How to avoid FB marketplace scam

[justaskingaquestion]

I am selling a relatively expensive item on FB Marketplace. Exercise equipment around £1700. Put it on this morning and have had lots of interest and 4 "offers".

How do I avoid picking a scammer? I am saying cash on collection, my husband will be here to hand over the item etc. but all the messages seem weirdly similar - "still available?" "When can I collect?" Like they're following a pattern. If anyone can offer any advice, I'd be grateful!

Not helped by the fact the profiles all say they were set up in 2013/2014 but have zero info on them. Lots of impersonal profile/cover photos etc. so hard to gauge authenticity.

Reasonable questions op

in any event as long as you make clear cash on collection and your husband present… I don’t see how you can be scammed

Fb marketplace is really hit or miss.
I'm not fan of selling anything there, as the people are usually not reliable or just time wasters.

Although I did managed to sell few items to the people who were decent and communicative.

Sad isn't a it that we have to be so suspicious. The only one I feel was a genuine person offered £600 lower so too big a hit for me. I think I'm wary as I will be giving my home address. Thanks for responding.

The pattern is because it govea you automatic sentence to send unless you change it.
Cash first , then hand over item f4om bwhind you.

@cornflower21 I hate selling on here, but I'm stuck as to where else I can sell this item! If only eBay fees weren't so insane.

@Normalsizedsalad oh this is interesting. Like "still available" is a click rather than being typed? I've never bought on here so didn't know that. Thank you.

Seems odd to me to be willing to part with this much money but unwilling to write a simple message!

Yeah it has "message to seller" and sends that unless you change it.
Bit lazy yeah

I know it should really be first come first served, but I usually pick the first one who looks decently legit. I’ve been almost stung on FB marketplace before so I’m quite suspicious of some messages.

Specify no £50 notes, they’re a scammers dream as not many people can spot a fake.

I had a couple over the summer - not massively expensive items, about £50 each, but the same each time, 'is it still available' (which I get, I ask that generally when I first contact), but then 'I'll send a delivery service with the money and they'll collect it' or 'I don't have PayPal, will send the money with a man with a van'.

Just sent a 'no' back and did eventually find buyers who were genuine - I tend to look at their general location if given, see if it's reasonable for them to travel that distance for the item, but as long as they agree to cash on delivery (I did post one item, but they paid via PayPal and they lived in my home town, I think I may have distantly known them!), I hand over the item when I have the cash.

A local FB page might be a bit safer than marketplace, but it's a minefield.

Yep, big fat no to anyone wanting to send a courier. Can you fit it in your own car? I’d consider offering local delivery if you can, then they don’t know your address but you know theirs.

You can start by checking the seller profile and also never send any money before hand, and if the seller asks money in advance then it's scam, don't send anyhting if you didn't see the product.

The courier pay thing is a scam. No courier will carry money

DEFINITELY would be cash only, no couriers etc. I'm actually fairly sure they're all scammers now! They've all badgered me for when they can collect and when I said tomorrow they've all gone quiet. Very odd. Ah well, I'll think again. It's on a local site so I'll leave it there. I'm in no rush!

As above, cash on collection in person is pretty safe. Only problem you can have is someone turning up and then saying they don't have cash and can they pay another way. But you can just say no. I actually had someone pay me by bank transfer which felt dodgy but I stood there and waited for it to appear in my account before I handed over the item.

Any kind of courier nonsense is dodgy. As above, local groups may be more reassuring as you nay well see that people know people you know etc.