Who should I notify about fraud or scam attempts?
* Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Toll Free Hotline: 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357)
* File a FTC Online Complaint
* File a Internet Crime Complaint
* Canadian PhoneBusters hotline: 888-495-8501
* Competition Bureau Canada: 800-348-5358
If you suspect that an item posted for sale on CHBO may be part of a scam, please email the details to . Be sure to include the URL (or 4-digit property ID number) in your message. Thanks for all your help.
You can recognize a possible scam by following these common-sense rules:
* DEAL LOCALLY WITH FOLKS YOU CAN MEET IN PERSON - follow this one simple rule and you will avoid 99% of the scam attempts.
* NEVER WIRE FUNDS VIA WESTERN UNION, MONEYGRAM or any other wire service - anyone who asks you to do so is a scammer.
* FAKE CASHIER CHECKS & MONEY ORDERS ARE COMMON, and BANKS WILL CASH THEM AND THEN HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE when the fake is discovered weeks later.
* CHBO IS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY TRANSACTION, and does not handle payments, guarantee transactions, provide escrow services, or offer "buyer protection" or "seller certification"
* NEVER GIVE OUT FINANCIAL INFORMATION (bank account number, social security number, eBay/PayPal info, etc.)
* AVOID DEALS INVOLVING SHIPPING OR ESCROW SERVICES and know that ONLY A SCAMMER WILL "GUARANTEE" YOUR TRANSACTION.
Recognizing scams
Most scams involve one or more of the following:
* Inquiry from someone far away, often in another country
* Western Union, Money Gram, cashier's check, money order, shipping, escrow service, or a "guarantee"
* Inability or refusal to meet face-to-face before consummating transaction
for More Cities...