The Monitor Shop

🚨 Beware of Facebook Marketplace Scams! 🚨

Dear valued customers,

We're reaching out to shed light on a concerning trend within Facebook Marketplace scams that involve sellers redirecting buyers to external websites for transactions, where the item can't be collected in person. Here's what you need to know to protect yourself:

⚠️ Website Redirect Scams: Some scammers will post enticing listings on Facebook Marketplace, only to redirect potential buyers to a website outside of Facebook for payment and shipment. These websites may appear legitimate at first glance but are often designed to steal your personal and financial information.

⚠️ No In-Person Collection: One of the telltale signs of these scams is the inability to collect the item in person. Scammers will provide various excuses, such as being out of town or needing to maintain social distancing due to COVID-19, to avoid meeting face-to-face.

⚠️ Fake Payment Portals: Be cautious of sellers who request payment through unfamiliar or unsecured payment portals. These platforms may not offer buyer protection, leaving you vulnerable to fraud.

To safeguard yourself against these scams:

1️⃣ Always Insist on In-Person Transactions: Whenever possible, arrange to meet the seller in a public place to inspect the item and exchange payment. Never agree to purchase an item if you can't physically see or collect it.

2️⃣ Verify Seller Information: Conduct thorough research on the seller's profile, including their history of transactions and reviews from previous buyers. Genuine sellers will typically have a consistent presence and positive feedback.

3️⃣ Use Secure Payment Methods: When making online payments, opt for secure and reputable payment methods that offer buyer protection, such as PayPal or credit cards.

4️⃣ Trust Your Instincts: If something feels off or too good to be true, it probably is. Trust your instincts and proceed with caution.

We're committed to ensuring a safe and trustworthy shopping experience for our customers. If you encounter any suspicious activity or believe you've fallen victim to a scam, please reach out to us immediately.

Stay vigilant, stay safe!

[Monitor Shop] Team 🖥️🔍

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Microsoft cold-calling scam

The police are warning that scammers have been cold calling potential victims, claiming to be from Microsoft. You should treat these calls as potential scams and hang up immediately.
What has happened
The scammers telephone out of the blue and claim there's a problem with your computer.

They can fix this remotely for free and you will be asked to download remote access software, and if you do, they will have full access to your computer and any information held on it.

The caller claiming to be a ‘Microsoft representative’ will tell you the issue has been resolved and offer you compensation for your poor customer experience. In some cases, this has been as much as £350.

You might even be transferred to one of their colleagues in the ‘refund/ finance department’.

The only issue, this department will tell you, is that the minimum amount they can transfer is £4,000. To resolve this, they will send you that amount, you will keep £350 and wire them back £3,650 using a reputable service.

The criminals may even show you an electronic receipt of a successful bank transfer.

Unfortunately some victims have believed this to be genuine and have lost a lot of money and personal details from their computer.

What you should do
If you get a call like this:

hang up immediately
block the number from contacting you again
report the scam to Action Fraud online(external link opens in a new window / tab) or by phone on 0300 123 2040
If you feel that there is a problem with your computer, seek professional and trustworthy advice yourself.