Facebook Marketplace - Is This Legit?

[bad company]

I’ve been selling a few bits of stuff after we recently downsized house. All have paid cash at the door apart from a couple of easy to spot scams involving requests to pay with PayPal etc.

Now I have this from a buyer a few hundred miles away. Any thoughts?

[M22s]

I’ve seen this flagged as a scam on FB selling pages.

[NikBartlett]

Run away , very fast

Although if you want to have fun with some scammers, this is a great opportunity

[JulianHJ]

Very common fraud tactic at the moment.

[bad company]

M22s said:

I’ve seen this flagged as a scam on FB selling pages.

OK, I can smell the rat but I can’t see it. Anyone know how this scam works?

[addsvrs]

I think it's something to do with asking you to pay insurance for thr cash, total bullst.

[ambuletz]

bad company said:

M22s said:

I’ve seen this flagged as a scam on FB selling pages.

OK, I can smell the rat but I can’t see it. Anyone know how this scam works?

some googling seems to suggest that after some discussions they ask you to pay for insurance for the courier/item which they say is refunded back to you once they receive the item. they then link you to a fake/spoofed website of a courier for you to put your details in and pay for the ''insurance''.

[iwantagta]

Come on OP.
Follow this through until they ask for the insurance and then play some games!
Do your duty....

[bad company]

Having a bit of fun. I could kill this or put the nearest police station address.

[Canon_Fodder]

OP don't engage with these people.

They may decide to have some 'fun' with you and you don't want that

[Grumps.]

I’ve done many sales like this and never had any issues.

[DavePanda]

How many couriers turn up at your door to pay for an item on behalf of the buyer?

There's your answer

[TheDrownedApe]

Get this all the time. I now string them along as far as I can as they deserve to be fked around with as much as possible

[vikingaero]

GLS is ultimately owned by the Royal Mail in the UK. They don't operate in the UK under GLS, let alone offer an envelope of money service!

If you fall for this you deserve to be scammed.

Me? I would string the scammer on for a while in my down time - on the bog, text him with a stupid question; waiting for a train, text him.

[GasEngineer]

There have been some postings on here that say the courier did actually turn up with the cash.

(these might be fake posts and part of the scam though).

I can't see any couriers advertising such a service, only way I can think to do it is that the buyer sends an envelope of cash and arranges a delivery at the same time, similar to when a firm arranges a replacement and collection of a faulty item.

As long as you don't part with any money yourself OP why not see if it pans out?

Edited by GasEngineer on Monday 13th February 07:54

[davek_964]

Of course it's a scam. They've asked for "total amount" on a screen which shows the f*****g price!

They will tell you that the courier insists it's insured, and this has to be done by the seller. But don't worry, because they will give the courier extra cash to cover the insurance you paid for - which of course you have to do before the courier will come. And they won't come.

Block them. It's a waste of time.

[MBVitoria]

When scammers learn to use proper spelling, grammar and punctuation we're fked.

[TheDrownedApe]

MBVitoria said:

When scammers learn to use proper spelling, grammar and punctuation we're fked.

one thing I've always said - I'm so glad the majority of criminals are stupid

[98elise]

TheDrownedApe said:

MBVitoria said:

When scammers learn to use proper spelling, grammar and punctuation we're fked.

one thing I've always said - I'm so glad the majority of criminals are stupid

It's often a filter for the scammer. If you've not been alerted by the poor spelling and grammar, then you're an easy target.

[over_the_hill]

CheesecakeRunner said:

That the purchaser refers to ‘the object’ rather than the specific thing being sold is a clear indicator it’s as scam.

Much like trade sellers posing as "private" sellers off the driveway.
You call about the car for sale and they reply "which one".
Hang up and run.