How can I protect myself from scams on FB marketplace?

[CoralOtter]

I’ve been looking at other poster’s experiences of different scams but not worked out what I should do. Hoping to get some advice!

I’ve luckily had positive experiences with FM marketplace so far, but I’ve mostly sold lowish priced items, and always cash on collection. But this time I’m selling a travel system so it’s pretty expensive.

I had someone contact me quite quickly, offer the full price - through PayPal - and want to collect today, but I put them off until tomorrow to give myself some time to decide what to do.

The person has had a FB account since 2013, but said her son would collect which rang alarm bells for me.

if they used PayPal friends and family, can they claim it was fraudulent and do a chargeback? Would bank transfer be safer? Is it unreasonable to ask someone to pay cash when it is £500+. Any help would be much appreciated!

In all honesty, I wouldn't attempt to sell a £500+ item on Facebook market place.
According to PayPal, yes, they could reverse the transaction
A lot of people don't carry much cash, and wouldn't be able to take out enough cash in one go anyway
For a niche or more high end item (I'm a little unclear on exactly what you're selling, sorry) I would consider selling to a related business that deals in second hand items, or on a specialist forum

Cash on collection only is the safest way

Never done facebook, never will and none of my family does

if you want to sell, use the better known safrer platforms

we've sold on ebay bigger items cahs on collection, tv's, sofas, dining table, fridge freezer - we only sell to established ebayers with good feeback

Thank you, it's a pram / carrycot and all the bits that go with it.

That's what was thinking about the cash - would take a couple of days to get it. But at least that way it's mine and they're not getting it back!

I've looked at things like mum2mum market events, but again I'd have to trust someone transferring it to me. I haven't checked out specialist resellers, that's a good shout although I expect they would pay a lot less

Thank you, I wasn't sure if I was being overly cautious with PayPal, but I just can't lose the money

Thanks for your reply. Did you find people were generally ok with paying cash for high priced items?

Ah I see
Even ebay (as suggested by another poster) would probably be less risky than Facebook- the buyer not wanting to clap eyes on such an expensive item raises massive red flags to me. You obviously are worried enough that you've postponed the sale
Hopefully someone else can come can suggest the best place for you to sell this particular item

I’ve been called naive and probably am, but I’ve sold a cot and change table quite highly priced on FB. A couple in a city a couple of hours away bought it. PayPal worked fine and they got a friend who lived in the same city pick it up and take it to them.

the I it trouble I’ve ever had is before the pickup/pay. A woman trolled me over a $10 ski jacket, people that don’t reply or pickup when they say they will, that kind of thing. 🤷🏽‍♀️

There's a scam where they show you a bank transfer or PayPal payment as gone thru to you but its fake isn't in your account. They tell you they've definitely sent it and can get pushy to make you feel intimidated and that it will come through in an hour or so give you the whole spell it can take a few hours in the hope you will let them just take the item. If you push back they tell you they will come back in a couple of hours once the payment has cleared but then don't come back. Sell it on vinted/ebay you can post with a courier. If you do just want to use Facebook you can insist cash only most legit buyers will just go to the bank and draw it out.

As a buyer I wouldn’t buy a £500 item using cash, I would want the protection of paypal. Scams are just as likely to go the other way where the seller is getting rid of something broken/ damaged etc but wants a high price. Obviously you would look at the item before handing over cash but with something like a travel system it would be easy to miss a broken mechanism. PayPal protects both the seller and the buyer against scams.

I wouldn't pay cash either, just as likely to be scammed by a seller as a buyer.

no idea why you think her son picking it up is a problem. He might have the biggest car/happiest to meet a stranger at their home/drive the distance???

it's not that uncommon to have a child old enough to drive and have a new baby.

i don't sell stuff online, so I'm not sure if all the pro's & con's, but I'd assume using eBay there must be a safe way of doing it.

Sell it on ebay as your transaction is more protected than with Facebook.
They can then pay by PayPal but via ebay.

Yes they were. We discussed beforehand and made sure the sale was still recorded via Ebay
We also understated a little how good clean the item is and people are pleasantly surprised.
NB: As I said before, I only sell to established Ebayers

About 1 sale per year last 15 years

Good luck

Don't allow payment by PayPal if they are collecting in person though as they can then claim they didn't receive it and you won't have proof so PayPal will refund them.

I would be wary.

I was selling an item for £200 on fb marketplace, got a message from a lady in America (after checking her profile) asking the condition of the item which to me felt like token conversation to throw me off the scent. She then says it will be her son picking up.

She then asked me if PayPal is ok and I said cash on collection only. She then went on a rant about how last time her son ended up in hospital over a disagreement about cash at the door. I was like ??? at this point and just blocked her.

A lot of profiles are hacked, so appear to be genuine people with accounts years old but are taken over by criminals and that's who you are talking to.

Cash on collection is the only way to protect yourself I'm afraid.

Cash on collection only. I sold my car on Facebook marketplace with no issues.

@NearlyBritishSummertimeYay it is feasible that a grandparent would be purchasing something for a grandchild with the parent collecting the item. However, a lot of the scams used on facebook market place involve a third party (a so called friend, relative or courier) collecting the item to add general confusion for the seller at the point of collection

Thanks to everyone for you replies! Wanted to update:

This morning I sent her a message saying I needed a few more details from her to confirm it was a genuine sale - stuff that I would be perfectly happy sharing if it was the other way round.

I got one word answers, apart from when she was asking for my address and phone number. When I asked for her son's surname, I never heard from her again!

I had another four people in contact, this time asking some more questions but all came down to the same thing - they couldn't collect, their son or daughter would. When I said I would only hand over to them, that was conversation over.

So all scams it seems, apart from one I think but they offered super low so I declined.

I'm going to take it off marketplace and see if eBay is any better. Thanks!