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Buying and Selling Safety

Millions of buyers and sellers already know: The Jewish Press Classifieds is a thriving marketplace full of great deals, and a safe, reliable place to meet honest buyers and sellers. With this in mind:

All ads listed on The Jewish Press Classifieds are reviewed by our internal editors. On the Internet, as in any business environment, one should always be careful as fraud or scams can exist. There isn't a single, surefire way to identify fraudulent sellers or buyers. However, we've listed some of the warning signs of fraud & helpful functionality to avoid fraudulent buyers below. Please note that none of these signs is a definitive indicator of a fraudulent seller. They are factors to help you identify high-risk transactions. Likewise, there is no guarantee that if a seller does not meet any of these criteria, it is legitimate. If you are suspicious, it's a good idea to do some research. It is very important to remember that if something doesn't seem right, it probably isn't.

Got questions? Ask the seller.

Most listings posted online at JewishPress.com will include the seller's contact information at the top of the ad. This is an easy way to make sure that your questions are answered before buying an item.

Warning Signs

Buyers who claim to be traveling abroad and offer to have their "agent", "business associate", or "friend" complete the transaction. They may offer to pay by Cashiers Check for over the amount. This 'buyer' will claim to trust you to return the overage of funds. Banks will often cash these checks then hold you accountable for the funds once the check fails to clear.
Sellers who insist that you use Western Union or other money transfer services.
Sellers who reside in distant countries.
Sellers that request money to be wired to Romania, Ukraine, Macedonia, Belarus, Pakistan, Russia, Lithuania, Egypt, Nigeria, Colombia, Malaysia, or Indonesia tend to have a very high incidence of fraud. Unless you have a lot experience with international orders, you may want to decline to send money to these countries.
Sellers offering an item significantly below market value. This is often a scam to engage many people to send money for a non-existent item. Common items are plasma TVs, computers, laptops, cell phones etc.
If it seems too good to be true, it probably is!

Who should I notify if I suspect fraud?

FTC toll free hotline: 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357)
FTC online complaint form (www.ftc.gov)
Internet Fraud Complaint Center (www.ifccfbi.gov/)