Scam Ads

When I first worked out the business model for AD2AD, I was often asked about fraud. (With AD2AD, customers place their own ads online.)

What about stolen credit cards? I'd be asked
Who would steal a credit card to place classified ad???? I answered.

Well, now I know. In late 2006, AD2AD publications were peppered with ads placed by customers using stolen credit cards. We had about 15 customers call, in various states of shock.

While AD2AD had only a few of these scam-frauds, some of the customers we spoke to had horror stories. One man from Florida had opened his credit card statement to discover more than 250 ads placed in various newspapers -- total charges of more than $40 THOUSAND! (Thankfully, his AD2AD problem was a single ad for about $100.)

This is when I became aware of Nigerian Puppy Scams -- and other Scams.

I'd like to use this blog to identify existing and potential classified ad scams.