Advice needed please - how do I avoid getting scammed selling something on Facebook?

[HelenHywater]

I'm selling my peloton bike - someone is very interested, but how do I avoid getting scammed? Do I ask for cash? Or do I ask for bank transfer before they take the bike? I think Paypal is dodgy isn't it? Because they can claim the money back. Thanks!

Cash

Cash on collection only

Cash on collection.

No courier, no 'my husband's grandmother's dog will collect', no 'send me a Google code to confirm you're a real person'. Just plain, straight cash on collection. Anything else is 99% likely to be a scam.

I always meet the buyer in a public place when selling something expensive (I.E. a public house whereby I am friendly with a lot of the regulars) obviously I get the landlord/landlady's permission for this. I once sold quite an expensive phone and set up to meet publicly, when they pulled up in the car down the road, they refused to come in and the car was filled with males. They ended up driving off and it made me wonder what would have happened had I met them in a place less public. Marketplace is a scam-fest, just be super careful!

She is sending her brother apparently and is happy to do a bank transfer and has asked for my bank details. But I feel uncomfortable sending them to her. It seems a bit dodgy. She only has 4 facebook friends. (Even I have more facebook friends than that).

Can she do anything with my bank details? I feel that the bank is quite secure? But it's stressing me out as I only listed the bike half an hour ago.

As it is an expensive item I would have someone else with me when the buyer arrives (in case they try to leave with the item without paying). Cash only on collection - no exceptions.

I'd also have a snoop on their FB profile.

So I should ask for cash rather than a bank transfer? (It's £900!).

Yes, because if it's a scam she'll probably find an excuse not to pay or try and recover the money from her bank

Absolutely insist on cash on collection.

And be ready to walk away if they turn up claiming they have less money with them than the agreed price, hoping you'll sell it for less.

With your name, address and back details they could set up credit agreements in your name, paid by direct debit from your bank account; mobile phone contracts are a common one, I think.

Cash on collection only, and stick to it.

Be brutal when wading through the scammers and time wasters.

If anyone even gives you a hint of something feeling off, ignore and block.

Do not give your address out until you are comfortable.

I've been selling bits and bobs on Marketplace and it's a nightmare tbh. Most people don't read the listing properly, don't pay attention to the first half of the postcode in the listing so then back out when I'm too far away. Or they promise they are super keen and can't wait to collect, then crickets.

The best ones are people who are polite, type in full sentences, and offer to come round at my convenience.

The weirdest exchange was with someone wanting to buy some tatty old Kallax units, she didn't read the listing properly, didn't understand the dimensions of the units, and backed out because they were the wrong size. Annoying, but nothing dodgy. She then asked me to refund her the money she sent, and put her bank details in the chat. She never sent me money - I do cash on collection only. I have no idea where that came from or how it could end up as a scam, but it was enough for me to block her straight away.

4 friends would be sending alarmbells (unless they are all friends I common with you, and other friends are hidden - some teachers do this).
Cash on collection. Yes, even for 900.

This is a scam!

That one's a scam OP.

Nothing scammier than 'I'm sending someone else and want to do a bank transfer'. Tell her it's cash only and make sure you have someone with you when it's being collected.

I don't see the problem with bank transfer, as long as you check your own bank account on your device before they take it away. They can't do anything with your bank details.

We've sold expensive bikes that way before, no problems.

Agree I'd avoid PayPal as they can reclaim unless you provide a postage confirmation.

Something I will tell you though. As it's an expensive piece of kit. Do not, under any circumstances let them do a bank transfer on the doorstep.

It's cash only.

Why, what's wrong with a bank transfer? It can't be reversed and as long as you have your money before they leave you're fine.

I sold my old car that way. Better than having £4k cash in my house to deal with.

Couple of blokes at the door showing you a fake transfer on their phones and then being intimidating while you check. Will tell you it'll take a few minutes and theyre taking it now.

On your own head. Not everyone is a smammer but there are more scammers than genuine.

C

'I'm sending my brother' is 100% a scam op

She disappeared when I didn't tell her my bank details!

So I'll go for cash only. I'm now on the Peloton sellers group which might be slightly less scammy.

I’ve sold a couple of items recently, one for £600 and one for £500.
For the £600 she did a bank transfer the day before and sent her friend with a van to collect it. I obviously checked my bank account before her friend arrived and the money was there and stayed there.

For the £500 item he and his wife came to look and did the transfer there and then and I checked my own ipad to see it was there.

Otherwise I do cash on collection only.

The 2 scan ones I had were someone who wanted to pay £100 extra to reserve it and would then send a courier with the rest in cash 🤷‍♀️, and another who would do a bank transfer but then wanted our full names, address and email addresses to be able to do the bank transfer - blocked straight away.

Check all the money carefully too. Lots of fake £20s around and don't accept £50s

I would not sell to someone with four friends it is likely a scam also sending a third party

Pass on this.

Only sell to people with Checkable Facebook profile -
Links to recognisable places or people
Clear profile picture of something

Cash on collection only.

Do not give out your full address until they have confirmed they are setting off. I just give postcode and then when they message me give them my house number.

The scams are sophisticated he Only Vans was tried on me recently and I had a nasty scammer on EBay recently