Online Classifieds

Dear Commissioner of Competition,

I would like to register a complaint with you about XXXXXX.ca, a Web site that acts as a global classifieds board. Last summer, I decided to rent rooms in my house so I decided to post my ad on XXXXXX.ca.

I received quite a bit of interest in the ad. One particular applicant stood out because he was a young student who wrote that he missed his hometown and his mom, and would prefer to live in a home than in residence. I told him I would require a first and a last month deposit, mostly to cover the feeds for my lawyer and insurance agent that looked after the tenant's agreement.

The young man sent me a cheque exceeding the amount I had asked for - almost twice as much - which I thought was a little odd for a cash-strapped student. But when he sent me a follow-up email noting his mistake and requesting I send him the difference, I figured it was an innocent mistake. I deposited his cheque a few days later and thought nothing of the transaction.

A few weeks later, my bank sent me a letter informing me that they would be withdrawing almost $2,000 from my account because of a fake cheque I had deposited.

I immediately went to my bank to clear this misunderstanding. The bank informed me that although I didn’t write the fake cheque, I was responsible for it since I deposited the cheque in my account.

I tried to get in touch with my potential tenant, but was unsuccessful. I reported the incident to the police, who told me they’d keep an eye out for him but that it would be difficult because he could be anywhere.

After talking to several internet service providers, but I was unable to get the young man’s contact information. Almost everyone I know is very sympathetic, but in the end, it’s buyer beware. I went on several chat forums and Web sites, and discovered that the same scam has been making its way on various online classified sites. I was not the first victim, and I certainly will not be the last.

I tried contacting XXXXXX.ca to inform them of what had happened and to ask that this person’s account be handed over to the police or suspended. They said that due to the high volume of postings they would be unable to filter through and read each posting individually to verify authenticity. They also stated that it is up to each and every person to practice vigilance when buying or selling anything online. They act as the middle person, and there is nothing they can do about this matter.

I tend to disagree. And that’s why I’ve written to you. Please help me get these bad people off these sites and help protect others from falling victim to these seemingly harmless but extremely malicious people.