Ad helps reveal possible scam

That’s the feeling Kosten got when he received an offer on the high-end bedroom set he was advertising for $1,600 in the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

He was contacted by an MCI Worldcom operator who said a hearing-impaired person was interested in buying the furniture and wanted him to e-mail more information along with pictures.

Koster received an e-mail response saying the buyer would send a certified check for the asking price plus an overdraft to cover delivery expenses.

Kosten was told to forward the amount of the overdraft via Western Union to the office of the company that would handle the shipment. He was asked for his name, address, home and cell phone numbers and a statement of offer acceptance.

“This was when I recognized this as a (textbook) scam and did not send the information,” Kosten said. “Scams are scams. I know they’re out there. The way this started out with the MCI operator and an impaired person on the line, now they’ve got your heartstrings.”

Kosten said he tried to report the incident to MCI but couldn’t get through to anybody.

He wrote to the Federal Trade Commission, which answered with a letter stating that the agency is working with law enforcement authorities and Web site operators to fight Internet auction fraud.

“Unfortunately, in cyberspace it is difficult for consumers to distinguish a legitimate seller from a fraud artist,” the FTC wrote. “Typically, buyers using Internet auctions never meet the sellers offering the goods and have no means of verifying the existence or quality of the goods being offered for sale. As a result, as the use of Internet auctions has grown, reports of Internet auction fraud have also grown.”

Craigslist, a popular Internet classified advertising site, issues the following warnings to avoid scams and fraud:

* Deal locally with folks you can meet in person; follow this one simple rule and you will avoid 99 percent of scam attempts.

* Never wire money via Western Union, Moneygram or any other wire service; anyone who asks you to do so is a scammer.

* Fake cashier’s checks and money orders are common; banks will cash them and then hold you responsible when the fake is discovered weeks later.

* Never give out financial information (bank account number, Social Security number, eBay and PayPal accounts).

* Avoid deals involving shipping or escrow services and know that only a scammer will “guarantee” your transaction.

Kosten said he assumed at the time that he was dealing with a local resident who, in fact, may have been hearing-impaired. But the purpose of the MCI call, he believes, was to get him to reveal his e-mail address.

There was no discussion about the two pictures of the bedroom set he had e-mailed, just an offer for the asking price, Koster said.

“I’m not critical of classifieds. I think it’s the right way to advertise,” he said. “People just need to be aware of these scams, particularly these impaired-person calls.”

Rebecca Bradner, director of classified advertising at the Review-Journal, said she’s seen these types of scams for more than 30 years that she’s been in the business.

“This is not new. It happens all the time,” she said. “The only thing is the MCI call. They could have been hearing-impaired or maybe they were not.

“Classified ads have always been and continue to be a safe and effective way to buy and sell merchandise locally,” Bradner said. “The benefit is that the transaction can be done in person, ensuring that there are no hidden motivations. As with any transaction, buyers and sellers should use their good instincts. If something seems too good to be true, it generally is.”

The FTC suggests that consumers who have experienced Internet auction fraud file complaints at www.ftc.gov and with local law enforcement in the area. Consumer complaints are crucial to putting a stop to fraud, the agency said in its letter.