SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney in San Mateo County, California.

September 8, 2020

BACK TO SCHOOL SCAM

“Back to school” means a variety of things: traditional in-person classes, all-virtual classes, or hybrid models of the two. Chances are that getting new clothes for first-day-of-school photos is on the to-do list. Young clothing shoppers are being targeted in a new scam. 

Scammers target Gen Z and Millennial customers with names like Depop, Poshmark, ThreadUp, and LetGo.  These apps typically connect buyers and sellers of secondhand merchandise, especially fashion items or in-demand technology accessories like headphones or cell phone cases.

In a typical scam, scammers posing as legit sellers post deeply discounted merchandise (think luxury fashion, the latest sneakers, or in-demand technology like gaming consoles). As shoppers show interest, the scammer urges the user to complete the transaction outside the platform’s built-in payment system.

Scammers often ask buyers to use P2P payment apps like PayPal’s Friends & Family, Zelle, or CashApp or even less secure payment methods like gift cards or wire transfers. Scammers seek victims willing to complete payment this way because it is harder for a transaction to be disputed when it occurs off the selling platform. 

Whether you are a Gen Z’er shopping for the must-have fashion of the fall, or are just looking for a deal, here are tips you can use to spot and avoid these scams:

*Always pay via the platform’s preferred payment methods. If a seller asks you to pay another way, even if it’s to “avoid fees,” chances are that it’s a scam.

*Check the prices on similar merchandise on the app and on other apps. If that Louis Vuitton handbag or Supreme hoodie you’re interested in is listed at a fraction of the cost of similar items elsewhere, there’s a high likelihood it’s a scam. 

*Beware of sellers who do not have any customer reviewers, or who have only positive feedback. If there is no feedback it could point to a scammer who has created multiple accounts and is churning through them as the older ones get banned. Someone who has only positive feedback could be paying accomplices to write bogus reviews. You can look for balanced reviews and see how sellers have handled negative feedback from customers.

If you are scammed, report it promptly to the platform sponsor. While the platform sponsor may not be able to get your money back for you, reporting the scam can help other users avoid falling victim.

You can file a complaint at Fraud.org via a secure online complaint form. We will share your complaint with our network of law enforcement and consumer protection agency partners who can investigate and help put fraudsters behind bars. ATTRIBUTION: www.fraud.org.