You probably all know what a scam is, but do you all know how to protect yourselves from con artists that are trying to trick you into handing over your goods and hard-earned money? We would all love to have an online guardian that glides through the Internet with us daily to ensure that we are browsing safely 24/7. The reality is we need to learn how to protect ourselves to be safe at all times.
We at Junk Mail take scam busting very seriously. We have a dedicated Scam Buster who trawls through our site daily and rejects all the scam adverts to make buying and selling safer for you. You could say that our Scam Buster is like having your very own online classifieds guardian angel.
When it comes to teaching our users about the protective measures of online scams we make sure you have all the tools to spot a scam, before this scam catches you. We also make a point as taking the necessary measures to curbs scams to make sure that you have a safer trading experience.
This post gives a bit of insight about what the Junk Mail are actively doing to curb scams:
- We moderate every single advert that gets submitted to us: Yes folks, Junk Mail has a proofreading team dedicated to checking each and every advert that gets sent to us. Our proofreading team rejects fraudulent /suspicious adverts to protect all our buyers / sellers when they are using our platform.
- We report notable scammers to the SAPS: If we receive reports of a fraudster or scammer using our services we report the person to the SAPS. We also provide the needed information to Junk Mail users that have been scammed as evidence so they can strengthen their case against the fraudsters.
- We make Junk Mail users aware about the newest scams / fraudulent activity that we are made aware of: Over the last few years we have been publishing blog posts that explain how scams work, provided information on how to avoid being scammed and have given tips on how to buy and sell safe via classifieds. Links to all of these posts are on the Safety and Security page on the Junk Mail blog. We continue to provide scam information to Junk Mail users on a regular basis.
- We are continually improving our system to keep scammers out: We recently upgraded our platform to make sure that all scammers are placed on a block list. This means that the scammers email is blocked from the system and they can’t use that email to place adverts. We also have the same system for telephone numbers. Once a con artists email or telephone number is picked up this advert is flagged and deleted. There is the odd scam that the system does miss. If you do find a scam, we ask that you please protect our other users by reporting this scam to us immediately.
Hi, I just received this reply from a juliaboland@gmail.com after responding to an ad for a Red Audi that has been on your site a number of times.(now removed)
“Hello again ,
The reason that I’m selling the car at this price is because my husband worked for the Greece embassy in South Africa and he passed away 2 weeks ago, and I moved back to Greece , because I don’t have anyone in South Africa . I found a shipping company from Greece that could bring me the car here , but people from registrations told me that is impossible to register the car in Greece and their advice is to sell it back in South Africa.I decide to sell it online because the plane ticket from Greece -> South Africa and back in Greece cost me more then 2000 euros.We’re going to use Google Wallet so let me explain how their transaction works.
– First i need your Full Name and address where the car to be delivered (Street , City, Postal Code )
– Google Wallet will send you an invoice for payment and all details about this transaction
– Then you will have to do an deposit to them NOT TO ME ( they all hold this money all the time in their system )
– In 2 days you will receive the car and you will have 15 days to test it and to take a decision:
A ) If you don’t like the car Google Wallet will send your money back and the shipping company will come to take the car.
B ) If you decide to keep it ( I’m sure that ) you have to give them the confirmation to pay me, because they will not pay me until you
gave the the confirmation that you want to keep the car.
P.S: I used Google Wallet in the past and all my transactions with them has been successfully made and I trust them , don’t forget to send me your details to begin this transaction (Full Name, Street, City,Postal Code) Thank you !”
I knew it was suspect but wanted to see how the scam worked.I’ve never heard of Googlewallet and from reading the dozens and dozens of other tales, they don’t actually use Googlewallet.
The fact that these people can keep putting up new ads month after month on your website after they have been reported is ridiculous.
I eventually found your Avoid Scams page and it has taught me in a few minutes how to spot the common scams. But it could have easily been too little, too late.
One of your many Scam alert articles states that:
“Junk Mail has a proofreading team dedicated to checking each and every advert that gets sent to us.Our proofreading team rejects fraudulent /suspicious adverts to protect all our buyers / sellers when they are using our platform”
The ad I read for the red Audi had lots of tell-tale signs of being a scam but your Proof readers missed it!!!Scammers are still taking the chance because the checking and deterrents aren’t working as well as we would hope.
I suggest you make the Avoid Scams button on your header much more prominent or better still,make it compulsory for Buyers/Sellers to read up on the typical scams before they can post or reply to ads.
Hi Roger, please send us the contact details so that we can follow up and take the needed steps.
Your proof readers are missing this person Julia Boland. She is using your platform again. This time selling a John Deer tractor.
Same scam and story. I think you guys should take some sort of action against this bogus seller!!!!!!
Hi Paul. Thank you for the information. Please be so kind as to send our Customer Care Department an e-mail (ccc@junkmail.co.za) detailing the ad if you can? Thank you in advance.
