Is something strange going on with Facebook Marketplace?

[grass321]

I occasionally sell items on FB Marketplace and Gumtree if they're too large for eBay.

I've never had an issue in the past, apart from a couple of flakey buyers. Listed some items yesterday and had about 10-15 messages evening saying is still this item available. I replied yes, then silence.

No negotiation, no when can I pick this up. I understand that's typical for a few but all of them?

Earlier in the week I had some questions from a buyer on Gumtree and agreed the price by WhatsApp. She was insistent she needed my email, showed my a screenshot of a Gumtree page and said she was beta testing a new product. I spoke to Gumtree as it felt a bit off and they confirmed they don't ask for emails.

Is there a similar scam on FB marketplace? The buyers haven't asked for my email but something doesn't quite feel right. Buyers regularly disappear but I seemed to get the same kind of message and no follow up every 10 minutes (though from different accounts).

I always find the same, it’s really annoying. Before I reply to anyone I check out there profile and they’re always local people to me and what look to be genuine profiles with lots of friends, activity etc so I don’t think it’s a scam.
i think it’s part clumsy fingers that catch the automatic reply options and part just tracking something/keeping options open.
bloody rude tho

Good idea, I've just worked out how to view their profile. Thanks for that.

The number of messages just seemed a bit odd (an oldish football goal and basketball hoop, not rare treasures).

You need to make sure they are local, the amount of messages I get from India/Africa is astounding... I think they are just after your address/name/number for scam purposes because the junk I put on there really isn't worth a plane ride.

Also I never put sold until collected and don't save the item, its first come- first served policy.

I think people are literally just checking it’s not sold while perusing other options. It’s nothing more sinister than that.

I slightly wish I hadn't clicked on two profiles. One had put their likes as brainwashing children and the other had reposted something about making their Punjabi brothers a slave and relatives coming to fight.

All I'm after is a vaguely normal person who'll rock up, pay the nominal sum and leave. I'd have put them as free but I've found you end up with even more piss takers. And the charity shop won't sell them.

One man from Kettering asked yesterday if I'd deliver as he doesn't drive. Erm, it's a £5 item and a four hour round drive. That's a no. Another told me I lived too far away - is that not apparent from the location on the listing? Aagh.

It is full of scam these days in my opinion