Facebook Scams & How To Avoid Them!

One of the worst things about Facebook is the scams. There are people out there who will do anything to exploit others, and when you are looking to save money and shop second hand, the last thing that you need is someone trying to scam you. There are so many out there on Facebook, and when you use Facebook responsibly you can largely avoid them. However, knowing the scams out there can help you to avoid them as much as possible and get what you need without issue.

Phishing detection is a process that involves using a malicious URL scanner to identify and prevent phishing attacks. It scans URLs for malicious content and prevents users from accessing dangerous websites. There are plenty of scams that pop up on Marketplace on Facebook, and while you can report sellers on Facebook when they try anything wrong, you need to recognize when you’re being “had”. Some of the most popular Facebook scams include the following:

1. Broken items. You need to know that your items are coming in one piece, but it’s a popular thing for scammers to do to send broken items. Someone advertises a TV and then you buy it, and then receive a broken version of the TV you bought. The problem is that unless you test it before you leave the collection point, you can’t do anything about it!
2. Fakes. Have you bought Gucci and received Gukki? Yeah, it happens. Receiving cheaply made fakes instead of designer items is a common scam, and you can avoid it by ensuring that you save and buy the real deal from the actual shop! 
3. Stolen goods. The last thing that you want is to be implicated in receiving stolen goods. You want to know that just because you bought something online, you can trust that it’s not been stolen from someone else!
4. Phishing scams. It’s a common one, but there are certain things that involve phishing and tricking you into sharing sensitive information that is later exploited or sold for profit.

Avoiding The Scam

• Meet in public. If you meet the seller in public, you can meet the person and check the item over in person and ask any questions. You should always arrange to meet in a public place, though, so that you’re not scammed.
• Check – always check. Whether it’s an electronic or a pair of shoes, check the item for fake labels and plug in electronics to check that they work. You don’t want to go home with an iPod that won’t charge, right?
• Always read the ratings. Whether you buy on Marketplace or not, you can check the ratings of the seller and ensure that you don’t buy from someone previously discredited. You need to take bad ratings seriously and that means reading them carefully.
• Watch for suspicious posts. If something looks too good to be real, don’t part with any cash.
• Always pay cash. If you’re buying off Facebook, you need to always pay cash on collection where you can. Don’t accept payment online, either, because you will never see it again if the payment is reversed and you’re out of pocket. You have to be sure that you are getting what you paid for.