THE LATEST HOLIDAY "CASH BACK" SCAM!

It happened at Wal-Mart (Super center Store #1279, 10411 N Freeway 45, Houston, TX 77037 a month ago. I bought a bunch of stuff, over $150, & I glanced at my receipt as the cashier was handing me the bags. I saw a cash-back of $40. I told her I didn't request a cash back & to delete it. She said I'd have to take the $40 because she couldn't delete it. I told her to call a supervisor.  Supervisor came & said I'd have to take it. I said NO! Taking the $40 would be a cash advance against my Discover & I wasn't paying interest on a cash advance!!!!! If they couldn't delete it then they would have to delete the whole order. So the supervisor had the cashier delete the whole order & re-scan everything! The second time I looked at the electronic pad before I signed & a cash-back of $20 popped up. At that point I told the cashier & she deleted it. The total came out right. The cashier agreed that the electronic pad must be defective.

Obviously the cashier knew the electronic pad was defective because she NEVER offered me the $40 at the beginning. Can you imagine how many people went through before me & at the end of her shift how much money she pocketed?   Just to alert everyone. My co worker went to Milford, DE Wal-Mart last week. She had her items rung up by the cashier. The cashier hurried her along and didn't give her a receipt. She asked the cashier for a receipt and the cashier was annoyed and gave it to her. My co worker didn't look at her receipt until later that night. The receipt showed that she asked for $20 cash back. SHE DID NOT ASK FOR CASH BACK!

My co-worker called Wal-Mart who investigated but could not see the cashier pocket the money. She then called her niece who works for the bank and her niece told her this. This is a new scam going on. The cashier will key in that you asked for cash back and then hand it to her friend who is the next person in line.   Please, please, please check your receipts right away when using credit or debit cards!  This is NOT limited to Wal-Mart, although they are the largest retailer so they have the most incidents I am adding to this. My husband and I were in Wal-Mart North Salisbury and paying with credit card when my husband went to sign the credit card signer he just happen to notice there was a $20 cash back added. He told the cashier that he did not ask nor want cash back and she said this machine has been messing up and she cancelled it. We really didn't think anything of it until we read this email.  

 I wonder how many "seniors" have been, or will be, "stung" by this one????   To make matters worse ....THIS SCAM CAN BE DONE ANYWHERE,

 

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The "Highs" and "Lows" of Craigslist Ads

I have just been having so much fun selling my stuff on Craigslist. I almost thought I had a new part-time job - just answering to inquiries on my items. However, the more I had "fun" thinking about all this extra money I could earn, I began to fear the inevitable. What if these so-called buyers did not have intentions of purchasing my items and instead looking for "trouble"?

I have people whose emails do not describe themselves. I have no idea whom they are and where they will come from. Some of these emails are not very friendly per se.... I am interested in your dining table. What time can I come by to look at it??? Before I know it, I'd be giving out my address. I could meet people who would purchase small stuff, but the big dining tables, furniture - that's almost impossible. The next safest strategy is for them to show up when my husband is around. Not just alone by myself.

I know I have to watch out for some scary people out there. That's also the reason why I would never go buy anything off Craigslist without my husband accompanying me. If the time does not work out and the item is sold, just too bad for me. Safety comes first in the grand scheme of things.

These "fears" are real. The Craigslist murder made me much more aware of crazies out there. If you do not know about the Craigslist murder, let me just tell you that 22-year old Philip Markoff is on trial accussed of murdering a woman whom he supposedly met through Craigslist.

Then, at the same time, you google my name, I have many pages of me all over the Internet. Good thing if it's meant for good marketing of my business. Bad thing if someone wants to harm me. (That's also a reason I never tweet or Facebook about where I'm at exactly for this fear).

At the same time, we as Realtors(R) answer emails and meet people on the houses we sell. Our goal is to sell the houses and make a sale. You'd never know where your prospects connect with you. I've sold homes because of my Craigslist and VFlyer ads so I know they work. One thing I learnt, I never do immediate appointments. I also at least try to google the person's name to find out more information, or at least how they look - if I could find it.

Here are some tips when selling on Craiglist:

• For smaller items, plan to meet in a public area.
• For larger items, make sure someone can be with you during the sale.
• In real estate, do not meet anyone whom you do not know. Meet at a public area or in your office with other co-workers around.
• In the public area, text the vehicle license plate to your friend and spouse. You should have a discussion with them prior to the meeting about your whereabouts.
• In the Frisco TX area, all my showings are logged in with the Showing system. My husband knows the route I would take (as planned on the showing appointments).
• Program 911 on your speed dial. Use it if you have to.
• When you are meeting a "questionable" prospect, ask someone to call you 10 minutes into your appointment to check on you.

This world has turned into a scary place. Social media has drawn us closer. But at the same time, we have opened ourselves for lots of vulnerability that hasnt happened prior to Facebook and Twitter.

I'd just say, Go with your gut feeling.

 

 

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Copyright © 2009 by Loreena Yeo (3:16 team REALTY).
The "Highs" and "Lows" of Craigslist Ads.

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