Avoid Scams and Fraud:

* Deal locally with people you can meet face to face. You'll still need to use your best judgment but you can weed out the majority of scams by doing this.
* Never give out financial information (bank account number, social security number, eBay/paypal info, etc.)
* Never wire funds
* Never buy anything from a seller who asks for payment to be sent to a PO Box
* Beware of fake cashier checks and money orders, they are more common than you think
* arborlist is not involved in any transaction, EVER

Signs of a Scam:

* You receive a response from someone far away, often in a different country
* The buyer cannot or will not meet face-to-face prior to transaction
* Requests for transactions involving Western Union, MoneyGram, cashier's check, or money order
* Distant person offers to send a money order well over selling price and then have you wire money back

Who to Notify:

FTC toll free hotline: 1-877-FTC-HELP
FTC online complaint form: www.ftc.gov
*If you suspect that an item listed on arborlist may be part of a scam please email us the details by clicking the Report a Problem link within the suspect ad

Examples:

** Hello, Good day to you!am interested in purchasing your item without no further delay,but first?Is the item still available for sales?What is the final price of the item? Will you be accepting a US certified Cashiers Check ?Also i will be taking care of the shipment of the item down to my destination via private shipper and the payment you are going to receive will include some excess fund which you are to be send via western union to the shipping that will come for the pickup of the item,I will like to asked you this questions.
1.can we trust you with the excess money?
2. will you be able to wire transfer the excess the same day you receive the payment?
3. will you be available when the shipping company will be coming for the pickup?
4. is the working condition of the ITEM okay?
5. can i take you for your words?
Contact me with the present state of the item and your contact information to mail out the payment to you as soon as possible.Name you want on
check: Home Address: City:State: Country: Phone Number/Office Number.**

** Hello, Thanks for your return email.... I think my spirit feels secured transacting with you . I am willing to pay your final asking price for the item, i think it is fair enough....Payment would be made out to you inform Money Orders.... ok? The Payment that will be issued will include the money for the sales of your item + the shipping cost and my commission. Therefore, there will be an excess funds on the payment. This is so because my client insisted to make the whole payment out at once. I would have liked to handle the payment aspect myself but I am presently out of town handling a project hence i am requesting your assistance.
All you just need to do is to cash the Money Orders and when you have the funds at hand, deduct the funds for your item. And the excess funds OR any difference in the payment you are to wire to my shipper via western union money transfer .
I would like to state clearly that this item will be shipped Abroad and I have a shipper who I will designate to pick up the item for shipment at
the item location. So you not going to be bothered with any shipping. all shipping duties and taxes will be handled by my shipper when he comes around for pick. I will be willing to entertain more of your questions that might arise I must mention to you that i have your details, your details shall
be forwarded to my client for immediate payment issuance as soon as I receive a response from you that all is a go...I await your quick response and make sure you confirm to me ASAP that
you have gotten this email. I might not reply to your email immediately because of the level of work load on me but I will surely do later ....**