EMT transfer fraud

graybeard · #1 10-08-2019, 09:12 AM

What I have learned here is to take a few more steps to create a security phrase.
For example if I was selling a Spyderco knife I may use the actual Spyderco or the word Delica for security. This would probably work if it was in two separate emails.....But keep them on two separate emails...

https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/rbc...raud-1.5128114

I am interested in protecting myself and others and hearing what you guys do?

Trochu · #2 10-08-2019, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by graybeard

I am interested in protecting myself and others and hearing what you guys do?

Well, for one, I think I've only e-transferred money once or twice in my life.

graybeard · #3 10-08-2019, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trochu

Well, for one, I think I've only e-transferred money once or twice in my life.

I was the same but recently I find more sales here on AO are by EMT....No patience for money orders or bank drafts...?

AndrewM · #4 10-08-2019, 09:32 AM

I always put "provided" as the security question then I call and provide the answer. Not possible to guess if you don't have a question.

graybeard · #5 10-08-2019, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndrewM

I always put "provided" as the security question then I call and provide the answer. Not possible to guess if you don't have a question.

Well look who is thinking this early...haha....

Andrew, that is the solution I was looking for.
Thanks

Dean2 · #6 10-08-2019, 10:08 AM

Couple of things to be aware of. You can set your incoming EMTs to automatically deposit to your account, no security question needed. This bypasses any fraud incoming. If your are sending an EMT, the suggestion to call the person with the answer is a good one or at least make the answer hard to guess. Texting his cell phone the answer is also more secure than email as text is harder to hack. Most probably don't realise but for high security info, lawyers, banks etc still rely on fax as hard wired copper lines are still among the harder things to steal info from. Anything that travels the internet or public WIFI is easier to steal

All in however, if the guy receiving the incoming EMT gets scammed it is not your problem, he still owes you the goods. It is between him and his bank if his email or banking has somehow been compromised.

mayuan · #7 10-08-2019, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean2

All in however, if the guy receiving the incoming EMT gets scammed it is not your problem, he still owes you the goods. It is between him and his bank if his email or banking has somehow been compromised.

In a perfect world yes, but the seller still has the goods. The seller in unlikely to part with the goods without payment regardless. The situation has now become a civil matter not criminal and that is often not worth the grief to resolve on the sellers end. The buyer is the one that ultimately is scammed.

That said.. I use email transfers all the time with no issues, my accounts are set to auto accept with no password. people are inherently honest. I've bought product off kijiji from different provinces, sent the money via email transfer and have always received what I bought.

Dean2 · #8 10-08-2019, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mayuan

In a perfect world yes, but the seller still has the goods. The seller in unlikely to part with the goods without payment regardless. The situation has now become a civil matter not criminal and that is often not worth the grief to resolve on the sellers end. The buyer is the one that ultimately is scammed.

That said.. I use email transfers all the time with no issues, my accounts are set to auto accept with no password. people are inherently honest. I've bought product off kijiji from different provinces, sent the money via email transfer and have always received what I bought.

If the seller is off AO or CGN and has a good trader rating then you will likely have no issues. If you are EMT paying contractors or anyone you haven't already done extensive business with and have not yet received the goods then you are really asking for trouble. I refuse to use any contractor I have to pay before the work is done or goods received.

If you have bought blind off Kijiji and sent money before being in receipt of the goods then you should be buying lottery tickets. We investigated so many Kijiji scam deals that it got to the point we would not go beyond a surface look unless there was physical violence involved.

Up to you what you do but I wouldn't use your experience as a recommendation for others to do the same. While many people are basically honest there is a growing legion of scam artists who inhabit online because it is a really safe way to steal large amounts of money. Most people should protect themselves at all times!

Au revoir, Gopher · #9 10-08-2019, 12:09 PM

Question: What is the random string I emailed you?
Answer: nibrEed7boypDowpulJirdUcOtGi

Or some similar string... computers are really good at generating [pseudo] random strings.

