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Fraudcast: How are people being scammed on online marketplaces?

Online marketplace scams are a typical example of the ever-evolving techniques used by criminals. How to ensure that selling or buying goods is safe? Nordea’s anti-fraud experts Sara Helin and Annukka Multanen are joined by a guest, Jenni Tuomisto, Director at Tori.fi. ​

Can’t see the video? You can listen to Fraudcast directly on the following channels: Spotify, SoundCloud and YouTube. Podcast is only in Finnish.

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What are online marketplace scams?

Most online marketplaces have sellers that are selling non-existent goods. After receiving payment, they never ship the item to the buyer. In most of these scams, the seller’s profile is fake and the seller stops responding to messages after they have received payment from the buyer.

Other scams target sellers where the buyer agrees on the transaction with the seller by exchanging messages on the online marketplace or in another messaging app. The buyer sends the seller a link and claims that by clicking the link the seller can receive payment, confirm delivery or finalise the transaction in some other way. 

The link takes the seller to a fake website where they are asked to enter their card details, online banking credentials or other sensitive information.

How to protect yourself from online marketplace scams

Second-hand marketplaces, including Facebook Marketplace, Tori.fi, Vinted and Tise, are rife with scams. Read below how you can protect yourself against scams and ensure a smooth and easy transaction for both parties. 

How to protect yourself from scams as a buyer

  • Check the seller’s profile. If the profile was created recently and seems unreliable, it may be a fake profile created by a scammer.
  • Many platforms allow users to review the sellers. Check the reviews to see if there is anything to suggest that the seller doesn’t send goods customers have bought.
  • See what other listings the seller has under their profile. If the seller has multiple similar listings with the same images, there is reason to suspect that they are selling non-existent goods.
  • Be wary of screenshots sent by the seller to prove that they have shipped the goods.

How to protect yourself from scams as a seller

  • Don’t engage with buyers outside the online marketplace platform. 
  • Be wary of links, including any payment or delivery links sent by the buyer. 
  • Remember that you don’t ever have to provide your card details or online banking credentials to receive a payment. 
  • Be wary of digital receipts because they can be altered.
  • Never install any apps on your device that are not from an official app store even if they seem to be related to the payment or delivery of goods.

What to do if you’ve been scammed

The first step is always to contact your bank.  If your online banking credentials or card details have fallen into the wrong hands, call us and we will cancel your credentials or card. Alternatively, you can do this by calling the blocking service on +358 20 333. 

Stop engaging with the fake profile and don’t click on any links the fake profile sends you. Most online marketplaces allow you to report fake profiles. Report the fake profile so that the moderators can look into deleting it. 

Once you have told your bank about the scam, file a police report. You can file a police report online at www.poliisi.fi. 

For more information, visit our page that explains what you should do if you have been scammed.

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Have you been scammed?

Follow these instructions if you suspect you have been scammed or if your personal data has fallen into the wrong hands.

Read the instructions

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Tips for secure banking

Follow our latest tips to ensure secure use of our banking services.

See our tips

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Different types of scams

The best way to protect yourself from scams is to know how to spot them. Stay one step ahead of fraudsters by learning about the various types of scams that are out there.

Learn about common scams

Need help?

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