To think Facebook marketplace is full of scammers?

[greenway91]

Just listed a few items.

Had 27 enquiries from "real accounts" they look real to me however half of those are asking if the item is still available - I reply yes and they come back with great I'll send my FedEx driver to pick it up

The other half have been asking for more pics of the item. I have sent to the first 6/7 but how bizarre they all ask the same question and after pics have been sent none reply anymore?

Why is this & can you get scammed as a seller? 😫

I had to block and report a few (the fedEx ones) as I believe them to be scammers even though the profiles look real and as if they belong to real parents with children in their pics etc

Just thought it's bizarre that all these people want to send A driver to my door to pick the items up

There are various stock messages you can choose to send with one-tap, which is why you’re getting a lot of similar comments.

I’ve hired drivers to collect items (from Marketplace) for me before - why do you think it’s a scam?

Never had a problem and boughts phones and ipads. Sold plenty of stuff too

Oh right.

I only thought it was a scam as 16 people sent the same "is this available" message at the same time , same minute
I replied to all thinking this is great yes still available
Then the next minute most of them replied with "I'll send fedEx tomorrow to your house"

Isn't that a little strange? 16 people at the same time - same choice of worlds? 🙈 maybe I am being a little paranoia

The FedEx ones will be a scam. The buyer pays you via PayPal (or similar), the item is collected but as you didn’t arrange the collection you have no proof it was picked up. The buyer then opens a claim against you saying you didn’t give them the goods. The buyer is refunded and keeps the item.

Fed ex is a scam! Don't fall for it

I never reply just delete

The FedEx thing is a known scam and it’s rife.

Even more annoying are the hundreds of things advertised for ‘free’ or at low prices but when you click on them, it’s obviously traders selling brand new goods who want you to message them for a price 🙄
You can’t even get round it by specifying used goods only. It ought to be a legal requirement to put an actual price.

The thing I noticed is loads of very recently joined users of Facebook listing 4-8 things all at the same low price, generally £73, £79 or £81, and they list lots of things in different locations. I block these so they don't appear. Buyer be-very-ware on Facebook marketplace!

I've had someone asking me to send them a google code to prove I wasn't a scammer. Luckily I guessed it was a scam.

I'm also amazed people still fall for the seemingly endless people selling fake goods. There must be someone on our local selling pages selling fake Apple AirPods ever few days. They usually say they are an unwanted gift or something. The serial numbers appear to be real but are cloned.

Here are the details of the google verification scam (copy and pasted from the Sun of all places )

+++++++++ +++ ++++++++. ++
Scammers will contact the victim and feign interest in buying their merchandise via call or text.
“They’ll say they want to make sure you’re not a scammer, so they want to send you a verification code,” Daniel Irwin of the Better Business Bureau told Fox 13 Memphiss_.
The dishonest part: the verification code activates a Google Voice account in your name and number but its controlled by the scammer.

The scammer then uses that Google Voice account to mask their own identity in future online grifts.
“They’re able to take your number without you ever really knowing about it and then perpetrating fraud in your name,” Irwin said.
Google Voice is a tool in the Google Workspace - it can used as an online phone line for personal or business use.
Google acknowledged the presence of scams exploiting the verification code technology.

Just had a similar experience on Marketplace too & so I looked up for advice & found this thread - thanks for confirming my worse fears & suspicions - I am not a social blogger or anything like that, but at least I worked out something was hooky before parting with anymore info than an email address & my first name - shame these people can so easily scam people at this time of year especially - disgusting. I am tending to prefer word of mouth & giving stuff away on Freecycle to even trying to bother making a few quid from no-longer wanted but useful items. I will try a few more selling sites, but with a lot more caution now I know (thanks to your thread) the tell-tale words/phrases to look out for. Thanks again, Rob