Scams & Frauds
Scams and frauds are common online, although there is no full proof method to avoid scams and frauds, but the following tips could be helpful while using ClassiTop.
Tips:
- Never wire funds via methods like Western Union, MoneyGram, or any other wire transfer service, this is most common way users get scammed.
- Never give bank account, social security, credit card or any other financial information to anyone.
- Fake personal checks, cashier checks or money orders are very common, never accept any of these payments, banks will hold you responsible when they discover fake weeks later.
- ClassiTop is NOT involved in any payments and transactions, it does not guarantee payments, provide escrow services, or offer “buyer protection” or “seller certification”.
- Always protect your personal details and never reveal personal information to anyone.
- If it looks too good to be true, its most likely it is, use common sense and never rush or be hasty on any trading.
- Ask more details and questions about the advertisement to get a clear picture of what you are getting into, please use our “ClassiTop chat” feature to start a conversation.
- ClassiTop employees or its associates will never ask for any financial information like bank accounts or credit cards or any other personal details.
- Most of the Scammers are from overseas, make your best judgement while speaking and if you sense it’s a scam or fraud report it right away.
- Username which has a word “ClassiTop” in it is NOT a ClassiTop employee or its support person, the best way to reach us is through “Contact US” form.
- Always use our “ClassiTop chat” feature and DO NOT send out emails, avoid users who do not prefer to use “ClassiTop chat” feature for communication.
- Always report any suspicious Ads using “Report Ad”, it will help other users and visitors to safe and avoid scams & frauds.
- If you are shipping through mail, always use register mail or mailing services which provide tracking information.
- Safest payment method is always “Cash on delivery”.
How to Identify a Scam
- Some not ready to meet in person, forcing or rushing the transaction, refusing to answer relevant questions.
- Rather than local inquiry its coming from far of place and often overseas.
- Asking to wire funds through Western Union, Money Gram OR offering cashier's check, money order, providing escrow service, or a "guarantee."
Examples of Scams:
- A user is asking to wire transfer money thorough Wester Union or Money Gram.
- This is the most common way where fraudsters trick and ask you to send money to a third party to show as proof of funds and will asks you to send the receipt, this is a RED Flag, the receipt has a confirmation code or MTCN number, which fraudsters uses to take money from any part of the world. This is usually done for high value items and often come from countries like Nigeria, other African countries, easter Europe, Russia and could be any other parts of the world.
- Listings will be local, but the seller will trick you by saying that I am travelling on a business trip out of country and needs money right now and will ask you to wire it.
- Someone offers items or services at a very low price which is too good to be true and asks you to wire the money.
- Someone offering you a cashier check or money order which looks genuine.
- The scammer will send a nice and well described deceiving email regarding his offering/items/services and will offer you a fake cashier check which looks genuine and will ask you to wire transfer the money by trusting him, this is a RED FLAG. Once you deposit that fake cashier check the bank will often cash these fake cashier checks and then hold you responsible when the check fails to clear and, in some cases, have criminal prosecutions.
- For money orders, scammer will ask you for you home address and other details to make it look like a genuine money order and will ask you to wire the money.
- Someone asking to use online escrow service which could have a well-designed fake website.
Most of scammers ask you to use online escrow service, these are all FRAUD, this usually happens during property/home renting/buying/selling etc. These online escrow websites are fake, and their prime targets are new or first-time homebuyers. Search more on “escrow fraud” to learn more about it.
- Someone claiming that ClassiTop offers “guarantee payments” or offer “buyer protection” or “seller certification”.
Scammers will send “phishing” or “spoof” email that appears to come from ClassiTop which offers “guarantee payments” or offer “buyer protection” or “seller certification”. These emails are all fake.
CLASSITOP is NOT INVOLVED IN ANY TRANSACTIONS
- Email coming from ClassiTop, or it could be any email which has a word “classitop” in it and asking for your login credentials, credit card info etc.
Scammer will send “phishing” or “spoof” email and will ask you to click the link and send your credentials and financial details, DONOT click any link, it could have a virus or ransomware which might hack your whole system, and if that doesn’t happen and if you provide details by clicking the link then all your personal and financial details are with the scammer.
CLASSITOP WILL NEVER SEND OUT EMAILS ASKING FOR PERSONAL & FINANCIAL DETAILS
- Watch out for fake emails for jobs or job postings which has a position as a collection agent and job duty would be to collect money from different clients any wire it to scammers.
Always use “classitop chat” for communication and avoid personal emails, if you receive a scam/fraud email you can share with us on contact@classitop.com , it would be helpful to other users stay safe and will make ClassiTop a safe platform.
How to report an Ad
For any Scam & fraud please use Contact US page
Safety & Security
ClassiTop wants its users and visitors to have an ultimate experience and makes safety and security a top priority for everyone, while most of the ClassiTop users and visitors are Classi, fun loving, honest, and trustworthy but there are bad apples everywhere and those should be avoided, utmost safety precautions should be taken during buying and selling on ClassiTop.
TIPS
Taking safety precautions will make ClassiTop a safe and a fun-loving platform for everyone, the following tips could be helpful.
- Always meet in daylight hours.
- Always meet in person in busy places like malls, busy cafes, near a post office or a police station etc. which are usually safe.
- Have a friend or a family member accompany you during buying and selling.
- Always inform a family member or a friend where you are going to meet the buyer or a seller.
- Always carry a cell phone and do not carry huge amount of cash or any other expensive items other than what is necessary.
- Do not invite anyone inside your home during home delivery.
- Use common sense, best judgment, and trust your instincts.
- You can use https://safetradespots.com/community/ for safe trading locations.
- Call 911 right away if you feel unsafe during transactions.
If anyone would like to reach us regarding safety & security related questions or inquiries, please contact us on contact@classitop.com.
Useful Websites
