Avoid Scams
Have you encountered a suspicious ad? Contact us now.
We caution our readers to confirm the validity of any advertiser before exchanging money. Please investigate the company or check the BBB before sending money or credit card information. If you have questions please call: 1-855-277-7211. Need to verify a company? See the resources below.
Avoiding Scams:
Zero Tolerance Policy
PennySaverUSA.com does not tolerate any attempts to scam and defraud our users. If we find that you are a scammer your account will be blacklisted and all of your ads will be removed from the site.
We take this matter very seriously and work extremely hard to make sure all of our online ads are authentic. Please contact us immediately at [email protected] if you come across any ads you feel might be a scam and give us all the details.
Do's and Don'ts
Do's...
- Always meet with the seller in person and inspect the items before buying.
- Always report any suspicious ads by emailing us at [email protected].
- Always ignore ads that appear too good to be true … they most likely are.
- Always call a business to verify that a sale or coupon is legitimate
- Always research companies online by going to sites like the Better Business Bureau before accepting "work at home" positions with them.
Dont's...
- Never send money through services like Western Union, Money Gram, PayPal, or BidPay.
- Never accept any cashier's checks or money orders from unknown parties.
- Never pay for absurd shipping & delivery charges for "free" items or pets.
- Never blindly trust sellers who claim to be out of the country.
- Never provide sellers your personal information, such as social security number, credit card number, bank account number, your mother's maiden name, etc.
- Never pay a security deposit for an apartment without first receiving the keys.
- Never send money to a supposed "work-at-home" employer.
- Never let your emotions get the best of you. Scammers will try to tug at your heart strings with touching stories to get you to give them your money. The stories are almost always fiction. Remember, this is a financial transaction not a charitable donation.
The categories most fraught with scams are as follows:
- Pets (especially puppies and to a lesser extent kittens): Popular breeds like Yorkies, Chihuahuas, English Bulldogs are the most likely candidates to be attacked by scammers.
- Vehicles: Don't ever buy a vehicle without seeing it in person and inspecting it.
- Work-at-home jobs: Do your research before taking one of these jobs.
- Houses/Apartments for rent: Get everything in writing and do not let money exchange hands until you have the key in hand
Example of a common scam:
Hello,
Thanks for your mail. We have 2 males (max and sean) and 2 Females (meli and cindy) ready for re homing to new homes .There are Outstanding AKC registered Pomeranian from mulch-championship bloodlines with an awesome pedigree. Gorgeous wrinkles, nice rope across their nose, massive bones structure, compact and muscular. Home-raised, family socialized puppies with sweet, loving and playful temperament, loves children. Ready to be a family companion or your best friend. Current vaccinations, De-worming, new crate, veterinarian health check and health certificate. Health guaranteed. Awesome puppy packet, the baby Pomerania will come alongside with the following 1 Year health Guarantee, Health Certificate, Shot Records Create (w/shipping).
I am giving them out because they were always cared and looked after by my father but with a heavy heart i lost him and he was all I got ,i work with a global,broad-based health care company devoted to discovering new medicines, new technologies and new ways to manage health. My father died in an accident last month on his way back from work and i have very bad memories when i see these puppies around me,because they were always together with him since i am always busy in the laboratory..
i really need to give them to someone who can really care and love them just the way dad used to..These puppies have been very lonely since dad passed away so the best thing i decided on as my colleague advised me was to send them to a loving home
where are you located ?
are you married?
do you have kids?
do you promise to take very good care of the puppies?
have you ever owned a puppy?
how soon do you need the puppy?
which off the puppies do you need?
how soon do you need the puppies?
your mobile number?
i really count on you if you can be there for them.. all you are going to pay is just for their change of ownership papers which will cost you only $150 each . waiting for your reply and may God bless you.
thanks,
QUEEN
Hello Seller,
In reference to your online placed ad on ( www.sulekha.com ) please could you tell me whether the advert is still for sale? Also tell me whether its condition remains as described in your ad? Can i trust you,Please include the current price too. Write soon.
Thanks,
Thomas.
Resources:
Please visit these sites for more information on how to avoid being scammed.
- In California:
- Contractors State License Board
(800)321-2752 - Calif. Structural Pest Control Board
(800)737-8188 - Calif. Department of Justice (CreditServices)
(916)322-3360 - Department of Consumer Affairs
(800)952-5210 - Calif. Child Care Resource & Referral Network
(800)822-8490 - Calif. Public Utilites Commission
(800)877-8867
- Contractors State License Board
- FTC toll free hotline - 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357)
- FTC online complaint form - http://ftc.gov/
- Internet Fraud Complaint Center - http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx
- United States Postal Service - https://www.usps.com/
- National Consumer League's Fraud Center - http://www.fraud.org/
- Fake Checks.org - http://www.fakechecks.org/
- Call For Action - http://www.callforaction.org/