There are many sites (Example: AdsGlobe.com) on the Internet which allows free classified ads. It is as simple as going to a site and placing an ad for anything for free. This creates a very unsafe environment for the public; ads can be placed without any back round check or screening.But selling or buying stuff online always involves some level of risk. Today so many are affected with frauds.

Here are 10 common methods and warning signs of online fraud:

PayPal Fraud:

Most of the classified sites are doing transactions through PayPal. With the rapid growth in the number of PayPal users, frauds on PayPal accounts have become more frequent and severe.

To access a PayPal account you need to have the username and password of the account. The username of a PayPal account is the main email address (primary email address) used to register the account. The security system is quite secure as long as the username and password of the PayPal account are known only to the actual owner of the account. If these details are available to anyone else it would mean that the security of that PayPal account has been compromised.

Automotive Fraud:

A fraudster posts a vehicle for sale on an online classified site, generally for luxury or sports cars advertised for thousands less than market value. The details of the vehicle, including photos and description, are typically lifted from other sites and re-posted elsewhere. An interested buyer, hopeful for a bargain, emails the seller, who responds saying the car is still available but is located overseas. He then instructs the buyer to send a deposit amount to initiate the “shipping” process. The innocent buyer gives the funds, and does not discover until days or weeks later that they were scammed.

Travel Fraud:

Some Travel agencies tries to fraud by posting fake ad posting in the classified sites asking to buy cheap Travel packages and tries to impress on the offers they are providing.

Once the traveller has paid the processing fee, the travel agent will come up with additional charges or in extreme cases even disappear.

Dating Fraud:

The classified sites are providing a category for Dating. And some sites are providing only Dating ads. Online dating scams and fraud are almost as old as Internet dating itself. The person who frauds often tries to develop a relationship, and eventually convinces the victim to send money. The scammer often meets the victim in chat rooms or via online dating classified sites. Their object is not to get into their hearts, but to get into their wallets. They will try to earn someone’s affections and trust so that they can persuade him/her to send money. The requests for money can either be a one time event or repeated over an extended period of time. After spending time communicating and building a relationship with the victim, the scammer will ask for help in the form of money.

Rental Fraud:

Fraudsters operating are trying to confuse those who are seeking on rent. The scammers posts an ad in the classified site that property is for rent and pretends to be the owners of a property and when the customer responds to the ad, fraudsters ask to make a deposit and for some personal information to be sent via email. Keys to the home, they promise that they would be sent as soon as possible.

Car Dealer Fraud:

Most auto classifieds online give a price, which you can work with, but a regular trick, which is frustrating and time consuming for customers is this.

When the dealer wants to get rid of the old car quickly, the dealer will run a large advertising in classified sites, with the price ridiculously below cost. When the advertisement runs, the dealer waits for customers to flood through the doors. The customer will be buying that old car thinking to be new car and deposits the amount to the dealer assuming that he is buying a car at very low cost. He does not know about the fraud until he receives the car or he may not even receive the car.

Work-at-Home Scams:

Work at home job offers are more in classified sites. The job offer section is almost filled with work from home, online data entry, Earn Money Typing at Home, Real jobs with Real companies and so on.

Why are so many people interested in these types of jobs?

The answer is so many people are interested in work from home jobs so that they get to work from home, spend more time with their family, don’t have to worry about leaving house and getting stuck in that traffic.

So some companies are taking advantage of this fact and post ads in jobs category since the latest trend in searching job is through online classified sites. Companies say that they guarantee that you will get a job. The only you have to do is to have a one-time, lifetime enrollment fee and that enrollment fee is backed with a 90-day money back guarantee. All we ask is that you participate in the program for 60 days and once they receive payment they will not respond back.

Pet Classified Scams:

In recent years, online Pet Classifieds scams have increased and have affected many people.

Online classifieds scams pose threats to both sellers and buyers.

Posing As a Seller: A Person can post an ad for a puppy that only exists in the item description. Actually, seller doesn’t have the puppy that he/she is trying sell or give away. Seller will then ask for money and refer them to the shipping company who is supposed to send the puppy to the buyer. Buyer waits for few days and contacts the seller, but no answer. Tries again for couple of more days, no answer. Finally buyer decides to call the shipping company with the reference number for the puppy. Shipping company replies that they don’t have anything related to this reference number or it is not for your puppy. Buyer loses money.

Posing As a Buyer: A scammer can pose as a buyer of a puppy and contacts the seller. Buyer is desperate to buy and accepts your listed price and suggests that his/her agent will pick up the puppy with a check that is more than the asking price. In return, they ask buyer to deduct amount for the item, get remaining amount and give a fake cashier’s check. Seller will lose the puppy and the money.

Home Improvement and Home Repair Fraud:

Each homeowner wants their home to be as comfortable as possible. Home improvement or home repair can be a major expense and every homeowner looks out for the best deal that is available in the market. These large sums of money attract fraudsters to the home repair industry looking for ways to scam your money, while offering you fraudulently services.

Scammers post that they are offering to do expensive fixes for a fairly low price. This is just one technique dishonest home repair firms use to hook customers. Once you sign the contract and pay in advance, they don’t show up to complete the job and leave you with phony contact information.

This article is sponsored by DealsGlobe.com

Attleboro, MA – According to Jupiter Research, Online Classified advertising will reach 3.5 Billion Dollars annually by 2007. Pet classifieds are expected to triple in numbers every year as more internet users seek classified listings online for their pet needs.

