The Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree scam targeting Australians

People promoting undesirable or used gadgets on web sites akin to Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree are at elevated threat of being focused by scammers.

The warning got here because the National Australia Bank (NAB) launched new buyer knowledge immediately, exhibiting items and providers scams have elevated 66 per cent up to now three months.

A 3rd of these studies concerned criminals attempting to take advantage of PayID, a free service which makes use of a cell phone quantity, electronic mail handle or ABN to ship and obtain cash.

NAB receives an increase in PayID scam reports from people selling second-hand items online. — NAB clients reported a rise in PayID rip-off studies from folks promoting second-hand gadgets on-line. (Nine)

“We are getting reports of people selling an old TV or fridge online and being inundated with identical messages from scammers wanting to purchase the item with PayID,” stated NAB govt, group investigations and fraud, Chris Sheehan.

“Scammers have realised online marketplaces can be an easy way to rip people off.

“They’re additionally exploiting the very fact PayID is a comparatively new fee methodology with cash being transferred immediately.”

He said the biggest scam red flag was if someone asked you for money to upgrade or access PayID because the service was free.

“There are by no means any prices associated to utilizing PayID,” Sheehan said.

Scams are increasingly targeting people using websites to sell unwanted or unused items, the NAB said. (AAP)

“It’s additionally necessary to recollect PayID won’t ever ship you an electronic mail, textual content or message instantly as your financial institution registers and manages PayIDs.

“If you get an email, text or message directly from ‘PayID’ it is a scam.”

Australians misplaced $260,000 to PayID impersonation scams final yr, in accordance with Scamwatch.

NAB stated the scammers would push to purchase your merchandise utilizing PayID, then declare your transaction could not be accomplished as a result of you do not have a “business” account.

They then declare they’ve despatched more money to improve the account, ship a faux electronic mail as proof and stress you to reimburse them however no cash will ever seem in your account.

NAB is advising PayID customers that the service won’t ever want you to ship cash to obtain a PayID fee.

You is not going to must take further motion, like upgrading an account, to obtain funds in your account.

You may also by no means obtain communication instantly from PayID by way of electronic mail, textual content or messenger because the fee methodology is managed by your financial institution.