Here Are A Few Tips On How To Avoid Scams

• Try dealing within your local community, and check out products in person whenever possible.
• Currently, Peanut Café DOES NOT have a payment system for buyers, buyer protection program or seller certification. Avoid users who offer these services.
• We never request that you submit your credit card number, username, password or social security number in an email.
• NEVER click an email link that requests personal information or login information, because criminals can redirect a link to an address other than the one shown and steal your information.
• Never give out any personal financial information such as usernames, passwords, credit card numbers or social security number.
• Avoid sending money to distant sellers (especially overseas) via wire transfer, cashiers checks, money order or escrow service like BidPay, Square Trade, etc.
• If the price is too good to be true, be cautious and use common sense.
• Ask as many questions as possible.

Types Of Scams

Someone you don't know wants to pay you by check for over the amount, but wants you to wire some of the money back. There is no reason for someone to overpay you for an item and ask for some of it back. If a stranger wants to pay you for something, insist on payment for the exact amount, preferably from a local bank or a bank that has a branch in your area.

They are in another country. These scammers will say they are living in another country, so they cannot check out what it is they want to buy from you, or show you the product they are selling. This also serves an excuse for why you have to wire cash to them.

You are asked to wire money to them after you've deposited their (fake) check. More than likely, the check looks very real, but is a fake; even some bank tellers can't tell the difference. If you're selling something, they say they'll pay you by having someone in the U.S. who owes them money send you a check. Many of these scams also include making deals on behalf of a "client." When you receive the check, it will be for more than the sale price; you deposit the check, keep what you're owed, and wire the rest to them. (Banks will deposit these checks, and then hold you responsible for the amount if it turns out to be fake days later.)

You deposit the checks and then wire them the money minus your "pay." Or they may send you a check for more than your pay "by mistake" and ask you to wire them the excess.

These can also be represented as money making opportunities where you are asked to act as a middle man for money transfers. Delete these emails as soon as possible or report them to Peanut Café or your local law enforcement authorities.

Fake email from escrow service (please refer to the fraud prevention information on sites such as Square Trade.) The seller will send a fake email complete with the escrow service name and logo stating they are serving as an agent on behalf of a verified seller. They will request you to send money to them via wire transfer (usually Western Union). Be careful, these emails look very real. The email will also state they cannot withdraw the money until you've received your item. This is false. Once you've wired the money, it's gone.

What To Do To If You've Been Scammed

If you think you've submitted sensitive personal information in response to a scam, contact your bank or credit card provider immediately.

If you think you've submitted your Peanut Café password in response to a scam, reset your Peanut Café password immediately within the personal information section of My Café.

Contact: Call your local law enforcement authorities immediately

Report fake check scams to the National Fraud Information Center/Internet Fraud Watch, a service of the nonprofit National Consumers League, at www.fraud.org or (800) 876-7060. That information will be transmitted to the appropriate law enforcement agencies.

Examples Of Scam Mail

Hello,

I received your email regarding my 2002 BMW330cic.
First you have to know bidding is restricted since I am carefull with my auction,so noone will press the button until I have the assurance that he will buy it.
The car is in perfect condition,with no scarches on it, no dammage. The price with shipping included, is $ 9,000.
All the manuals and the original documents are in English.It is
made for US market and has US specs on it .
The buyer will receive this along with all papers and recipts that he needs
to register it in his name.
He will receive the TITLE,keys,owner manual...
It has a Clear Title.
The BMW is in Europe, Greece, and it will be shipped from here on my expence so,please REPLY WITH YOUR NAME AND SHIPPING ADDRESS IN YOUR NEXT EMAIL.
Shipping will be done via FedEx and it will take no more then 6 days.I have a friend at fedex who will manage me a low price shipping and I assumed that it is from me to pay for shipping it.When I will shipp it,I will declare it as a gift so that you will pay no cusoms when you will receive it and for this it will be delivered directly to your address.
Also, I have to let you know that I want a proof that you have all the money availble for this deal as I will shipp it in the same day or next day morning ,after you proove to me that you are the real buyer.
The most important thing in all my activity here is that I am affiliated at eBay Square Trade , I have a a purchase protection account for 20000$ and I assume you know what this means.So,the finacial part of this deal will be manage by them.
Let me know if this is ok with you,so that we can move forward with this deal.

Regards.

Hi again,
Did Square Trade contact you because I want to begin
shipping arrangements after I will have a confirmation
of your order from them ?
One more thing, if you want to pay no taxes (VAT
included) let me know and I will declare the package
as GIFT when making the shipping.
You also have to say when making the transfer that you
are sending money for a friend and mention nothing
about a deal because otherwise you will probably have
to pay more money (extra charge for payment transfer)
and I will also have to pay 15% from the amount to
the state at the end.
I hope you understand me. Well, hoping that my
suggestions would help you save some money.
Hope to hear from you soon.

PS:
The car is in perfect condition without any scratches. As soon as Square Trade confirm the payment you will received the car in 1 week.