Pet and pet services classified ads online are creating new marketplaces where pet service providers, pet breeders, and pet owners are meeting and doing business 24 hours a day and seven days a week using the internet. According to the IAB (Internet Advertising Bureau) in a study sponsored by Price Waterhouse, Classified Advertising Spending was at 577 Million Dollars for the last quarter of 2005. This represents an annual spend of over Two Billion Dollars. Although the Report does not specify the type of classified ads that were posted online, it is easy to guess that Pet and Pet Services Classified ads have grown with every other category.

And while this type of advertising online has continued to meet the needs of legitimate service providers and those who may want to post a pet for sale ad; it has also led to the necessity for these website operators to take steps to reduce the number of scams and frauds that are perpetrated through pet classified ads. Petboro.com has recently modified their database to remove free memberships in order to deal with scammers who had been posting fake ads.

According to Sarfaraz Nasir, the webmaster at Petboro, “In order to remove fraudulent postings on our site, we have removed more than 6,000 free members and now only allowing paid members to post classifieds.”

By changing to a paid membership base and allowing only paying members to post their classified ads, Petboro has in effect created a system that will protect both pet buyers and pet sellers. Petboro will allow people to post their Wanted Pet Classified Ads without registration and without cost, but only registered members will be able to contact the advertisers. Paid Membership benefits include placing unlimited pet classifieds with photos plus free directory listing in the Pet Business Directory. Membership fee is only $4.99/month. New members who sign up can get two years for the price of one.

As online pet classified websites continue to crop up, it will be important to recognize that established sites such as Petboro.com have experience in helping people find the pets they want while minimizing the risks associated with conducting business online. Using an established pet classified listing website also provides those who have pet services to advertise with a safe and cost effective place to sell their wares and services.

Pet Finder websites and pet classified ads websites will continue to see progressive growth as more and more people go online to find services and products.

About Petboro.com

Petboro.com was established in 2004 and has been serving the pet needs of its members proudly for over 2 years. With a continuing commitment to excellence in the pet classified listing services and a strong desire to prevent pet classified advertising fraud, Petboro.com remains a “safe haven” for advertisers of pets for sale ads, pet adoption ads and pet services ads. Free Classifieds Articles

Hi there, i was very happy when i came across your advert looking for a cross breed. we have one bitch here for adoptions so you can mail or call for more informations thanks.

Hello , i am very much interested in this Sigma DG 28-300mm lens of yours ….. kindly get back to me if you still have this item for sale …. hope to read back from you …Mike

I’m interesteds in buying your pet you place online for sale cos since i lost my pretty & little chance (Dog)i need new pet to replace him. My wife and kids as been so lonely at home, No pet to keep their company when I’ m not around. Tell me the price and what to put in place to buy this pet.

Hi, My Name is Mr.Goodman Derik, a British national working with armnesty internation west african region. I am interested in your home for the period of 30th August to 30th september is it still avalaiable for the chosen dates? Pls get back to me if it is still avalaiable. Thanks for reading, i await your response. Goodman Derik

My Name is Jason presently in Finland, I saw your pets placed on the website, I was so excited about it and down to get it at all cost because it suit my need.. I would like you to give me the final asking price. I will handle shipment of it to my location in the Finland, I will like to know if you accept my Check as a method of payment, it will be my check in the any form you like it, i have an account with the Bank in UK, EUROPE and USA…..i moved almost arround the world to buy some used and autos and items, i am a business and a trader man, i will be glad if u like to be paid by check, because i promise it wont take a you long to cash it anywhere, i will issue that right now and mail it out to your location, get back to me if you accept my terms, Are you the real owner and seller? If you accept the payment method I will like you to reply with me as soon as possible and answer those few questions,Regards Jason Pls contact me immediately

Dear Seller, In reference to your online placed ad, please could you tell me whether the (BMW 3 Series 318i SE) is still for sale? And could you also tell me whether its condition remains as discribed in your ad? Please include the current price too. Write soon. Gerard Marcus

Dear Sir/Madam: my name is mark let me know if the car you advertised for sale is still available and get back to me with your last price?and your mode of payment? also you can send me other pictures for view?so that i should be able to issue payment fast becouse i will soon move for my holiday so please get back to me as soon as possible. thanks.

Hello, Good day to you am interested in buying your ( ADVERT ) I want you to send me the last price I have a shipping company who will take care of the shippiment…….do get back to me as soon as possible Thanks. Regards

Many mornings seller how is your days. I am interested in purchacing (GUITAR) for my familys house. Please get back to me soonest with regards to shipping of things for sell. I will soon move from family house and will need you to furnish the houses. Kindly let me know the current price and conditions. Bill Smiths

Hello I am interested in making direct purchases from you due to your advert FOR SALE i saw on the internet while browsing. Kindly provide me with your BEST OFFER FOR SALES.as am very much interested in buying your advert product and when you are replying to my e-mail let me know how much you want to let it go and also try and send me some pictures of the advert, so that i can know if its really worth the amount you are willing to sell it.And i will definitely discuss the price with my Client. I expect your urgent reply.

Hi, My name is Good man Derik, A british industrialist. I am interested in your property, i will like to know if it is still avalaiable for sale?the reason why you wanna sell it and the terms of purchase? Hope to hear from you soon Good man Derik

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If you think you have been a victim of a scam please contact your local police and trading standards officers as soon as possible.

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