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FB Marketplace Scam???

JonL

JonL

Lunatic Member
I've had a very inexpensive piece of audio gear listed on FB Marketplace for a while. I've gotten a number of inquiries from people who seem to be rather pushy about getting my address (which I have not provided). The inquiries generally are of the form "I want to buy it. I can come today. What's the address?" My responses are generally, "Where are you coming from? What time can you be here? Message me when you are ready to leave and I'll give you the address of a meet-up spot." I rarely hear from them again.

Today someone who first messaged me yesterday asked if they can come today for the item. They told me where they were coming from which matched the location on their profile. Seemed possibly more legit than the others, so I told them I'd be available until four and gave them the address of a local CVS where I'd meet them in the parking lot and asked that they message me when they know what time they'll arrive. Not a peep out of them since.

This $40 (negotiable) item has attracted more of these kinds of responses than when I list something for hundreds of dollars. There's nothing about this thing that would make someone think I'm worth robbing. I don't get it. Out of an abundance of caution I've blocked all of these people, but I don't understand if it's a scam and what the nature of it is. Any ideas?
 
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The two questions I get lost often are “what is your address” and “what is your phone number”.

The address thing I think is just to see where you live in relation to the other person. That’s why I’ll ask “what side of blank city are you on”, or something like that instead. And when I answer their question I’ll say something like that. On the east side of the city.

I only give out my address on the day the person is coming to pick up the item. I’ll tell them to message me the day of for the address. I’ve never had someone not show up after getting the address.

The phone number thing is either the Google scam or it’s a person who prefers to talk on the phone. I prefer to use FB messenger to keep my number private. Plus I don’t want to talk on the phone to people. I’m too busy for that shiat.

In your case I think it has more to do with the item than the price. Some things just attract more flakes.
 
There is an element of danger in dealing with the unknown, with either the person or place dealing with online sale transactions.


Just a while back, a potential buyer (local online market) asked a seller to meet on the edge of a park (bout a 15 min drive from me), for a possible sale of an item worth a fair amount of cash. Once this to-be-sold object was in the hands of the now-made crook, he took off running. When the seller chased the bad dude, he turned around and pointed a gun at said person. The perp then ran off with the object.

And, even a buyers are at risk, esp with cash in their pockets for an intended buy. So, as shared in the initial post, meet in a mutual place agreed to public area, with lots of people around.

I've even lectured an elderly bud of mine to NOT let people into his house, doing the public meet in a coffee shop if possible. And if not possible, alert a neighbour of someone coming over, and to do the sell-buy in the garage.


It's a precarious world out there for some. Be aware!



*With your "ph # and address" in hand, it gets closer to having a credit card in their hands, or this data is sold to telemarketers for cash, which in turn to be added to their phone lists.


Q
 
It seems like there are more and more phishing artists and scammers lately. Not sure why they want my info when the don't seem interested in the item, but I typically follow most of the advice given above, and wait until I feel like they're legit before giving up my address or agreeing to meet.
 
knotscott said:
It seems like there are more and more phishing artists and scammers lately.
Not sure why they want my info when the don't seem interested in the item, but I typically follow most of the advice given above,
and wait until I feel like they're legit before giving up my address or agreeing to meet.
Click to expand...
For scammers, its the chance to make nearly free money. You may not be tricked, but even with low success ratios,
ANY return on a scam "investment" is free money. Or so they think ...
 
Quadman2 said:
There is an element of danger in dealing with the unknown, with either the person or place dealing with online sale transactions.


...

*With your "ph # and address" in hand, it gets closer to having a credit card in their hands, or this data is sold to telemarketers for cash, which in turn to be added to their phone lists.


Q
Click to expand...

I agree with this first sentence, but I really don't understand why a person would be closer to having a credit card or selling the information to telemarketers over using the phone book. I mean, from the phone book, they get your name, telephone number, and address too.
 
BilboBaggins said:
I agree with this first sentence, but I really don't understand why a person would be closer to having a credit card or selling the information to telemarketers over using the phone book. I mean, from the phone book, they get your name, telephone number, and address too.
Click to expand...


Check for PM, BB.


Q
 
Something to chew on:

FBI annual report on cyber scam (2022)- $10.6 Billion.

For checking- $20+ Billion


And indications are...it going to get worse this year!


Q
 
hjames said:
For scammers, its the chance to make nearly free money. You may not be tricked, but even with low success ratios,
ANY return on a scam "investment" is free money. Or so they think ...
Click to expand...

How do they actually monetize these scams?
 
Marketplace is now full of flakes. I used to sell stuff pretty easily for decent prices. Now, it’s a lot of, I’ll give you 1/4 of the asking price… yeah of course you will. Or, like you said, they immediately ask for the address. I’m not giving out my address. I’m not demoing a $50 item either. I will provide video, but sorry you aren’t coming to my house.. also, I pick the meet up spot. And if you’re untested in an expensive piece of gear, you better have a legit profile, and be willing to talk on the phone before I give out my address..
 
I agree, but the internet has phone books. When I put my name in, my work phone number shows up. Better work than personal, but it certainly explains why I get so many scam calls on my work phone.
 
BilboBaggins said:
I agree, but the internet has phone books. When I put my name in, my work phone number shows up. Better work than personal, but it certainly explains why I get so many scam calls on my work phone.
Click to expand...
I was getting ready to add that I have been looking up phone #'s online for a long time.
 
Well I sold a $7K set of speakers on CL last month. Traded an email, gave my cell phone, had a couple of texts and set a date and time. He showed up at the house and we listened to music for a couple of hours and he gave me a lot of hundreds. I helped him box speakers and he could only take one at a time. Couple of hours and he was back and picked up the second speaker. Slick and smooth, and no fuss or muss.
 
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In our city the local police service offers the use of their parking lots at the district offices as safe transaction locations. I haven't used the service yet, however I think I will start using it because I've tried to purchase a couple of items lately on FB marketplace only to receive sorry the item has been sold as I am in the process of trying to work out a opportunity to try out the equipment locally.

I think they think I am a scammer as I try to ask to visit and test the equipment before I make an offer. I do provide my local phone number to them to try and strike up a direct phone conversation but that seems to scare some sellers off.

At any rate, I'm not sure whether the FB sellers were actually scammers or not, as they seem overly paranoid to meet in order to show off their equipment for a potential buyer. Personally, I like dealing in person with a cash transaction and a sales receipt with some evidence of whom I'm dealing with (driver's license number or some type of similar photo ID).

Most of my transactions have only been in the hundreds of dollars, not in the thousands yet. If I do want to try and purchase something over a thousand dollars then I will be sure to utilize the local police station as a safe meeting and transaction location for both seller and buyer piece of mind.
 
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