Internet Scam Targets Online Sellers

A new internet scam warning from the Lubbock Better Business Bureau. This one targeting individuals trying to sell things online.

Nineteen-year-old Estavan Arcos says this was his first experience selling anything online. He posted a classified ad to sell his Total Gym and listed the selling price at $160. Within a couple days he had an interested buyer, and without seeing any pictures of the equipment, agreed to purchase it for the asking price. Four days later Estavan recieved a check from the California buyer in the amount of $2,600. The check, however, was from New York. And specific instructions to wire the remaining cash back to an individual in Pennsylvania, Gwendolyn Roman, a name the Better Business Bureau has seen on other scams. At first glance the money was tempting, but this nineteen-year-old knew better.

"I was excited. I was like, wow! But at the same time it made me suspicious. Why would he send me so much more than I was asking for? It made me reallyu suspicious", says Estevan Arcos.

"My heart says one thing but my head says another and that's when the BBB has to step in and say think about it... someone one you don't know is giving you more money that they are supposed to and asking you to send it to a third party. My head tells me that's illegal", says Nan Campbell with Better Business Bureau.

For more information on this scam you can click classifieds at the top of your screen. There you will find a link to the Scam Alert.