If the seller's email has been hacked, he has bigger issues.

ARG

icehunter · #10 10-08-2019, 01:21 PM

I just put....'todays purchase" Then send the seller the answer via PM.

Dean2 · #11 10-08-2019, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icehunter

I just put....'todays purchase" Then send the seller the answer via PM.

You know that PMs aren't really any more secure than email right? Every PM you get an email notification that shows up in your inbox with the full details of what is written in the PM.

AndrewM · #12 10-08-2019, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icehunter

I just put....'todays purchase" Then send the seller the answer via PM.

But if someone hacks the email then they can see the PM and see the EMT.

jcrayford · #13 10-08-2019, 01:39 PM

Just had a buddy today try to etransfer $ to me. The sending institution was Tangerine. Right in the email from my friend, it stated that Tangerine would never request client or account numbers from anyone.

I opened the email, clicked on the link which opened a separate browser that asked for the secret password, then the next screen was asking for Transit number, Institution number and Account number. Pretty surprised it wasn't asking for my card PIN number as well.

First time I've seen something like this, hope to never see it again.

J.

icehunter · #14 10-08-2019, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean2

You know that PMs aren't really any more secure than email right? Every PM you get an email notification that shows up in your inbox with the full details of what is written in the PM.

I don't. I have that option turned off.

icehunter · #15 10-08-2019, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AndrewM

But if someone hacks the email then they can see the PM and see the EMT.

My e-mail options for notices are turned off. I also use 3 different e-mail accounts. Emt comes from one acct, my Pm"s are from a different acct. Now if theres is hacked it may be different. But in over 250 emt purchases/sales in different forums I have never had a issue. I can also do paypal if need be.

Nothing is totally secure as we know.

Dean2 · #16 10-08-2019, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icehunter

My e-mail options for notices are turned off. I also use 3 different e-mail accounts. Emt comes from one acct, my Pm"s are from a different acct. Now if theres is hacked it may be different. But in over 250 emt purchases/sales in different forums I have never had a issue. I can also do paypal if need be.

Nothing is totally secure as we know.

Well, you definitely have it locked down far better than 98% of people. Like u say, we can all be done over but the bad guys concentrate on the easy ones so those that are paying attention will be far less likely to get hit.

AndrewM · #17 10-08-2019, 09:11 PM

It is wild how sophisticated the scams are now. You can’t even tell if they have hacked your account. A guy who does business for me was sending emails asking for me to open a document. It was obvious to me that it was fake so I emailed him back by creating an email and they replied back. Once they become fluid in the way we speak, watch out. Right now they don’t take the time to learn how we talk but I am sure they will soon.

AndrewM · #18 10-08-2019, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icehunter

My e-mail options for notices are turned off. I also use 3 different e-mail accounts. Emt comes from one acct, my Pm"s are from a different acct. Now if theres is hacked it may be different. But in over 250 emt purchases/sales in different forums I have never had a issue. I can also do paypal if need be.

Nothing is totally secure as we know.

I think you are rather safe! Haha. So hard to remember different passwords for all accounts though.

Faststeel · #19 10-08-2019, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icehunter

My e-mail options for notices are turned off. I also use 3 different e-mail accounts. Emt comes from one acct, my Pm"s are from a different acct. Now if theres is hacked it may be different. But in over 250 emt purchases/sales in different forums I have never had a issue. I can also do paypal if need be.

Nothing is totally secure as we know.

I have easily . done this many deals on CGN and AO, and there has never been a problem

AndrewM · #20 10-09-2019, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Faststeel

I have easily . done this many deals on CGN and AO, and there has never been a problem

So have I but all it takes is once.

graybeard · #21 10-09-2019, 08:45 AM

Even after several EMT transfers here and on CGN I have been ok.

Yesterday for the first time, I sent a secondary email and established the password.

The receiver had no problems or questions and admitted he will start doing this as well.

Good idea Andrew...

Cheers,
GB