Criminals targeting local Craig’s List customers in recent scam attempts

Staff at one of Imperial’s banks is cautioning local residents of another outlet scam artists are using to steal money from unsuspecting people.
    Melanie Carman of Adams Bank & Trust said she’s aware of at least three incidents she or other staff dealt with where local residents were nearly scammed via Craig’s List purchases.
    Luckily, Carman said, all three incidents were stopped before their customers were bilked in a potential transaction.
    In one case, a local potential buyer of an item on Craig’s List was told by the seller allegedly in North Platte that the item was already sold. However, they were happy to give the buyer a name of someone else selling a similar item on eBay, Carman said.
    The potential buyer was told to purchase a money-gram transfer at the Walmart in Ogallala to pay for the item.
    However, Carman said after a few questions to their bank customer, she called eBay to ask if that would be a legitimate method of payment.
    It is not, she was told. eBay accepts only payment via PayPal, or with a debit or credit card.
    Carman said it may appear like the bank staff is being nosy, but asking a few questions of their customers when they come in to withdraw money can possibly thwart a scam.
    It certainly did in these three recent cases which happened in the past month, she said.

 

The Imperial Republican

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PO Box 727

Imperial, NE 69033