How to recognise a text message scam in response to a classified ad?
If you sell or buy on Leboncoin or other classified ad sites and leave your phone number visible, you've probably already received a text message from a scammer. We'll show you how to identify them so you don't get caught out.
Don't panic, it's relatively easy to recognise the vast majority of messages designed to scam you, as they all use the same format.
Find out how to protect yourself in less than 3 minutes by watching our video on SMS scams:
Want to find out more? Read the full article below
The mark of interest
Scammers don't bother with big words. They will show their interest in your ad by asking if the property is still available, and/or what the firm price is, and/or by telling you outright that they want to complete the transaction. One of their hallmarks is their desire to get straight to the point, without fuss or even bothering about the property they want to buy.
Good to know: these messages are often sent by automatic computer programmes that contact everyone who posts ads on Leboncoin and similar sites. Their telephone number is often made up of not 10 but 5 digits!
The first thing to do in all circumstances is to type the number from which the message originated into Google, to see if that number is the talk of the internet.
Discussion formalities
Scammers especially don't want you to hear the sound of their voices or be able to see them! Forget any chance of phoning them or making a video call, as soon as they send a text message they'll ask you to send them an email to an address, which is obviously bogus, that they'll give you in the first message.
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Justifying the choice of email exchanges
Some won't give any, but a number will tell you in their SMS why they don't want to communicate by email. The most popular reasons given by scammers are: their SMS credit has run out, they have a disability (the scammer says they are deaf or dumb), or they are temporarily abroad and cannot make calls.
It's all smoke and mirrors!
Everything the text message says is, of course, false. The sender is a scammer who is trying to initiate a discussion with you and carry out a plan to scam you. These scams can take different forms, and we'll explain the tricks(PayPal scam, Leboncoin scam, PCS scam, etc.).
Some examples of SMS scams
Protect yourself from scams with Obvy
Let's get straight to the point: using the Obvy payment method means you're protected against all the scams between private individuals, on classified ad sites and elsewhere. Obvy is the only universal payment method specially designed for purchases and sales between individuals and will be your best weapon for taking advantage of bargains while staying away from the scams that abound on the internet.
