When sending messages through Kijiji and Kijiji Autos, we mask your email on top of other safeguards to try to ensure that every interaction you have is with a genuine member of the site. Despite these safeguards, it’s important to know the warning signs when buying and trading online.

 

They Move the Conversation to a New Platform

To avoid our security systems fraudsters will often request that you leave Kijiji and contact them through a private platform. If they ask you to reply to their personal email address instead of their masked Kijiji email, be cautious.

Note: Sometimes these requests can be legitimate, but if they refuse to speak anywhere other than through private email, it might be best to move on. Ask them to speak directly over the phone if they don’t want to use Kijiji messages.

 

They Can’t Meet In Person

Fraudsters operate remotely. This is partly because they need to cast a wide net to make money and partly for their own safety. They may have an elaborate excuse that makes them sound legitimate. Some common stories are that they work in a distant mining town, that they’re a member of the military, or that they’re buying a special present for a family member.

 

They Rush the Process

Fraudsters want to rush people into their scam before they begin to catch on. They’ll often send long-winded, overly detailed messages trying to finish the transaction right away.

 

They Skip Details

They don’t ask any detailed questions, or even mention the exact type of vehicle in their reply.

 

Too Good to be True Deals

In order to try and lure people into their scam, fraudsters will offer a deal that’s hard to refuse. If you offer less, they’ll accept on the first email. After all, they’re losing nothing in this deal unless you walk away.

If you’re selling the vehicle, they may offer you more than asking price, or may want to buy everything you have for sale all at once. They may even offer extra if you remove the ad right away to “ensure the sale”.

 

Odd Payment Requests

Since Fraudsters don’t usually meet in person, they need the money digitally. They may ask that you send them money through an untrustworthy method. Favourites include MoneyGram, Western Union, and other types of money transfer. They may also request payment through PayPal, but insist that you use the Friends & Family setting so that you are offered no protection.

Scams aimed at buyers are generally simple, but there are two types:

• They ask you to pay for the vehicle before you meet up
• They ask for a deposit for a vehicle you haven’t seen

There are 3 main types of scams aimed at sellers:

• They insist that you ship the vehicle to them before payment.
• They send you a payment notification or receipt and ask you to transfer some funds back to them before the full payment comes through.
• They send you a fake payment notification or receipt, then ask you to transfer some of that money to a shipping company. They not only tell you which company, but what account number to use for the transfer.

To learn more, read our quick-tips article about staying safe online. For more information on sending and receiving payments safely, click here.