Grey nomads are being targeted by unscrupulous scammers posting fake ads for items like motorhomes and boats. Police say they have seen an alarming rise in fiddles designed to con Australia’s travelling retirees out of their cash.
The dummy ads online and in print classifieds offer goods for eye-catchingly low prices and provide a phone number. The scammer then communicates with the unsuspecting would-be buyer by text message and email to negotiate a deal.
“The scammer requests a considerable payment (up to 50%) upfront by electronic transfer, then provide instructions to contact a freight company to arrange delivery and make final payment,” NSW Police warns. “It is understood that the freight company contact details provided by the scammer defer to another scammer, who takes a final payment before providing a fraudulent tracking number.”
The goods then never arrive. While it should be stressed that most classified advertisements in reputable publications and on reputable websites are from genuine sellers seeking to sell a caravan, motorhome or camping accessory for a valid reason at a reasonable price, the secret to avoiding trouble is to always be on the alert for any indication that things don’t quite add up.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission’s (ACCC) urges people browsing classifieds to look out for key warning signs, especially low prices that are too good to be true and sellers who say they’re away and insist on early payment.
“When you show interest in the item, the scammer may claim that they are travelling or have moved overseas and that an agent will deliver the goods following receipt of payment,” it said. “Following payment you may receive a fake email receipt claiming to be from the website’s secure payment provider, however, you won’t receive the goods and will not be able to contact the seller.”
The ACCC said genuine sellers were at risk of being scammed too.
“Scammers may make up stories such as needing your help to pay an agent or third party for upfront costs like transportation or insurance,” it said. “They may promise you reimbursement for these costs but you will lose the money.”
ACCC deputy chairwoman Delia Rickard said the best way to avoid the traps was to be sceptical and do research. “Be sceptical about an online store you haven’t used before,” she said. “Do some research to see if they’re legitimate and don’t be fooled by big discounts.”
In relation to the fake ads targeting the grey nomads, police said investigations showed these scams also involved identity takeovers, phishing, and mobile phone porting, which helps scammers hide their identity.
• Comment below.
Life was so much simpler before advanced technology raised its ugly head. Scammers are the lowest thieves of all.
Adv. In local paper 3 years ago mobile phone number, guy was on Sydney same scam I reported that number to police
Hard to trust people’s adds any longer .To many scammers .It a shame they don’t apply the same amount of effort in doing right thing and just get a job.
FFS GRAY NOMADS… never pay for anything until you receive it or the work has been done… Don’t make us out to be ‘DUMMIES’… use your noggin!
AS ABOVE. If it sounds too good to be true it is, dont need to know anymore than that. Stevo
I have had several buyers wanting to buy my car, who are “overseas/in the army/navy etc” for their son as a surprise. All communication by messages. Would you buy a car unseen, no haggle on price etc? Of course not, so don’t believe someone else will!
Michael same happens to my car on Carsales.com, overseas and wanted to buy but I had to send $1k first for some kind of fee which would be refunded later obviously scam I told them where to go and reported phone number to carsales. Main thing is they will never communicate via the official messages on gumtree or carsales so there is a record, always want to text or use their email which is then deleted. Be very wary of anyone selling or buying with goods unseen!
We were nearly taken in by scammers, but when they said the van was in WA when it was supposed to be in Sydney alarm bells started ringing.