The Facebook Marketplace is a great place to hunt for bargains on anything you want or sell things for extra cash. But as the place is getting crowded, they’re also Red Flags Sellers need to watch out for so you don’t get scammed on Facebook Marketplace by a Buyer. This article has outlined 13 of them for you, we advise you to read through them carefully.
13 Red Flags to Watch Out for as a Seller to Not Get Scammed on Facebook Marketplace by a Buyer
Surely, what You will get here are 13 Red Flags to Watch Out for to Not Get Scammed on Facebook Marketplace.
Scammers try to find their place anywhere, especially on the Facebook Marketplace. Also, they take advantage of people who are ignorant of the Red Flags. That’s what this article is meant to enlighten about.
1. Money Flipping
It’s easy to be tempted to get rich quickly without much effort, and the scammers know this. Someone on the Facebook Marketplace with a picture of cash, telling you to provide some investment and get 10 times it is a Red Flag you should watch out for.
2 High Prices Offered for low in-demand Items
If there’s a cheap item you want to sell and you find a buyer on the Facebook Marketplace willing to pay with a price too good to be true, you’re most likely about to get scammed.
3. Another Buyer Red Flag to Watch for on Facebook Marketplace is their Location
Some buyers on Facebook Marketplace do not reside in the same country as You. Most scammers tend to use VPNs to hide their true location so as to scam sellers on the platform. So, You as a seller have to make sure You communicate and ask questions well when selling on the platform.
4. Requesting for Payment on Delivery
A buyer telling You that they can only pay for an item unless it’s been delivered to them first is a very big red flag You as a seller needs to watch out for. Especially if the address they provide You is somewhere You’re not comfortable with.
5. Sending Extra Money and Asking for a Refund
This scam has gotten old on the Facebook Marketplace but some people still fall victim. The buyer uses counterfeit funds and then asks for a refund meanwhile the actual funds will never end up in your possession.
6. Buyers without a Rating are also a Red Flag to Watch Out for on the Facebook Marketplace
If you’re about to sell an item and you check the Buyer’s profile and there’s no rating, that’s also a Red Flag you should watch out for so as not to get scammed on the Facebook Marketplace.
7. New Accounts
New accounts are also Red Flags to watch out for, as most scammers create multiple accounts and don’t get to use them for long. Make sure you check the date the account of every buyer is opened before engaging.
8. Declining Meetings in Public Places
A buyer who declines meeting in public places is probably hiding something and might be a scammer. Always make Facebook Marketplace transactions in public places.
9. “No Profile Details” is one Red Flag You Shouldn’t Ignore on the Facebook Marketplace
If the profile of the buyer doesn’t have a profile picture or the details are too scanty or there are no profile details at all, it’s a Red Flag to watch out for to not get scammed on the Facebook Marketplace.
10. Asking for Communication Outside of the Facebook Marketplace
By all means, try to keep all Marketplace transactions on the Facebook messenger platform as most scammers are eager to move the communication to other platforms with less traceability and accountability.
11. Asking for Specific Payment Methods
A buyer asking for specific payment methods like cryptocurrency and gift cards should be a Red Flag. This is because those methods are very difficult to trace, more chances for the scammer to get away with your money.
12. Requesting for Personal Information is One of the Red Flags to Watch Out for on Facebook Marketplace
Your personal details or card details are not needed for any transaction to be confirmed. The sellers requesting personal information is definitely a Red Flag to watch out for on the FB Marketplace.
13. Overpayment Refund Scams
This fraud functions very similarly to the shipping insurance scam. A buyer will make up their interest in a product to the point that they say they have sent payment for it. Sellers should always double-check the transaction and balance if they offer to buy something.
They will further include a false screenshot of the transaction to support their allegation. The screenshot will make it evident that the buyer overpaid for the product. Next, they will request that you (the seller) return some of the money they have sent you, even though the transition has finished.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you want to stay safe from scammers on the Facebook Marketplace, always watch out for Red Flags so you won’t fall victim. And make sure you report any suspicious accounts. Also, click here to know what to do when you notice a scammer on Facebook Marketplace.
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