Connecticut BBB issues consumer alert about children playhouse listing

Feb. 25, 2010 - PRLog -- Listing is a scam to steal cash

Connecticut Better Business Bureau is alerting consumers about a classified ad for the “Sunray Premium Playhouse” on Craigslist.com in Hartford.

The article is listed as: “New in Box: Sunray Premium Playhouse for Children - $600 (hartford ).”

BBB received a complaint from a man in Central Missouri who said he lost $600 to what appears to be a phony Internet business, myonlionedepot.net. Other consumers have made similar complaints about the company at online complaint Web sites.

The man was directed to myonlinedepot.net and instructed to pay for the item with a “Green Dot MoneyPak” and then transfer the money to the would-be seller via the Internet.  MoneyPaks can be purchased in stores across the country and used to transfer money without a bank account.

The Myonlinedepot.net Web site has disappeared, however the ad lists a reply e-mail address for the item at sale-k6wms-1583981181@craigslist.org.  Ads for identical playhouses appear in craigslist.com sites in Little Rock, Ark.; Denver, Col.; Fresno, Calif. and several other cities.

Online classified ad scams are a growing concern and prompted craigslist.com to post a warning on its sites on how to avoid fraud.

BBB offers the following tips to protect consumers from Internet thieves:

•Buy only from known, reputable companies.
•Never pay for an item through Western Union, MoneyGram wire transfer, cashier check or similar methods if you are unfamiliar with the business.  Pay with a credit card whenever possible in case you need to challenge a purchase or unauthorized charge.
•Check out a vendor’s Reliability Report at bbb.org or by calling 203-269-2700.

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Founded in 1928, Connecticut BBB is an unbiased non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. For more advice on finding companies and businesses, start your search with trust at www.bbb.org.