Avoiding Scams
Deal locally, face-to-face —follow this one rule and
avoid 99% of scam attempts.
- Do
not provide payment to anyone you have not met in person.
- Beware
offers involving shipping - deal with locals you can meet in person.
- Never
wire funds (e.g. Western Union) - anyone who asks you to is a scammer.
- Don't
accept cashier/certified checks or money orders - banks cash fakes,
then hold you responsible.
- Transactions
are between users only, no third party provides a
"guarantee".
- Never
give out financial info (bank account, social security, paypal
account, etc).
- Do
not rent or purchase sight-unseen—that amazing "deal" may
not exist.
- Refuse
background/credit checks until you have met landlord/employer in
person.
- "DealEmbassy
voicemails" - Any message asking you to access or check
"Dealembasy voicemails" or "Dealembassy voice
messages" is fraudulent - no such service exists.