Facebook market place security stalemate conundrum
Discussion
I've recently been scammed on FB marketplace, despite doing what I thought would be adequate due diligence. It was a distance purchase that could not be completed in person. Lesson learned.
To protect myself better next time, I began reading all the various ways to avoid getting scammed, and there appears to be a stalemate if you combine advice given to buyers and advice given to sellers.
Sellers are advised not to post goods until the item is paid for and to be aware that regular paypal can be charged back in a dispute so is not guaranteed cleared funds.
Buyers are advised not to send money for an item they haven't received or had robust evidence of postage, i.e it's on it's way.
Neither of those two things are compatible.
If you were to buy something on FB market place from distance where it relied on someone posting the item, what steps can be taken to satisfy both parties that they won't get scammed, as at face value, one of the parties needs to take a risk.
I know and fully appreciate all the 'never use it, full of scammers' etc, etc, but putting that aside, is there a way that could protect both parties for posted, distance items?
To protect myself better next time, I began reading all the various ways to avoid getting scammed, and there appears to be a stalemate if you combine advice given to buyers and advice given to sellers.
Sellers are advised not to post goods until the item is paid for and to be aware that regular paypal can be charged back in a dispute so is not guaranteed cleared funds.
Buyers are advised not to send money for an item they haven't received or had robust evidence of postage, i.e it's on it's way.
Neither of those two things are compatible.
If you were to buy something on FB market place from distance where it relied on someone posting the item, what steps can be taken to satisfy both parties that they won't get scammed, as at face value, one of the parties needs to take a risk.
I know and fully appreciate all the 'never use it, full of scammers' etc, etc, but putting that aside, is there a way that could protect both parties for posted, distance items?
Edited by 25th QV on Sunday 7th April 11:54
Edited by 25th QV on Sunday 7th April 11:54
I don't buy much but from time to time I do sell on eBay and Facebook but nothing I am not prepared to take to the tip if it didn't sell. My biggest concern is incurring extra costs like postage which is not recovered or lost if there is a dispute. I'm often surprised that stuff sells for good money.
25th QV said:
I've recently been scammed on FB marketplace, despite doing what I thought would be adequate due diligence. It was a distance purchase that could not be completed in person. Lesson learned.
To protect myself better next time, I began reading all the various ways to avoid getting scammed, and there appears to be a stalemate if you combine advice given to buyers and advice given to sellers.
Sellers are advised not to post goods until the item is paid for and to be aware that regular paypal can be charged back in a dispute so is not guaranteed cleared funds.
Buyers are advised not to send money for an item they haven't received or had robust evidence of postage, i.e it's on it's way.
Neither of those two things are compatible.
If you were to buy something on FB market place from distance where it relied on someone posting the item, what steps can be taken to satisfy both parties that they won't get scammed, as at face value, one of the parties needs to take a risk.
I know and fully appreciate all the 'never use it, full of scammers' etc, etc, but putting that aside, is there a way that could protect both parties for posted, distance items?
You can't. FBMP and Gumtree are designed for local in-person trades, not distance selling. You have no protection with the latter and can only be trust based. FBMP (in particular) is full of scummy council types and scammers. They do this for a living as none of them have real jobs. The majority of the ads for anything vaguely high value are scams. If I were selling I would not send anything until payment (in cash or bank transfer - no paypal or WU) was received and I would never buying anything from there if I couldn't take the item at the same time as paying, ie. in-person.To protect myself better next time, I began reading all the various ways to avoid getting scammed, and there appears to be a stalemate if you combine advice given to buyers and advice given to sellers.
Sellers are advised not to post goods until the item is paid for and to be aware that regular paypal can be charged back in a dispute so is not guaranteed cleared funds.
Buyers are advised not to send money for an item they haven't received or had robust evidence of postage, i.e it's on it's way.
Neither of those two things are compatible.
If you were to buy something on FB market place from distance where it relied on someone posting the item, what steps can be taken to satisfy both parties that they won't get scammed, as at face value, one of the parties needs to take a risk.
I know and fully appreciate all the 'never use it, full of scammers' etc, etc, but putting that aside, is there a way that could protect both parties for posted, distance items?
Edited by 25th QV on Sunday 7th April 11:54
Edited by 25th QV on Sunday 7th April 11:54
r3g said:
You can't. FBMP and Gumtree are designed for local in-person trades, not distance selling. You have no protection with the latter and can only be trust based. FBMP (in particular) is full of scummy council types and scammers. They do this for a living as none of them have real jobs. The majority of the ads for anything vaguely high value are scams. If I were selling I would not send anything until payment (in cash or bank transfer - no paypal or WU) was received and I would never buying anything from there if I couldn't take the item at the same time as paying, ie. in-person.
That makes sense, thanks. Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff