Oodle Helps Consumers Avoid Scams in Online Classifieds
Posted on: Tuesday, 4 March 2008, 09:00 CST
SAN MATEO, Calif., March 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Oodle (http://www.oodle.com/), a whole new kind of classifieds, and the Golden Gate Better Business Bureau, today announced that they will work together to help consumers buy and sell things more safely through online classifieds. The program includes the launch of a safety guide for consumers and a dynamic web site that chronicles the latest scams and frauds to avoid when using online classifieds.
"Online classifieds are a fantastic way to both sell things and find great deals," said Faith Sedlin, co-founder, vice president of marketing, Oodle. "Unfortunately, consumers have to be increasingly careful due to a recent increase in fraud on many Internet classified sites. We're excited to work with our local Better Business Bureau to get critical information into the hands of consumers and help them remain safe as well as avoid scams."
"The Better Business Bureau is committed to creating an ethical marketplace where buyers and sellers trust each other. To date, little information has been available about fraud prevention in local classifieds," said Gene O'Neil, president, Better Business Bureau Golden Gate. "By offering this information in a timely manner, we hope to increase trust and make shopping online classifieds safer."
The safety guide includes recommendations for in-person transactions, tips to protect both buyers and sellers against possibly harmful situations as well as recommendations for in-person transactions. A few simple safety steps include:
1. MEET IN A PUBLIC PLACE. Meet in a public place if possible -- during the daytime when other people will be around -- and avoid making a transaction alone. Invite a friend along. 2. INSIST ON CASH. Pay cash and keep the payment simple. Do not use personal checks, money wires, Western Union or Moneygrams, as they can be faked. When dealing with large sums of money, it is better to see the item in question first, and then head to the bank together for the transaction. 3. PROTECT YOUR PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION. Don't give out your social security number, bank numbers, credit card numbers, etc.
For the full text of these tips and a free, downloadable booklet, visit: http://safety.oodle.com/.
To help consumers that are unsure whether or not they are being scammed, Oodle also offers an up-to-date forum providing information on known scams. To access this forum and to see more information on how to spot scams, visit http://safety.oodle.com/, or check with the Better Business Bureau at http://bbb.org/.
About Oodle
Oodle (http://www.oodle.com/) is a whole new kind of classifieds. Bringing together more than 30 million listings from over 80,000 sites, Oodle improves the way people buy and sell locally. Oodle offers the most comprehensive search, convenient email alerts and information to empower consumers to make better buying decisions.
Since its launch in 2005, Oodle has grown rapidly and attracts over four million unique visitors each month. In addition, the Oodle Network powers classifieds for over 200 leading brands, including Cox Interactive, Media General, The Washington Post, San Diego Union Tribune and Lycos. The Oodle Network offers media companies and portals a proven business model for free listings and the best classifieds marketplace for their customers.
Oodle is also available in the UK (http://www.oodle.co.uk/) and Canada (http://canada.oodle.com/).
About BBB
BBB is an unbiased non-profit organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. Businesses that earn BBB accreditation contractually agree and adhere to the organization's high standards of ethical business behavior. BBB provides objective advice, free business BBB Reliability Reports(TM) and BBB Wise Giving Reports(TM) on charities, as well as educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. To further promote trust, BBB also offers complaint and dispute resolution support for consumers and businesses when there is difference in viewpoints. The first BBB was founded in 1912. Today, 128 BBBs serve communities across the U.S. and Canada, evaluating and monitoring more than 3 million local and national businesses and charities. Please visit http://www.bbb.org/ for more information about BBB.
Oodle
CONTACT: Michelle Andersen of Oodle, +1-650-401-7200, ext. 142,michelle@corp.oodle.com
Web site: http://www.oodle.com/http://bbb.org/
Source: PRNewswire
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