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Trade Me username scam - how to protect yourself
Usernames that are similar to your email address are easy targets for online scammers. Here’s how you can stay safe.
By Trust and Safety 8 September 2023
How it works
- A buyer is outbid on an auction they're keen on.
- The scammer guesses their email address with their username. For example, for a username 'kev123' – the scammer will send emails to 'kev123@gmail.com', 'kev123@hotmail.com', etc.
- The scammer reaches out, posing as the seller, saying that the trade didn't go ahead, and offering the item at a lower price.
How to stay safe
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