Montreal sellers on Facebook Marketplace say they're adjusting to a new type of scam from deceptive buyers trying to seize their bank account through fake e-transfers.
Violaine Pelletier-Madsen, who sells her personal items on the popular platform, says she almost fell victim when she tried selling something to an individual who wanted her to put the product on hold. He offered to pay a deposit.
"I didn't look online to go see their profile," she said. "So I just took it for granted that this conversation goes well and I accepted the Interac transfer."
She clicked what looked like an e-transfer link but clicked out when it wasn't directing her to her official bank page or banking app.
It's a scenario cybersecurity expert Claudiu Popa says he sees often.
The scam, also known as reverse fraud, involves the scammer sending a link disguised with official-looking branding and asking the seller to input their banking information to claim the payment. Once the victim does so, the scammer gets access to their account and sends themselves an e-transfer.
Popa says if the buyer expresses a sense of urgency, it should immediately set off alarm bells.
"You can put anything you want in that link. If you tell a person you're waiting for them, the vendor's going to click," he said.
The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) says the scam seems to be relatively new in Montreal.
In an email, the SPVM says seven cases of reverse fraud were reported between January and April 1, 2025, adding that no reports were recorded in previous years. Read more.
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