How not to get scammed online

23 February 2015 - 15:06 By On Your Case with Wendy Knowler
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Dave Young responded to an advert on Gumtree for a saddle, and paid cash into the seller’s bank account on January 12.

He never received the saddle, and didn’t get a response to her emails and phone messages.

Question:

“I think I’ve been scammed - the last contact I had with her was on January 30. Can the bank refund me the money from that person’s account?”

Wendy Knowler answers:

I’m afraid it does sound as if you’ve been scammed. I’m so sorry.

In future, insist on paying for things online with a credit card. That’s the only way you can get your money back - by applying for ‘chargeback’ via your bank’s disputes division - if you don’t get the goods.

This chargeback protection applies to all goods and services purchases made with your credit card. You must be able to prove that you didn’t get what you paid for, and you must apply for chargeback within your bank’s specified time limit, which ranges from one to six months.

NEED HELP?

You can contact Wendy Knowler with your consumer issues via email: consumer@knowler.co.za or on Twitter: @wendyknowler

 

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