ANTI-SCAM

We dislike scams
Here's how to avoid being scammed

Sprocket is a community marketplace for buying and selling bikes. Whether you're an enthusiast or a bike-shop owner, Sprocket can help to make your life easier. Our mission is to provide a software platform for our community of bikers, mechanics, and entrepreneurs.

Avoiding Scams

Deal locally or face-to-face which eliminates 99% of scam attempts. You can further reduce scams/theft by arranging to meet at your local police station, police-designated trade area or high-traffic area during daytime.

Avoid incognito payments

Do not make large payment to anyone you have not met in person.

Too-good to be true shipping offers

Beware of shipping offers.

Protect financial information

Never give out your financial information.

Avoid wires

Never wire funds.

Avoid guarantors

Transactions must be between users only with no third party involved as a “guarantor”.

Avoiding middlemen

Do not fall for “I am out of town and my mother/brother/neighbor etc. will pick up the item”

Who should I notify about fraud or scam attempts?

Sprocket is a community marketplace for buying and selling bikes but Sprocket is not the one buying or selling the items. To report people who try to scam/defraud you:

United States

United Kingdom

Canada

India

If you get defrauded after an in-person meeting, then you should immediately contact your local police department, not Sprocket/Retrographic

If you suspect that the scam is linked to a Sprocket post, send us the details at [email protected]

Recognizing Scams

Major scam attempts includes some of the following:

Email or text from a person who is not within your locality.
Email icon or address purports to be from an official platform but on closer look is not.
Western Union, Money Gram, PayPal (sometimes), Zelle (sometimes) or similar services.

Unclear initial inquiry and poor spelling.
Declining in-person meetups to complete transactions.
Trying to mask contact info from moderation, such as /3/1/1-5/5/5-2/3/6/8/

Examples of Scams

Here's some common ones we've seen to date:

Distant person offers an original looking but fake cashier's check:

You receive an email with an offer to buy your product or goods, pay for your services in advance or rent an apartment without meeting in person.

Value of the check in question often surpasses the price of the item to be sold.

Financial institutions often cash fake checks and hold you responsible when it fails to clear most times resulting in criminal prosecution.

Distant person propositions to send you a cashier's check and then have you wire money:

This is a major scam tactic because the check is always fake.

Deals are usually too good to be true.

Scammers often ask for your name, address, etc. for printing on the fake check.

Distant seller proposes use of an online escrow service:

Most online escrow sites are run by scammers and therefore are fraudulent.

For more information, search “escrow fraud” on Google.

Foreign company tenders you a job receiving payments from customers:

Foreign firms or corporations may claim inability to receive payments from customers directly.

Then offers you a percentage of payments received.

This sort of “position” is most times posted as a job or sent to you via email.

Distant seller asks for a partial payment upfront before goods are shipped:

They say they trust you with partial payment.

They can say the goods have been shipped already.

Deals are too good to be true.

Someone requests wire service payment via Western Union or MoneyGram:

Deal appears too good to be true, either the price is too low or rent is below market.

Scam “bait” items include expensive bicycles, expensive bicycle parts and other costly items.

Scammers usually prefer text/email over phone calls.