after the payment is made because the company must ask the seller to start shipping the item. Sounds good no? You are protected by scams and fraud. BUT is wrong, because the e-mail that you received from the company is spoofed. In the email you are asked to send the money to an agent of that company, not to the company itself. After the payment is made, you will reply to that message with the details. The email will arrive straight in the inbox of the swindlers and with fake ids they will pick up the money. At your home, you are 100% convinced that you made a great deal, but in reality the one that make a good deal is the fraudster.

So just remember there is no such thing as Autotrader Purchase Protection Service, Yahoo Protection Service, eBay protection (eBay just offer protection through PayPal, not another method of sending money) or something like that is a scam. If you receive invoices with subject like the one above, I beg you to report to the authorities and don’t send the money. This companies don’t intermediate, guarantee or endorse transactions between seller and buyer.

Be safe.