Facebook Marketplace is popular with sellers. The fraudsters know that too. You contact the provider via Facebook Messenger and are allegedly interested in the goods. You offer DPD to collect the goods and to hand over the money in an envelope when they are picked up.
However, the seller must purchase PCS top-up coupons and send them to the buyer. Once the top-up coupons are in the hands of the fraudsters, you will never be heard from again.
The scam
An alleged prospect reports on the ad in Facebook Marketplace via Messenger: “Hello, is the article still available for display? If so, please confirm the price ”.
If the seller confirms, the fraudster will contact you again immediately and say: “Ok, I’ll pay by DPD EXPRESS shipping in the envelope as soon as you receive the money, I’ll send DPD to pick up the goods at your home”.
What’s next
The buyer claims that DPD sends a postman and a few freight forwarders to the seller’s home who bring the money and take the goods with them. All the seller has to do is provide his address, email and telephone number.
There is, however, a “handling insurance fee” that the seller has to pay. But that is not a problem because the buyer adds the amount to the purchase price.
Seller should buy PCS Mastercard Codes
The fraudster instructs the seller to buy the PCS Mastercard Code and to send this code to the alleged DPD email account:
“The procedure is very simple, go to this link https://www.recharge.com/de-ch/pcs to purchase the PCS Mastercard top-up coupons.”
What should I do
- For sales on classified advertising platforms, YOU should specify the shipping route (ideally insured) and the payment method. Don’t get carried away by other services / payments.
- Please wait until the money has actually been credited to your account before sending it.
- Never send credit or authentication codes to anyone as prepayment
I have sent the codes ready
- If you fell for the scam, check with the payment provider whether you can still block it.
- In any case, report the incident to the relevant provider for the electronic payment method involved.
- If you have suffered financial or other damage, go to your local police station after making an appointment by telephone and file a complaint.
Additional information
Those: cybercrimepolice.ch
Cover picture: JaysonPhotography – shutterstock.com
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