- Here
are some basic precautions when dealing with email enquiries or responding
to internet advertisements. Although there are exceptions, be careful
of public email enquiries (e.g. from Yahoo.com, Yahoo.com.au, Yahoo.co.uk, Yahoo.co.in, Hotmail.com, Live.com. Live.com.au, googlemail.com. gmail.com); interstate
or international customers and people who don't provide local phone
number.
| AUSTRALIAN GOVERMENT
SCAM WATCH INFORMATION SERVICE:
- Australian Consumer Fraud Taskforce
- Learn about the latest scams, read victim stories, find out how to protect yourself from scams.
- Report a scam: phone the ACCC Infocentre on
1300 302 502 (8.30 am - 6 pm)
or email ACT, NSW, VIC, SA, WA, SA, NT, TAS State Office of
Fair Trading are (details shown below)
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT NET ALERT:
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GUIDELINES
FOR INTERNET SELLERS (advertisers)
- WHEN YOU ADVERTISE ON
THE INTERNET AND RECEIVE EMAIL ENQUIRIES, do
not respond to emails that look suspicious for whatever reason:
- INTERSTATE ENQUIRY:
if the enquirer is from interstate, make sure you obtain their
full name, address and phone number. Then talk to the seller over
the phone (NOT just email).
- OVERSEAS ENQUIRY: if
the enquirer is outside Australia - the enquiry is probably not genuine
- PUBLIC EMAIL ENQUIRY:
if the enquirer's
email is a public free email such as Yahoo.com, Yahoo.com.au, Hotmail.com, Live.com. Live.com.au, googlemail.com. gmail.com - be
wary as they could be anyone and could be anywhere! So ask for full
name, address and phone number
- YOUR BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS:
do not provide your bank account details under any circumstance, unless
you've met the buyer in person and agreed on a sale through face to
face negotiation.
- If in doubt, do not respond.
A genuine customer will want to see the item and talk to you after
the initial email.
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| GUIDELINES
FOR INTERNET BUYERS
- WHEN YOU RESPOND TO INTERNET
ADS, be aware of the following warning signs:
- EXCEPTUALLY LOW PRICE:
If an ad looks too good to be true - that is the price is way
below the prevailing market price - BEWARE, it may be a scam
- DO NOT SEND ANY MONEY:
unless you've personally inspected the item and negotiated face to
face meeting with the seller, do not send any deposit money to an
advertiser
- INTERSTATE ADVERTISER:
if the seller is interstate, make sure you obtain their full name,
address and phone number. Then talk to the seller over the phone (NOT
just email).
- OVERSEAS ADVERTISER:
if the seller is based outside Australia - it is likely to be
a scam, so do not respond
- CONTACT PHONE NUMBER:
a genuine seller typically provides a contact phone number. If the
ad only shows public email address (e.g Yahoo.com, Hotmail.com etc)
be wary. Ask for a local phone number and talk to the seller.
- PHOTOS: treat internet
photos with caution unless they clearly display unique id such as
local registration number. A genuine advertiser will let you come
and inspect the item.
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