Buyer Beware - Tips on how not to get screwed over!

[Alan @ TanToday]

TanToday, its owners, moderators, etc do not verify ads placed in this forum. We are not responsible for any deals "gone bad" because due diligence was not done by the buyer.

If there is an item offered for sale online anywhere I would recommend the following:

• Make sure the phone # given is verifiable to an address. Cell phones are really hard to trace so ask for a land line.
• Make sure you are given pictures of the item.
• Make sure a detailed bill of sale/contract is signed by both parties before giving any money.
• If a large amount of money is exchanged look into an escrow service.
• Use a credit card to make the purchase if possible. You always have a chargeback ability if the seller doesnt follow through with the deal after taking your money.
• Never Western Union or MoneyGram the payment - EVER!
• Physically travel to see the item you are buying. If you are paying alot of money I would want to touch, see and feel the goods before paying for them.
• Stay away from "too good to be true" deals. You know this one I hope.

Good luck hunting for deals and do your homework.

[missmojorising]

"If it looks like crap and smells like crap then all indicators point to it being crap."

Somethin' my Daddy likes to say.

[SOCK-IT]

I've Been Approached By International Companies Trying To Order Products. They Have Gone So Far As Asking Shipping Cost How Fast They Can Get Product. They Claim To Be American Business People. When I Asked For A Credit Card Drawn From An American Bank Its Funny How You Never Hear From Them Again. My Advise Is To Ckeck Out Company, Call Credit Card Company To See If Its A Valid Card And Do A Search Of The Persons Name.

[Soo]

Yep....I agree...Lookout for those Big Bad WOLVES in Mouse costumes..

[HEARTLAND]

Originally Posted by SOCK-IT

I've Been Approached By International Companies Trying To Order Products. They Have Gone So Far As Asking Shipping Cost How Fast They Can Get Product. They Claim To Be American Business People. When I Asked For A Credit Card Drawn From An American Bank Its Funny How You Never Hear From Them Again. My Advise Is To Ckeck Out Company, Call Credit Card Company To See If Its A Valid Card And Do A Search Of The Persons Name.

Good Morning, I would like to add to this.

There has been an increase in the number of stollen cards and the use of those cards. You the business owner cannot be aware of that, but your processor should be and should have the software that will track those cards. Also the security department of the XYZ company should be tracking your sales and watching for any unusual sales amount or ship to address that fall into area of known fraud.

Do be aware of this, call your processor for more information. There is ways of setting your software in your equipment to help stop some of this, but only if you are educated on how to use the software and the special fields.

And the XYZ company should not charge you for that protection.

For more info you may email me, and I will be glad to share.

Alyce w/HPS
We at Heartland Payment Systems work with our merchants to help avoid this happening to them.

[rak69]

We use Heartland Payment Systems and love them....