Please keep in mind that for $49 a year, anyone can join the MOA and therefore have access to the forum or marketplace, including less than honorable people. The telltale signs of a scam still exist in the marketplace, as they do in most online forums or classified operations.
Some common ways to tell if you are dealing with a scammer
And to help other users, if you feel like you're being contacted in the forum by a scam, click the "Reported Post" button. We can always investigate who has viewed the thread and potentially prevent them from taking advantage of other users. Reporting a post will not remove the original thread or harm the lister of that item. It will only send an alert to moderators of the marketplace in the form that there is something in question.
Be smart online. 99% of all transactions are legitimate and happen without an issue, but don't fall victim to the 1%.
Some common ways to tell if you are dealing with a scammer
- It is usually a seller of an item contacting you directly, requesting that you send them payment.
- Remember that they do not have your contact information outside of what is visible in the forum, they cannot contact you by text or email. They would have to contact you through a forum post or through the private messaging system to be legitimate.
- Broken English or strange phrases in a message should raise your suspicions. Remember that people typically speak in general conversational language and simply say, "I would like to buy your item. How can I send you the money?" rather than more formal language
- If a buyer or seller refuses to speak with you on the phone or have contact via phone, that should be a red flag
- Using the PayPal option and demanding that you send money via friends and family to avoid the fees is also a red flag. Remember that a 2-3% fee on a $100 transaction is $3. If they demand using friends and family to avoid the fees, walk away or offer to pay the fee so that you are protected.
And to help other users, if you feel like you're being contacted in the forum by a scam, click the "Reported Post" button. We can always investigate who has viewed the thread and potentially prevent them from taking advantage of other users. Reporting a post will not remove the original thread or harm the lister of that item. It will only send an alert to moderators of the marketplace in the form that there is something in question.
Be smart online. 99% of all transactions are legitimate and happen without an issue, but don't fall victim to the 1%.
