Buyer loses deposit in online marketplace scam in Ontario

An Ontario resident lost their deposit in an online marketplace scam.

A resident of South-West Oxford Township, near Woodstock, reported the scam this week, OPP said.

The resident responded to an online marketplace ad advertising a couch for sale, police said. The buyer sent a $50 deposit through electronic banking, police said.

Right after the deposit was sent, the seller stopped communicating with the buyer, police added.

The resident reported the incident to police on Monday (Jan. 22).

This type of scam has appeared frequently through social media.

Earlier this month, two people were charged in connection to a Facebook Marketplace fraud targeting victims across Ontario.

In late 2022, a moving scam post appeared on several Mississauga community Facebook groups. The post included photos of high-priced items listed for sale because the person was moving.

But when people contacted the seller, they were asked for deposits to hold the items.

The OPP warns residents to be extremely vigilant when searching online sites with items for sale.

Some scam artists use stolen photos in their ads, claiming they are pictures of items that they have for sale, OPP warns. The seller will ask for the entire amount or a deposit in advance and once they receive the money they stop responding or delete the ad altogether, the OPP says

To avoid these types of scams, the OPP suggests the following tips:

• Know whom you are dealing with – independently confirm your seller’s name, street, address and telephone number.
• Resist pressure to “act now.” If an offer sounds too good to be true it usually is.
• Never wire money or use a bank-to-bank transfer in a transaction.
• Always try to deal locally when buying or selling merchandise.
• Do not sell or buy anything from someone who is unable or unwilling to meet you face to face.

For more information, see the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre online or call 1-888-495-8501.