SEQUIM—The Sequim Police Department has uncovered another scam that has been circulating on the Olympic Peninsula. Recent issues of the Peninsula Daily News have contained a classified ad selling a Kubota BX23 tractor for $2,500. Police Chief Bill Dickinson became suspicious upon seeing the low selling price and began to investigate. The newspaper immediately cancelled the advertisements once they were notified by the Sequim Police Department and confirmed the ads were a fraud.
The ad lists an internet phone number. When called or a text sent, the sender is directed to contact the seller at an email address. The potential buyer is then sent an extensive and official looking email from “Amazon” with instructions on how to purchase and use Amazon gift cards to pay for the tractor. The email looks official, but is not from Amazon. It is from an Outlook account. Citizens are reminded that the only official Amazon site is amazon.com. Correspondence from any other address claiming to be from Amazon should be regarded as a fraud.
“We want to do everything we can to keep our residents safe,” Chief Dickinson said. “This is another reminder that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”
Chief Dickinson said there are false ads on a number of internet services, and the Police Department is still receiving calls about the IRS scam and reports of grandchildren that are in prison in other countries. Both demand immediate payment and are not legitimate.
Please contact the Sequim Police Department at (360) 683-7227 with questions, or to report a potential scam.