Vivastreet blog

From BBC News it has emerged that rental fraudsters have been stealing thousands of pounds from people searching to rent a flat on classified websites like Vivastreet.

In most cases students and flat hunters are asked to transfer money either to themselves or a friend, then send a copy of the receipt to prove they have enough funds to cover the rent.

Armed with the receipt, criminals then fake the intended recipient’s ID and take the cash from outlets across the country. Because the money transfer industry is not regulated in the same way as credit card companies are, the victims are unable to claim any money back.

Money transfer companies insist their security procedures are adequate and that they are working with police to stop the fraudsters. The scams are run by organised, persuasive criminals who lull their victims into a false sense of security.

Always remember to follow our online safety rules:
1. Never transfer money before you actually see the apartment.
2. Never send money using payment services Western Union, MoneyGram
3. Use conventional and regulated methods of payment
4. Only pay when a contract has been signed

For more information on how to deal with scammers please click here.

1.    When buying or selling, you should meet in-person to see the item and exchange money. 99.9% of fraud is carried out by people who won’t meet you. Would you advise your friend to send money to someone they don’t know? Why are you going to do it!

2. Never send or wire money to sellers or buyers. This includes never mailing a cheque or using payment services like Western Union or Money Gram to pay for items found on Vivastreet.

3. Never send your item before receiving the money.

4.    Beware of the Overpayment Scams and bounced cheques. Be suspicious if you are overpaid for products and a number of credit card numbers are used. The scammer is expecting you to/will transfer the refund; either paying for the freight before then discovering the cheque they sent out to you has bounced or before realising the money order/credit cards details they produced were phoney.

5. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Especially when deal seems too good to be true (price is too low, rent is below market, etc.). Be careful when buying expensive items like mobile phones, laptops, plasma TVs, airline tickets and even tickets for shows/gigs.

6.    Vivastreet does not offer any sort of buyer protection or payment programs. Vivastreet does not act as an intermediary and does not make arrangements for any payments or transactions. If you are contacted by someone who claims to be from Vivastreet and you are asked to transfer money for an item for sale, this will be an illegitimate request and any emails you receive of this type will also be fraudulent. DO NOT follow any of the instructions contained within the email or given over the phone.

7. Never provide your personal or banking information. Do not give out personal, credit card or online account details (e.g. social insurance number, bank account number) over the Internet/email. We advise only buying and selling with people you can meet. Fraudsters don’t meet a person, that’s how they get caught!

8. Please report to us any attempted fraud or suspicious emails or other activity by community members. If you have knowledge of a fake ad, please report by clicking the “Scam” button on the bottom of the ad or sending the Ad ID number to our help desk along with any knowledge you may have of the situation. In case of fraud or illegal activity, we also recommend that you report it to the Police.

1. Do not deal with anyone who promises a free puppy for just the cost of shipping.
2. Pets most frequently targeted by scammers are English Bulldogs, Chihuahuas, Teacup Yorkers, African parrots/eggs, as well as restricted animals, such as Bats and Monkeys.
3. Online scammers will often copy the claims of legitimate rescue groups and attempt to sound reputable. They may also copy breeder ads and claim to have registration certificates, vet records and health guarantees.
4. Avoid any kind of shipping from overseas, or any type of domestic shipping/flight. You should always be able to meet the pet in person. 95% of the scammers are from overseas (the most popular are Nigeria, Cameroon, USA and South Africa).
5. Do not trust a seller who wants to use Moneygram, Western Union or other irreversible money wire payments.
6. Be suspicious of bad grammar (spelling mistakes) and vague replies which do not make sense or relate well to your ad or enquiry.
7. Do not trust any seller whose phone number starts with 070.

If you cannot see the animal in the flesh, DO NOT part with any cash under any circumstances.

If you are in doubt or you think you might be targeted by a scammer, please do not proceed any further and cease all contact with the advertiser. Please then forward the ad number to us so we can investigate further.