I tried to sell stuff on Facebook – watch out for scammers trying a well-known trick

FACEBOOK Marketplace is fantastic for making a bit of cash for your old stuff, but as I found out there are scammers at every corner.

Fortunately, as a tech journalist, I'm all too aware of this kind of thing.

Fraudsters are constantly trying new tricks to deceive you, which can make selling online a wary experience.

One such potential "buyer" tried a stunt that's been knocking around for quite sometime now.

"Is this item still available?" a woman enquired about the bed I was selling.

"Yes," I responded.

Sometimes there's a bit of a wait after that - and many just don't get back to you at all.

Not Eva, as the woman is apparently called.

She wrote back instantly: "Ok, the price suits me, Ok I buy.

"However, I will make your payment via TNT Express delivery in an envelope, as soon as you receive the money, I will send TNT to your home to collect."

Sound a little weird? That's because it's a scam.

Fraudsters have been doing it across the world using other delivery services like FedEx and UPS.

Sadly some people have fallen to the trick but we know from their mistake what follows next.

The buyer will then ask you to pay for insurance of the envelope supposedly carrying your cash.

They claim that this is a requirement from the deliver provider and promise to leave the additional amount in the envelope so you're not out of pocket.

To lure victims in further, the fraudster will ask for your email address.

They'll use this to send you a fake email pretending to be from the delivery company where you need to deposit the insurance money.

It'll include things like a fake tracking number to make it seem authentic.

If you go ahead, you'll end up paying the scammer and no such delivery service will ever arrive.

And should you get suspicious and refuse, things can turn nasty.

The bad actor may start off with the sympathy card, saying they'll lose money because the delivery order can't be cancelled.

This can even lead to threats if you keep refusing.

Buying safely from Facebook Marketplace

It's always best to meet in person when buying or selling on Facebook Marketplace.

Ensure it's a public meeting spot that's in a well-lit area.

Avoid payment links and log in directly through the payment method's website.

Most sellers prefer to deal with cash directly when meeting to ensure it's legit.

Spotting a scammer on Facebook Marketplace

It's always a good idea to take a look at the person’s profile as this could have some tell-tale signs.

Check the date the account was created.

Facebook launched in the UK in 2005, so most people will have accounts that date a few years back.

If the account contacting you was created very recently (in the past few weeks or months), you should approach with caution as this could show that it has specifically been created to scam innocent people.

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