Security Center

Recognizing scams

Online scamming is on the rise, but there are ways you can protect yourself simply by arming yourself with knowledge, staying vigilant, and using common sense. We’re happy to provide you with information and tips to help you avoid scams.

How to recognize scams

Scammers may try to reach you in multiple ways, including fake websites, email, phone or text messages. Be wary of any unusual request for your personal or financial information. Follow these tips to help you recognize and avoid common scams:

Be suspicious of any email that promises a deal that’s too good to be true, includes attachments, or asks you for personal information. Never click on a link or open a file in an email unless you are certain you know the sender.
Be suspicious of any request for personal or account information. Ritchie Bros. will never ask you to confirm your account or personal details via email or text messages.

Please take note: A person named "Mark Glader" is falsely claiming to be part of our team. He is not part of Ritchie Bros. team.

If you have received an email or communication from Ritchie Bros. that you are suspicious of, we encourage you to contact us. One of our dedicated Customer Support Agents will be glad to assist with your inquiry.

How to recognize fake emails

Fake emails from scammers masquerading as Ritchie Bros. may include our logos, use a fake Ritchie Bros. address in the" From" line, or attach fraudulent payment directions or instructions. Avoid falling prey to scammers by watching out for the following signs:

Fraudster email	Ritchie Bros. email
Asks you to reply to the message with confidential information	We never ask customers to provide confidential information via email.
May include attachments, including fake invoices directing you to make payment to the fraudster’s account	Contact our Customer Support department by phone if you are unsure.
Look for email addresses that are close but not exact. For instance, a fraudster’s email address may end in ".co" rather than the expected ".com"	We will only contact you from an email ending with: "@ritchiebros.com" "@rbauction.com" "@ironplanet.com" "@mascus.com" "@rbassetsolutions.com" "@rbfinance.com" “@rbglobal.com”
Usually include awkward phrasing and typos. This is a tactic that cybercriminals use to avoid e-mail filters designed to detect spam. Multiple grammatical/spelling errors should be a red flag for a potential scam.	If you have a question about an email that you have potentially received from Ritchie Bros., please call our Customer Support.
May include language to scare you into immediate action such as "Urgent action needed to restore your account" or "We have detected unusual activity on your account."	If you have a question about an email that you have potentially received from Ritchie Bros., please call our Customer Support.
May include link(s) pointed to malicious sites.	The best practice is not to include links in email. Email is used for notification.

Buying and selling safely

Stay safe from scammers by making sure you are doing business on a legitimate Ritchie Bros. website. Scammers may try to lure you to other websites where they may try to trick you into giving up financial information, or to direct payment to their own fraudulent account. They may also try to trick you into believing that they will sell you goods and services which are never actually delivered. Here are some important points to bear in mind:

Make sure you are conducting business on a legitimate Ritchie Bros. website:

Be cautious of fraudulent websites, such as: ironplanet.com.on-sale.click

Ritchie Bros. does not "cross list" equipment items for sale on sites such as Craigslist, Kijiji, or Le Bon Coin. Make sure the item you are interested in is being offered from one of the above-referenced Ritchie Bros. family of sites.
Don't be fooled by offers to get a better price by dealing with sellers outside of Ritchie Bros. Offers that are "too good to be true" usually are precisely that!

img-856x482-take-these-steps-to-protect-youself

Take these steps to protect yourself:

1. Install and maintain anti-virus software, firewalls, and email filters.

It's good practice to install and maintain anti-virus software on your computer. Most email applications and webmail services include some spam-filtering features. Firewalls can help protect your computer from your information being stolen.

2. Regard all unsolicited email with suspicion.

Be skeptical of emails sent to you, even if it appears legitimate, don't automatically trust it is from a legitimate source. Never click on a link in the email or open an email attachment unless you are certain it is safe.

3. If you are uncertain that a request is not genuine, contact a Customer Support Representative.

4. To help keep your account secure:

Do not share your account credentials (i.e. password)*
Do not use the same password across multiple accounts
Change your password on a regular basis
Familiarize yourself with best practices for the characteristics of strong and unique passwords
Lock your screen when you are away from your device (i.e. computer, tablet, mobile phone)

*Important to note: Ritchie Bros. will never ask you for your password or account credentials over email.