Users of Bermuda online classifieds service are warned to be wary of e-mail fraudsters after some users were targeted by sham operators.

In an e-mail sent to subscribers to the service, e-Moo management said the Fraud Unit of the Bermuda Police Department is now involved and has issued information on what users should watch out for.

Detective inspector Robin Sherwood warned users to be wary of numerous electronic fraud schemes, including the so-called ?advance fee? frauds and ?high dollar shipping scams?, frauds committed over the Internet.

Although there are numerous Internet types of fraud used by online scam artists, the Police said the general theme used by the fraudsters targeting users of sites like e-Moo is to make an e-mail approach suggesting an agreement to purchase the item up for sale at above the purchase price.

The hitch is that part of the monies are to be repatriated to the buyer, as part of the agreement.

?The buyer could claim to have a third-party cheque above the purchase price or a check from a bank or reputable company, which was received as a refund.

?The buyer (fraudster) will make all types of reasons why he is conducting the transaction in this manner; reasons include but are not limited to the following: To assist with shipping; To help the buyer get around financial controls in his country, and more.?

e-Moo said a real example of this type of fraud was the seller of a jeep recently targeted by this kind of sham operator.

?An ad was placed to sell a jeep, with the asking price set at $6,500. The seller received e-mails that were consistent with other West African type frauds in which the buyer agrees to the price.

?The buyer (fraudster) has agreed to send the $6,500 plus an additional $3,500 for shipping.

?The payment will be sent by cheque or other fraudulent method. In the case of a cheque it will be forged and not be honoured; in the case of a credit card it will be stolen or also forged.

?In the interim, the seller has made contact with a shipping company ? the address is provided by the buyer (fraudster) and the seller will be asked to forward the money for the shipping in advance, or in some cases a fraudulent cheque has been sent to the seller and then deposited in the seller?s bank account.?

The net result of that scenario, the e-mail said, is a seller ?out $3,500 and left with his car and a cheque for $9,500 dollars that is a forgery?.

The Police told e-Moo there were ?a number of different spins on this ? but it generally requires the seller to part with money in advance?.

The Police shared the following points to help identify scams:

The buyer is always in a foreign country and generally will not communicate by telephone.

The buyer wants the items shipped to him in the foreign country.

The approved ?shipping company? will present their invoice as promised, and the will seller pay the cost often by wire transfer or other means of ensuring prompt payment for the service;

The seller?s bank will call to say the cheques or means of payment are fraudulent and will not be honoured.