Learn how to avoid Facebook Marketplace scams!
When you are looking to make some extra cash by finding the best deals or by selling something you don’t need anymore, you should keep an eye open and always be cautious about potential scams.
Many people believe that the best platform for online trades is Facebook Marketplace, and indeed, it is a great platform, but remember that no matter what, safety comes first. This is the second most popular site for secondhand goods after eBay, according to a survey from 2022, but even with all of this popularity, some people don’t feel comfortable buying and selling here.
Hopefully, there are some red flags you can see, and in this way, you can effectively avoid Facebook Marketplace scams. Read on and find out how to make some cash without worrying about scams!
1. Always use safe and reliable payment platforms
One reader told us a story about how they wanted to sell a pretty expensive and fancy rug on Facebook Marketplace. As you might imagine, buyers started to appear fairly quickly, and our seller was excited about it.
There was one buyer who told the seller that they really wanted the rug and were able to pay immediately on Zelle. This seems like a good deal, but because they were not hesitant at all and wanted to make this transaction as quick as possible, it seems a little bit off for our seller.
This is great because they spotted a red flag, and this is how you avoid Facebook Marketplace scams. Sometimes buyers can send you malicious links that steal your information. People who accepted such transitions later on disregarded that their Zelle account was drained. We are sure you don’t want this to happen to you.
Always ask questions and see how the buyers react. If they start to become hesitant or simply don’t want to answer your questions, be sure you are dealing with a scammer.
2. Never take deals that sound too good to be true
This is already common knowledge in the community of those who prefer making online purchases from platforms like eBay and Craiglist, and the deals that sound too good are most probably scams.
If you see a popular item at an incredible price, start by doing some research instead of clicking the buy button. This is one wise way to avoid Facebook Marketplace scams, and you should keep your money safe.
If you have an item that you think nobody would probably want to buy and out of nowhere comes a buyer who seems quite in a hurry and very eager to buy it, keep in mind that this is a huge red flag. Many scammers use this type of tactic when they create a sense of urgency and try to lure you into their trap.
3. Enlist a buddy
A great way to avoid Facebook Marketplace scams is to have someone close to you attend your meeting. For example, whenever you want to buy or sell something, take a friend, a neighbor, or your spouse with you. If this is not possible, make sure that someone knows your plan.
Hopefully, Facebook helps you and offers you a way to share your meetup plan with a friend. Open the Messenger thread that you have with the buyer and seller and select “More options.” After, tap “Create meetup plan” and choose the location and time of your meeting. When you want to share the plan, all you have to do is tap “Send Plan” and share it with a friend you want to keep in touch with.
Another thing we believe is wise to do is to also share your location with your buddy; preferably, give them your live location so they can be aware of where you are at any time. You can use Google Maps for that.
4. Choose the right shipping method
When you want to avoid Facebook Marketplace scams, one thing to look for is whether someone wants to use a prepaid shipping label or not. Generally, when someone approaches you and suggests this method of shipping, they are probably a scammer.
The best shipping methods are the classical ones, and we believe that relying on them is the best decision. FedEx, UPS, or USPS are incredible and safe options. Always insist that you want to ship through them, and if the seller or buyer doesn’t agree, it is a warning sign. Also, don’t forget to ask about the tracking number so you can easily monitor where the item is.
When you sell an item, be sure that the buyer first pays for it, and then you can ship it. Nonpayment scams are more popular than you might think, and actually, according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Report, these scams made $300 million victims in 2023.
5. Research time
Before closing any deal with a buyer or a seller, it is good to do your research. This is one of the most efficient ways to avoid Facebook Marketplace scams. Try to gather as much information as possible about who the other person is on the other side of the screen.
There are a few clues that can indicate an account is new and is used for scams. Are there very few photos and the profile photo is missing altogether? Are there any reviews? Or are there many negative reviews? Also, do their posts have grammar or spelling errors?
Also, if you know someone in real life, this doesn’t mean that their account is secure, experts say. Even if you are working with someone you know, an acquaintance, or a colleague, you don’t need to drop your guard. Scammers can very easily create lookalike accounts, and you might think you are working with someone you know, but in reality, things are much different.
The best way to make sure all is safe is to check it with the person you are talking to through another way of communication. For example, you can send them a quick text message.
6. Keep the personal details to yourself
Sometimes, no matter if you are a buyer or seller, you will find that those who want to work with you will ask various questions. But if the questions are too personal, such as what are your working hours or if you have a spouse or not, these might be questions they use to identify vulnerabilities.
Here are some questions that are definitely a red flag: “Are you home alone?” or “Will you let me enter the house to check the item?” If someone asks you these two questions, you better stop interacting with them and don’t give them any further details about you.
Clearly, burglars want to understand your habits, how your days go, and even the layout of your home. Usually, they will do nothing the first time they come into your house, and you might believe this was just a regular transaction. They will probably return later when there is no one home, and this is when they will steal from you.
So if you want to avoid Facebook Marketplace scams, better keep personal information to yourself and never let anyone enter your home.
If you want to learn how to avoid the most common online scams this book might help: Scam Me If You Can: Simple Strategies to Outsmart Today’s Rip-off Artists
You should also read: Free Money? Here Are 7 Sure Ways to Get Them
