How Not to Get Scammed on Facebook?

What's not to love about the Facebook marketplace? It is not only simple, but also one of the most convenient places to buy and sell almost anything. However, at this point, it's also safe to say that the marketplace has become ground zero for scammers. Facebook is the newest, hottest platform to buy and sell merchandise and fraudsters have taken full advantage of it to scam innocent people.

Although buying online and making payments with your mobile device is very convenient, it’s merely a recipe for fraud. It's miserable that there are people out there who want to cheat and rob others. If you are looking to utilize the Facebook marketplace, but you fear scams, here are a few things you need to know about how not to get scammed on Facebook.

Check the seller or buyer profile before you make a deal

When you see something, you like that's on sale, check out the seller profile to scrutinize whether it is fake or real. Check out the seller information to ensure that they are within your area. If they are in your local group, but they live far from you, be wary of them because there's a possibility they are trying to con others. Verify to see if you have mutual friends, how long they have been on the platform and the number of friends they have.

Most scammers have either a few friends or a lot of them with weird, made-up names. If the account seems relatively new without much activity, then it is a warning sign that it is a fake profile. If the seller has spammy links on their page leading to weird weight loss pills or even porn sites, there is a high chance they are cons.

READ ALSO: How to Leverage the Power of Facebook Buy and Sell Groups

Pay attention to product details

Check the clarity of the photos in the ad and the details in the description. If there are several photos at different angles, and product dimensions, then it’s a good sign. However, this is not enough, conduct a reverse image search online to see if similar pictures appear from other sources.

Research the Items

Before you buy anything from a Facebook marketplace, research its price on other platforms. Compare prices with other online stores to see if you are getting a good deal or not. You can also check how much other sellers at the marketplace are asking for similar items. In addition to that, if you check the comment section in that thread, you are likely to see either positive or negative comments from previous customers.

Never deal with wishy-washy sellers

As you will come to realize soon enough, people change their minds in the Facebook marketplace. Sellers will give you an asking price, but once you show interest, they will hike it and try to extort you. All this is not to say that there are no honest people at the platform, but it pays to be extra careful. When people start showing flakiness, it is not worth the drama so spare yourself.

Meet in a safe public place

Never agree to meet at someone’s house, regardless of what you are selling or buying. This way is how people get robbed, or worse. Always meet in a public place. Get a company of one or two because you can never be too careful. Meet in an area that is likely to have proper security protocols such as CCTV cameras. It is the safest way to meet strangers.

Always make exchanges at the same time

If you are the one selling merchandise, don’t give out your items to wait for payment later. Exchanging your items for money at the same time is an excellent option because it eliminates any possibility of being deceived. Alternatively, you can use a different payment method that will protect both you and the other party, such as an escrow program.

For instance, Escrow Kenya is an incredible platform that offers itself as a third party that holds on to funds on neutral ground. When you make a deal with a seller, what you do is send the money to Escrow Kenya. The platform will keep the money until you receive the merchandise.

You then confirm that you have received it, and Escrow Kenya releases the funds to the seller. If the seller turns out to be a scammer, EscrowKenya gives you back your money, and it’s a win-win situation.

READ ALSO: Tips for Selling on Instagram

Always be smart at the marketplace

If something is too good to be true, then it probably is. However, be skeptic because it might be a knockoff made to look good to attract buyers. On the other hand, if you are selling products and a buyer agrees to take it without negotiating or asking questions, be very wary of them. Real buyers will always try to haggle, even at a fair price.

If a buyer opts to pay you using unknown means, such as offering you a cheque, chances are you won’t be able to cash it, and by the time you realize it, they will not be available. When buying and selling products, or any item on Facebook, only accept cash in small denominations, or use a trusted escrow service like Escrow Kenya. If a buyer refuses to meet face to face, they are trying to deceive you.

Bottom line

With more than one billion users every month, Facebook has tons of opportunities to grow your business or catch great deals and discounts. However, the social network is an ideal place for scammers to carry out their fraudulent activities and a lot of people fall prey into their traps. However, if you follow, how not to get scammed on Facebook tips and do your due diligence, you will avoid being scammed.

Be wary of anyone, even your friend, asking that you click on links. Before you do it, call or text your friends to ask if they send you that link or not. Trade safely and grow your business using the huge Facebook marketplace!