FACEBOOK Marketplace sellers have been warned of a worrying scam that’s going around.
Cunning con artists ask if they can arrange a collection via FedEx or UPS because they’re busy – but all is not as innocent as it may seem.
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“OK I take it but I would like to come tomorrow but I am busy with work at the moment,” the swindle usually begins.
“I’ll send a UPS letter carrier to your home to give you your money in cash and collect the item.”
First of all, delivery firms like Fedex and UPS don’t offer services like this.
But the scam gets trickier when they 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.
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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.
The scam has actually been going on for a while now but Facebook Marketplace sellers say it’s still happening.
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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This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk
