So are people really handing over their cash to FB strangers?

[ThisIsReallyShit]

Have seen this written a lot to people who are out of options for shopping and can’t go out. Just ask a FB group.

Are you all really just handing over your cash to complete strangers and hoping they’re decent and honest people? Or is there a fool proof system I’m missing? I’m really surprised that there hasn’t been any “random disappeared with my money” posts!

Sounds like a con man’s dream come true tbh.

Here, people have shopped first and been paid later.

That’s probably a better way, but the Good Samaritan would have to have the cash to do it in the first place I guess. I know I wouldn’t.

We've created a list of local shops accepting payment over the phone, that way people can call and pay for their order. Then us volunteers can go and collect and drop it off without any issues of handling money/taking cards etc

One person has insisted on paying cash, but we waited until we'd collected their items and had a receipt before the volunteer accepted any money

That’s great @AmIAWeed!

Around here there's a combination of pre-ordering at local shops, PayPal or bank transfer (either by the person receiving the shopping or a relative) and cash on receipt as a very last resort. It seems to be working well so far, but it's been a tricky thing to work out! Agree though, it only works if the person doing the shopping has the cash to spare in the first place. I think there's also a limit on how much can be spent in any one go, to avoid anyone being left seriously out of pocket if there were problems getting paid back.