Victim of a classified ad scam: steps and recourses

Unfortunately, every year millions of people fall victim to payment scams on classified ad websites (Leboncoin, ParuVendu, Facebook, Vinted, etc.), during sales or purchases that don't always go smoothly. If you've been scammed in a transaction between private individuals, here's our advice. Be aware that, in some cases, you will have few options. This information is limited to payment scams using fake payment interfaces or payment fraud techniques, which involve stealing money without actually handing over the goods, by means of fake transactions.

Reflexes to adopt, whether it's an actual scam or an attempted scam

The first thing to do is to note down all the information you have about the scammer, i.e. full name, email address, telephone number, etc. Also keep the URLs (web addresses) of the pages to which the scammers redirect you, and take screenshots of all your exchanges and all the web pages sent by the scammers.

Just remember that even if the information is false, it is still important in order to identify the forgers.

Secondly, cut off all communication with the scammers, firstly by blocking the telephone number and then by marking all emails received from this sender as spam.

Once you have completed these two steps, go to https://www.cybermalveillance.gouv.fr/victime/ to request assistance from this government agency, and then send a report to https://www.internet-signalement.gouv.fr/.

And if you've sent a parcel and it hasn't arrived yet, contact the transport provider to have it blocked.

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Attempted scam

If you're unlucky, you can sometimes spot the deception before you fall victim to the scam. In that case, despite the pressure the scammers may put on you, keep your cool.

All you have to do is follow the steps outlined above in "What you need to do".

Finalised scam

In this case, things can quickly get complicated.

First of all, you should be aware that a scam is a swindle and not a fraud, so it is far from guaranteed that your bank or insurance company will offer you compensation.

If you have made payments using payment coupons or reloads, you will not be able to get a refund. The money lost will be lost for good, as we discuss in this article.

If your bank details are stolen (credit card numbers, bank details, etc.), in particular via false payment forms or email requests, contact your bank as soon as possible to block the transactions. In this case, bank policies may differ: some will agree to compensation, others will not.

If you have the potential postal address (we insist on this point, as they are often wrong), prepare and send a formal notice with acknowledgement of receipt requesting your payment.

Here is an example of a formal notice letter from an individual:

Download the letter in Word format by clicking here.

It is also advisable to lodge a complaint at a police station, giving full details of the scam.

Help the justice system move forward on consumer-to- consumer scams

Reporting is crucial in the fight against scams. Even if the loss is small, always take the time to report these scams, to help the judicial authorities gather as much information as possible and to advance investigations. In addition to combating cybercrime, investigations enable individuals and companies whose identity or brand has been misappropriated to take appropriate action.

Register now on Obvy and get £5 free with the code "stoparnaque".

There's no point in trying to track down the scammer

Some people might be tempted to take the law into their own hands, but this is simply pointless. The majority of scams are carried out from French-speaking foreign countries, and counterfeiters use identities stolen from previous victims to set up their scams. So leave it to the authorities and don't take any unnecessary risks.

Prevention is key

We offer a wide range of articles to help you protect yourself from scams by understanding and knowing what they are. We invite you to read our various articles in our Avoid scams section, which we recommend you share with your friends and family.

Use a secure payment system

Whether it's hand-delivered or delivered, Obvy's secure payment method between private individuals guarantees you protection against all payment scams when buying and selling between private individuals, for all types of goods, up to €200,000. Our team of experts will be with you every step of the way, making your transaction simple and secure, and protecting you from scams and unpleasant surprises. Open your Obvy account now.