How to Avoid Getting Scammed on Facebook Marketplace: Facebook has become a staple of modern life. As our digital lives become increasingly intertwined, so too has the internet become a less discrete place to conduct business. From finding a babysitter to buying and selling furniture, there are countless ways to buy and sell goods and services online.
But with so many options, choosing the right one can be daunting. From online retailers to local car dealerships, the variety of ways to buy goods and services online is increasing every day.
While some of these new marketplaces are reputable and trustworthy, others are more likely to scam their customers. Here’s how to protect yourself from getting scammed on Facebook Marketplace.
Learn the Lingo
Since Facebook is a hugely popular platform for both selling and buying goods, it’s only natural that scammers will attempt to use it as well. That means you need to be familiar with the lingo and scams that tend to be associated with Facebook. Here are a few terms you need to understand:
See: How To Avoid Getting Scammed on Facebook Dating
“Offer” – An offer is an advertisement someone posts to sell their goods. It may include a description of the item, pricing information, and perhaps a few photos.
– An offer is an advertisement someone posts to sell their goods. It may include a description of the item, pricing information, and perhaps a few photos. “Item” – This refers to the actual goods being sold.
– This refers to the actual goods being sold. “Location” – This refers to the geographic location where the post is being made, as well as the name of the area.
Beware of Unusual Requests
While Facebook Marketplace provides a great way to buy and sell goods with your friends, it’s also important to beware of requests that seem unusual. For example, a lot of scammers will ask for your bank account information, including your account number and routing number.
Asking for this information is not at all suspicious, but it’s a red flag for a lot of people. If you’re ever asked for this information, you should report the request and select the option to block the person who requested it.
Make sure you’re getting what you paid for
When you’re buying or selling anything on Facebook Marketplace, it’s important to make sure you’re getting what you paid for. That means carefully inspecting the item before you sign any contract or pay for it.
If you buy an item that doesn’t turn out to be as advertised, or if the seller doesn’t follow through on their end of the deal, Facebook Marketplace does not provide any protection.
Double-check any dealer’s past sales
Just because a person owns a dealership, that doesn’t mean they’re trustworthy. Before buying a car from a private seller, you should always check their past sales on Facebook.
You can view the sales history of any business by going to Offers > Businesses you own > View business’s sales history. You can also see the details of a business’s past sales by going to their Page > History.
Avoid Scammers by Being Vigilant
As with any kind of buying or selling online, it’s important to be vigilant. You can avoid a lot of scams simply by being careful. That means doing your research, asking a lot of questions, and making sure you’re getting what you’re paying for.
Be especially wary of anyone who pressures you to make a quick decision. That may indicate that they’re not interested in a legitimate transaction, but instead are just trying to steal your information.
Do a background check on the seller
One of the best ways to avoid getting scammed on Facebook Marketplace is to do a background check on the seller. You can do a background check by going to the business’s page and clicking View Details.
On the page, click on the History tab and look for any negative information. You can also Google the business to see if there are any complaints against it. If there are any complaints or negative reviews, consider them a red flag and avoid that business.
Don’t hand over your credit card information willy-nilly
Credit card information is extremely sensitive. That’s why it’s dangerous to hand it over to someone you don’t know. Even strangers online can use your credit card number to make purchases in your name.
Before sending your credit card information to a Facebook Marketplace seller, make sure you thoroughly know who you’re dealing with.
Be skeptics of everyone you don’t know
The most important thing you can do to avoid getting scammed on Facebook Marketplace is to be skeptical of everyone you don’t know. That means you should always do your due diligence when buying or selling goods or services online. That includes thoroughly researching the person selling you goods or services.
How to Avoid Getting Scammed
The best way to avoid getting scammed on Facebook Marketplace is to use common sense. That includes doing your research, asking lots of questions, and not giving out your credit card information willy-nilly. Be especially wary of anyone trying to sell you goods or services that you didn’t ask for.
Conclusion
Facebook has become an essential tool for many people, but it’s also a great resource for criminals looking to prey on its users. Even though there are ways to avoid getting scammed on Facebook Marketplace, it’s important to be wary of what you’re doing.
If you want to sell goods or services on Facebook, you should only use the platform if you feel comfortable doing so. Facebook does not provide any protection for users who use the service for fraud purposes, so you’re entirely responsible for avoiding scams.