Coronavirus Melbourne: Avoid scams on Facebook, Gumtree

If isolation isn’t bleak enough, don’t become a victim of a scammer when you try to buy or sell something online. A detective has shared the tips everyone needs to know.

People are being warned to be careful buying and selling items online.

With many people stuck at home using the internet, a Melbourne detective is warning them to be extra careful about buying and selling things online.

The number of people have being scammed trying to make online purchases has risen in recent months, according to Manningham detective Sergeant Leeanne Trusler.

Now she’s worried even more people will fall victim as they turn to online shopping in their isolation boredom.

People are being scammed when they organise sales on sites like Gumtree.

Sgt Trusler’s number one tip to people using websites like Gumtree, eBay and Facebook to buy and sell is to never make or accept direct deposits into bank accounts.

“Please use PayPal,” she said.

Sgt Trusler said people across the country were increasingly being ripped off by people accepting payment and not handing over the items, or by people taking the goods and reneging on handing over the money.

She said PayPal was the only sure-fire way to get money back if one party didn’t come through on their share of the deal.

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“We can go around and arrest people but the chances of getting the money back are pretty much zero.”

Sgt Trusler said if people didn’t use paypal, they should at least wait for the money to land in the right account before exchanging goods, or use cash in person.

She said a huge red flag about a dodgy seller was an offer to discount the price for direct bank transfer.

“If the item is $400 and they offer to sell it for $350 for bank transfer, you can pretty much say goodbye to that $350,” she said.