.jpg "Check if a seller is a scammer")
Anyone who buys something through a site like Marktplaats wants to know whether the seller can be trusted. Check a police site to see if the seller is associated with a scam.
scam
Internet scams are common. Someone offers something for sale via, for example, Marktplaats, but never sends the goods. Or send broken or other items. An online store can also be unreliable and receive money without anything in return.
Declare
Anyone who is being defrauded via the internet must report this to the police. Often the telephone number, name and bank account number of the possible scammer are provided. If there are more reports about the same person, the police will take action. The data of scammers ends up in a database.
Search the database of scammers
On the website of the police there is a search engine, especially for online purchases. In the search bar, type someone’s name, bank account number, email address, or phone number. If the person is known to the police, you will be able to see this. If there is no report, this is of course no guarantee that someone can be trusted. But you avoid transferring money to or agreeing with a known scammer.
The search does not work with Marktplaats e-mail addresses, by the way. If you e-mail someone via Marktplaats, their e-mail address will not be visible. Some kind of code is used, and it is not in the police database.