Medford, Ore. — Police have a warning tonight for anyone who uses Craigslist. Beware of scammers.
Lt. Mike Budreau said Craigslist overages are the most popular scam they see in the area. But it’s not the buyer who ends up being the victim, it’s the seller.
“Be really cautious about any internet services where you’re not able to meet someone face to face or at least talk to the person,” Budreau said.
Say you’re selling something on Craigslist for $800. The scammer will send a check for $1000 then say they accidentally wrote the check for the wrong amount and ask for the $200 back. So you wire the $200 back. But when you go to deposit their check it’s fraudulent. Even if the money initially goes through.
Police said once your money is sent to the criminal it’s rare you’ll get it back.
“Anytime you have to wire money it’s a red flag,” Lt. Budreau said.
If you want to know how to protect yourself from scams, NBC5 and several partners are hosting a ‘Scam Jam’ Tuesday May 13. The sessions are at 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. at NBC5 studios in downtown Medford and are free to the public. Go to www.ScamJamOregon.com to register.
© 2024 KOBI-TV NBC5. All rights reserved unless otherwise stated.