December 4th, 2023 – 4:50 PM
Rome Police Department –
The Rome Police Department has shared some tips to avoid social media scams during this holiday season:
– If you are buying items from someone you do not know, do not pay for the item until you see it in person. If the seller pressures you or implies that it is urgent to pay quickly, it’s probably a scam.
– If you are mailing an item, use a tracking number and don’t send the product until you receive payment. Buyers can claim they never received the item in the mail, even though they did, to attempt to get their money back. Always use a tracking number so you can dispute any claims that a package has been lost or was never shipped.
– If the price of an item is too good to be true, it probably is! Scammers list non-working electronics or counterfeit designer clothing to steal your money. To ensure you’re not being ripped off, pick up the item locally, in person, and inspect it carefully before paying. Turn on the phone, laptop, game console, or gadget, and make sure it holds a charge and boots up properly.
– If someone sends you more money than needed, then asks for a refund…. it’s a sure scam! Never accept an overpayment! You are liable for any bank fees related to this scam, so just don’t accept the overpayment.
– You should never have to prove you’re real by texting codes back and forth before a sale. This scam allows the sender to take over your phone and attached accounts. There is no reason why you’d ever have to prove you’re real, especially by forwarding some silly code.
– If you’re selling an item, work with a verified payment system like PayPal, Venmo, or Zelle. If you’re new to online payments, don’t accept the word of the buyer that they’ve made the payment (or an image of a receipt they’ve texted to you). The point of using PayPal, Zelle, or Venmo is that you get an instant verification that payment has been received — you don’t need to take the word of the buyer.
There are so many ways scammers try to fraud you…. use good judgment and caution as you buy and sell this season.
Always report a scam or fraud when you identify it. And, don’t forget brick-and-mortar stores when shopping this season.