She’s still at it. She is trying to sell a 2007 Hyundai Sonata 2.4 GLS as well. I did sent an email to the ccc@junkmail address.
Hi Maryke. Thank you for sending the e-mail.
Hi there
Tpday I received an email from Julia Boland julia.f.boland@gmail.com . I responded with more questions about the vehicle she is selling on OLX. She has not responded which is why i googled her. Beware she might still be scamming on all different sites.
Hi Bianca,
Thank you for the information. It will be sent to our Customer Care Department.
Kind regards,
The Junk Mail Online Team
She’s still at it. She is trying to sell a 2002 Suzuki Motorbike and an 2009 Honda CBR900RR as well. I did sent an email to the ccc@junkmail address.
Hi Bertie,
Thank you very much for e-mailing our Customer Care. They confirmed they did receive your e-mail.
Kind regards,
The Junk Mail Online Team
Hi
julia.f.boland@gmail.com is still at it. She is “selling” a 1995 Hilux. Below is the response she sent me for my enquiry.
Yes is still available for sale at R 15.000 …The car is in good condition, has no technical damages at all, no scratches or dents,no hidden defects.Never been dropped, laid down, raced or in an accident. It comes with all the documents needed for registration, it has a clear title and it can be registered into your name at any time…There are no known problems with the car as far as I know.
I`m waiting for your reply as soon as possible.
Thank you !
Hi TJ,
Our Customer Care Department will be in contact with you soonest.
Kind regards,
The Junk Mail Online Team
She is at it again on gumtreee, selling a 2004 jugens palma caravan for R38000 which is about R100000.00 below normal price for a good one.
Hi Malcolm,
Thank you for the comment. We will keep an eye out for this advert on Junk Mail.
Kind regards,
The Junk Mail Online Team
Got same reply as TJ on a Toyota Prado 2003.
“Yes is still available for sale at R 72.000 …The car is in good condition, has no technical damages at all, no scratches or dents,no hidden defects.Never been dropped, laid down, raced or in an accident. It comes with all the documents needed for registration, it has a clear title and it can be registered into your name at any time…There are no known problems with the car as far as I know.
I`m waiting for your reply as soon as possible.
Thank you !
The same vechile is on gumtree with visible number plate.
Look at the following links.
http://m.olx.co.za/item/show/627864657
http://www.gumtree.co.za/a-cars/noordhoek/immaculate-toyota-land-cruiser-prado-4-0-vx-a-t/1001102886350910000394909
Hi Ralph,
Thank you for the information. Please be so kind as to forward us the e-mail received to Scam@JunkMail.co.za.
Kind regards,
The Junk Mail Online Team
And she is at it again.
Jeep Wrangler
Yes is still available for sale at R 59.000 …The car is in good condition, has no technical damages at all, no scratches or dents,no hidden defects.Never been dropped, laid down, raced or in an accident. It comes with all the documents needed for registration, it has a clear title and it can be registered into your name at any time…There are no known problems with the car as far as I know.
I`m waiting for your reply as soon as possible.
Thank you !
Thank you for the info Jason!
I’m interested in knowing if you ever caught any thus far
Hi Tommy,
We work very closely with the Police to put these scammers behind bars. So, we have been responsible for a few scammers landing behind bars.
Hi there I placed an ad stating that I’m looking to buy a honda steed motorcycle after wich a lady sent me an sms with pics of a steed motorcycle and a price of 12000 wich didn’t tha suspiceos to me couse it was and 88 model they to me to call them if I’m interested I called them and he told me he was in vrystaat and selling his dead sons motorcycle and he wants it gone soon it comes with an exta rear tyre and some gear they told me to send them R4000 thru spar money market so that they have proof of payment for the insurance should anything happen I didn’t want to do that and the man got aggressinve quickly after all that he sent me a photo of wich I thought to be his I’d so stupid me I decided to pay the money before I got the money he called me again and he was agressiv again he made it sound like he was at the police station clear the papers of his name before sending the bike and he needed my details urgently I also heard his wife in the background wich I thought was a nother fone telling him I didn’t send the details yet so I sent the details and a photo of my I’d and I sent the money after wich I talked to them a couple of times but when the time came for delivery they’re phones were dead I suspect they use the photos or copys of the peoples Id’s that they previously scammed as they’re own this is the numbers and some sort of email adress but it seems you can’t send anything to the email adress 0793218362. +27738505474
Hi Xandre,
I am very sorry to hear you’ve been scammed.
Unfortunately you should never pay for something you haven’t seen yet.
I have sent the details to our Scam Buster team to investigate. In the meantime, please make sure to open a case of Fraud with the SAPS and send us the case number to CustomerCare@JunkMail.co.za.
We hope to hear from you soon!