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Important MacDirectory Safety Tips!
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Occasionally we do get reports of people attempting to scam MacDirectory users. We have found that one of the best ways to address this problem is to ensure that all transactions take place locally and in-person. Remember that MacDirectory is a local classifieds web site and ads are not reviewed before they go live on the site.
Avoid scam by using these common-sense guidelines:
DEAL LOCALLY WITH INDIVIDULS YOU CAN MEET IN PERSON - If you meet with someone in person, you will reduce virtually all scam attempts. When buying or selling, you should always meet in-person to see the product and exchange funds. MacDirectory is all about local transactions!
MACDIRECTORY IS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY SALE TRANSACTION - MacDirectory does not handle payments, guarantee transactions, provide escrow services, etc. Also, MacDirectory does not offer any sort of buyer or seller protection programs or secure payment systems.
NEVER WIRE FUNDS VIA WESTERN UNION, MONEYGRAM or any other wire service - anyone who asks you to do is looking to scam you! This includes never mailing a check or using payment other payment service.
FAKE CASHIER CHECKS & MONEY ORDERS ARE COMMON, and BANKS WILL CASH THEM AND THEN HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE when the fake is discovered weeks later!!
NEVER PROVIDE PERSONAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION - Never provide your personal or banking information (e.g. social security number, credit card number) to others over the Internet. Never give out your MacDirectory password, even if asked to do so in an email supposedly sent by MacDirectory employees.
AVOID DEALS INVOLVING SHIPPING OR ESCROW SERVICES and know that ONLY A SCAMMER WILL "GUARANTEE" YOUR TRANSACTION.
Use common sense. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
COMMON EXAMPLES OF SCAMS AND FRAUD
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Brand name emails: You get an email that claims to be from MacDirectory, Western Union, or another company and offers buyer protection or an online payment system. These emails will typically request that you send money via this site or provide personal information. MacDirectory and most other companies will never send out such emails. If you send money via these sites you are likely sending money to the fraudsters.
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Overpayment: A buyer or seller will send you a check and then ask for money to be returned to them. Often the check will bounce and you will have lost all money you sent to the other party.
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Payment for brokerage/importing: A seller claims that there are brokerage fees, import duties, or other such fees required to get an item into a particular country. Do not pay such fees, as you will most often never get the product and will have lost any money you paid. Again, MacDirectory is designed for local, in-person trading.
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Fake escrow sites: A buyer or seller suggests using an escrow service to complete the transaction. Often these escrow web sites are run by fraudsters (even though they may look "official") and they will take your money and never send you the product.
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Work from home: Many work from home offers are "pyramid schemes" which require you to recruit other members in order to get paid. For example, an ad may say that you can make $50 an hour by stuffing envelopes. But to make that money, you need to sell the system to others.
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419 Scams: You get an email saying that your help is needed to help take money out of a country and that you will be paid a commission for your help. Eventually they will ask you for money to help them take the large amount of money out of the country and once you pay you will never hear from them again.
HOW TO REPORT SCAMS & FRAUD:
If you report any ad posted in MacDirectory by simply clicking on the "Report Violations" link. Flagging ads brings the ad to our team so we can review it and take the appropriate actions.
In addition you should contact the following support agencies and report your scam and fraud:
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FTC toll free hotline: 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357)
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FTC online complaint form (www.ftc.gov)
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Internet Fraud Complaint Center (www.ic3.gov/)
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Canadian Phone Busters hotline: 888-495-8501
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Non-emergency number for your local police department.
RECOGINIZING SCAMS
Most scams involve one or more of the following:
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Inquiry from someone that is not in your local area, far away, often in another country.
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Western Union, Money Gram, cashier's check, money order, shipping, escrow service, or a "guarantee.
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Buyer does not want to meet face-to-face before completing the transaction
PERSONAL SAFETY TIPS
When meeting someone for the first time, please remember to:
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Meet on a public place like a coffee shop.
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Bring your cell phone
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Inform a family member or a friend where you're going
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Have a family member of friend accompany you
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Trust your instincts!
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For more information about personal safety online, check out these resources:
http://getsafeonline.org
http://wiredsafety.org
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