Classified ad scam

An item on a classified ad platform is not delivered or not paid for.

The internet is also full of sellers and buyers with dubious intentions who want to scam you and take your money. Doing business with someone you do not know is always risky. One of the most commonly reported cybercrimes to the police is classified ad fraud. If you suspect that you are dealing with a buyer or seller who has fraudulent intentions, stop all communication with them.

Specific measures

Break off communication immediately and do not respond to any further messages.
If you have suffered a financial loss, we recommend that you report it to the police. You can find your nearest police station on the Suisse ePolice website (available in German, French and Italian): https://www.suisse-epolice.ch/search-station
If you have sent a copy of your ID or passport to scammers, report the incident to your local ID or passport issuing authority.
Inform the classifieds website about the incident. They can block scam ads, buyers and sellers.

Preventive measures

Have a look at the ratings on the classified ad site. Check sellers' ratings. But bear in mind that reviews can also be bogus.
Alarm bells should ring if an offer seems to good to be true.
Choose payment/shipping options that are as secure as possible (e.g. cash on delivery).
Do not comply with requests for a copy of your passport or ID. This applies whether you are a buyer or a seller

How the NCSC can help

Your report helps the NCSC identify trends. This makes it possible for the NCSC to raise public awareness in a targeted way

Further Information

Swiss Crime Prevention campaign (de, fr, it): Tempting classifieds:
https://www.skppsc.ch/de/download/verlockende-kleinanzeigen/
Further information is available at: https://www.ncsc.admin.ch/shopping-en