Most of us have heard a Facebook Marketplace horror story from a friend or family member.
We’ve also seen deals go smoothly. We were once present when a friend sold a car for R30,000 through Marketplace. Three people arrived to buy it, took the car for a test drive with the owner, returned, paid in cash, and drove away. Nothing went wrong, but neither side knew who they were dealing with. The buyers didn’t know if the seller was trustworthy. The seller didn’t know if the buyers intended to pay, steal the car or cause him harm. In this case, everyone went home safely.
We’ve also heard first-hand accounts of people paying deposits for “too good to be true” deals and never seeing their money again.
But the risks can go far beyond losing money. South African police have dealt with Marketplace cases involving armed robberies, kidnappings and incidents where people were forced to hand over credit cards or cash. In some cases, victims have been taken to a different location and attacked. There have also been cases involving shootings and fatal violence.
Yet there’s another risk we often overlook. We think we’re clever enough to spot the scam, and we think the bargain is worth taking a chance on. The problem is that criminals do this for a living. They know how to create urgency, build trust, manipulate circumstances, and get people to do things they would normally think twice about.
You don’t want to find yourself trying to outsmart professional fraudsters.
With all that in mind, here is our advice for buying and selling safely on Facebook Marketplace.
1. If the price looks too good, take a breath, count to ten and reassess
A bargain creates urgency. That R20,000 phone being offered for R5,000 might feel like an opportunity you need to grab before somebody else does. It might be true, or it could simply be a trap.
SAPS has warned about unusually low prices being used in online marketplace scams, along with pressure to make deposits or payments before seeing the goods.
So, check the market price, look at the seller’s history and ask questions.
A bargain is never so good that you need to abandon common sense.
2. Check who you're dealing with
A Facebook profile isn’t proof that someone is legitimate. Examine their account history, including their photographs and previous activity. Be cautious with brand-new accounts, limited information or stories that don’t seem to add up. And remember this applies to buyers as well as sellers.
If you’re selling a car, phone, appliance or anything else of value, the person contacting you is also a stranger. You don’t know their intentions any more than they know yours.
If something feels off before you’ve even arranged a meeting, listen to your gut. At the end of the day, you don’t owe a stranger a sale.
3. Don't send money just to secure the deal
“I’ve got someone else coming to look at it.”
“Pay a deposit, and I’ll hold it.”
“You need to pay now.”
“My banking app isn’t working. Use this other account.”
All these tactics create pressure.
Again, SAPS has warned about people paying for goods that never arrive, as well as victims being pressured into making payments before a transaction is completed.
If you can’t verify the person and the goods, hold onto your money.
And if you’re selling, don’t hand over the item because someone sends you a screenshot of a payment. Check your own account. Trust is earned, not assumed.
4. Choose the meeting place
Don’t automatically agree to meet at the other person’s home or some unfamiliar address. Choose a busy, public location in daylight. A police station or designated safe exchange area is preferable where available.
This applies to sellers too. SAPS has warned about criminals posing as buyers and luring sellers into unfamiliar areas. If someone insists that you meet somewhere private, secluded, or after hours, ask yourself why. Then don’t go.
5. Never fall for the “Second Location Switcharoo”
According to the authorities, this is a common tactic. You arrive at the designated meeting spot, but the person you’re waiting for isn’t there. Instead, someone else steps forward with an explanation like, “He’s just around the corner,” “The item is at the house,” or “Follow me.”
Don’t.
Recent Gauteng cases have involved Marketplace victims being redirected to another location before being robbed. In one case, a victim was forced to disclose his bank card PIN after being taken to a second location, while another had to make an instant EFT.
Avoid the second location setup. That’s a deal not worth taking to the bank.
6. Don't go alone
Take someone with you, and tell another person where you’re going. Send them the listing, the other person’s details and the meeting location. Share your live location if appropriate. This is particularly important when buying or selling something valuable.
Having another person with you gives you another set of eyes and another person who knows exactly what is happening. At the end of the day, there’s no prize for meeting a stranger alone.
7. Pay attention when the plan changes
A seller may suddenly change the meeting location. Someone else might arrive instead, and you’re asked to get in a vehicle with them. The item might have been moved, or a new payment condition could be introduced.
One change may have an innocent explanation. Several changes should make you stop and reassess. When the plan changes, you can change your mind.
8. Walk Away
The safest time to leave is before you’re in danger. If the price is suspicious or the profile doesn’t add up, don’t arrange the meeting.
If the seller or buyer starts changing the plan, cancel. If you arrive and something feels wrong, get out of there immediately.
Don’t confront the person. Don’t try to prove that you’ve spotted the scam. Don’t stay because you’ve already driven across town.
And don’t worry about appearing rude. In fact, don’t walk away. Run in the opposite direction.
Make the deal. Manage the risk.
In closing, the R5,000 bargain isn’t worth a broken jaw, and the R30,000 car isn’t worth your life.
When you’re buying something high-value (such as farm equipment or a personal vehicle), you don’t have to go alone. Wezindlela can arrange for security personnel to accompany you to the transaction, providing added protection as you view the item and negotiate the deal.
Criminals don’t play by the same rules you do. Don’t give them the opportunity to choose the rules.
