Kijiji lying to users about security issues

[Paul]

Yes, I know, pretty broad accusation, but it's true, and here's why.

Yesterday I posted an ad on Kijiji for my wife's Ford Fusion we are selling. This afternoon I get an email from Kijiji, well actually 2 emails. This is what they said.

First email

Dear Kijiji User,

We have just deleted one of your Kijiji Ads for violating one or more site policies.

Kijiji policies prohibit:

 * posting Ads outside of one's local area
 * posting Ads in too many different categories
 * posting prohibited or illegal content

For a complete list of site policies, please read the following web page:

 https://help.kijiji.net/ca/knowledgebase.php?category=5

The ad that was removed from Kijiji was:

 "1997 Porsche 911 URGENT SALE" (Ad Id #348295853)

Please do not attempt to repost ads that violate site policies.

If, in your opinion, we were unjustified in removing your Ad you can contact us at:

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

The Kijiji Team
www.kijiji.ca

The second email

Hello Paul,

Someone recently logged into your Kijiji account and used it for fraudulent
purposes. We have changed your account password to prevent further abuse.

Please sign in to Kijiji and change your password now.  Your account info:

Email address: xxxxxxxxx
Password: xxxxxxxx

http://www.kijiji.ca/c-ManageMyAccount

Please log into Kijiji right away using the email and password above and
then change your password to something different which is hard to guess and
not used for any other web sites.  We also suggest you change your email
address password if it was the same as your Kijiji password.

Once you have logged in and changed your password, please verify that all the
ads in your account were not modified.  If you paid for a featured ad and it
has been deleted, you will receive a refund. (Rest assured, none of your
financial information was compromised.)

Your account was compromised because you entered your Kijiji username and
password on web site setup by a scammer.  Never click links in an email
that ask you to sign in to Kijiji. All "Your Kijiji account has expired"
type of emails are fakes.  You can learn more below:
http://info.kijiji.ca/help/knowledgebase.php?article=96

If you still have questions, please contact our community support team at
http://info.kijiji.ca/help/index.php?a=add

The Kijiji Team
www.kijiji.ca

OK, now here is why this is flawed. First of all I have been developing web sites for 10 years. I am not some guy who just bought a PC yesterday, I am well aware of what phishing is and I can assure everyone that I did not follow any links or log into any fake ****ing sites after my ad was posted, it just didn't happen.

Secondly, if I violated terms, why wouldn't they just shut my account down. How do they have the knowledge that my account was compromised, how would they know I didn't put that bogus ad up. Why are they resetting my password for me and telling me I did something that I didn't do? If I was phished HOW WOULD THEY KNOW THAT?

And most importantly the ad that actually got deleted was the ad for the Fusion, so clearly my Fusion ad was altered to be some bogus ad. They even offered a refund for me paying to have it as a top ad. Somehow they had the whole problem figured out for me and fixed it long before I even knew I had a problem yet somehow the problem was my fault? Get the **** out of here...

It's a lie, they have a security issue, and they are lying to their users.

[Tuc]

Nothing's safe on the internet these days. I get all kinds of emails from suppose to be banks wanting me to log in and change my password, while the tracking cookie they placed on their email records my every move.
Ya right!

[Paul]

Everyone gets those Tuc. Myself included. I have never fallen for one, I always check the actual link on a url, I don't just click it. Doing so can lead to viruses, phishing and other scams. That's why I am a bit peaved at kijiji. Clearly they have a security issue but are not being honest. I did not login to any fake sites.

[badback]

I wish we could get this info out to all new and new senior users about these scams...I saw on TV not long ago that the Nigerian Prince who wants to share his wealth scam is still generating money after 20 years from it's original release...

[Weste]

Kijiji is a breeding grounds for fraudulent activity.  I know 2 friends that have had their ads copied or changed where actual people lost money in the deal.  Obne guy listed his house for sale and started to get some calls (normal activity) but during a showing, the girl asked how come he only wanted $750 a month rent for a new house.  After informing her that the house was only for sale, she began to cry because she had already sent a security deposit to rent the place.  Apparently someone had copied the ad and listed for rent and manged to get a few people to give deposits.  The second guy bought a motorcycle and put the money in an escrow company until the bike arrived - no bike ever did and the money was never seen again.  They had it down to because the bike was $2400 and the RCMP do not investigate until the total dollars exceed $2500.  Very well informed criminals.

[Paul]

It is, it's a scam fest there and people do get suckered. But Kijiji isn't helping the problem by lying to users and making them feel like their failures are somehow the fault of the users.

[weeman]

Kijiji has a history of people selling stolen guitars and there accessories. I cruise the ads looking for vintage guitars but the old saying goes buyer beware.