Be careful out there!!!
 

Just thought I would share a recent encounter. Recently posted some items on FB Marketplace to sell. In this case it was Bicycles. I had just reposted the items when a got a FB Message from an interested buyer, the buyer claimed he was out of town but would have his cousin pick up the items and asked if I accepted Zelle? I do, because I've used them for a long time and like PayPal, I will use it to buy and sell items. We agree on a price and he sends me his payment only instead of seeing my payment in my Zelle account I get an email saying I don't have the right Zelle account. I am confused at this point because I've never had this issue before, and I've received more money in the past than this transaction. The seller is very assertive that he has sent the money and wants to schedule the pickup or he wants me to send his money back. I explained that I am not doing either until the money shows up in my account. I checked with my bank and they don't see anything pending or otherwise. I went back to the email and started to review it when I noticed that the email address wasn't from Zelle but a Yahoo account.

Long story short, it was a scam. Pay attention to your emails and look them over carefully before accepting them as real. If you need to take action on something, never click on a link in the email. Go to the website directly, the link may look legit but often times it will send you to someplace where they are going to try and harvest as much information as you are willing to provide them.

After confronting the buyer, I was promptly ghosted and I've never heard from him again.

The first problem is dealing with strangers on FB or even using FB at all, it's spyware and censorship to the fullest.

Be glad some weirdos didn't show up at your house and take more than the bike.

This applies to Craiglist also. People are hurting for money these days and expect the scams to increase.

EBay may be the only reasonable place to sell stuff at it has protections in place like all transactions are done through eBay.

True statement, however not everyone has the resources to complete the shipping process that might be involved. Also, shipping would not be an option for large items.

Once I settle in to my TV home, I suspect I will have "overflow" and intend to test the waters with Market Place.

...or you could simply state in your ad "cash only, at time of pick up" and meet at a public place if the potential buyers is giving off a bad vibe.
Seems to work for 99% of the transaction done thru CL, FBMP, OU, LiG, etc.

I tried to have a FB Marketplace "tag sale" when we were preparing to move to the Villages. I took a lot of photos, had solid descriptions and prices of each bundle of stuff, and was very specific - Cash At Pickup Only. Within 10 hours I had three responses, in Spanish, asking if the stuff was still for sale. Since I actually understand written Spanish I responded that yes it was. They asked how much it would cost to deliver it. I told them - no delivery. Cash at Pickup Only. One of them replied with some perfectly American-English curses. The other two disappeared.

They were replaced in the following days by around two dozen requests, asking if they could pay by check, if I delivered to another state, what my Venmo account number was, etc. etc.

I had one legitimate hit on my tag sale the entire two months it was posted. I was so glad to be rid of the bookcase I undercharged her and offered to deliver it, since her house was only a mile away and she gave me the address and I confirmed it was an actual house in the next neighborhood.

Turned out she didn't actually live there, the house was vacant but she had a key, she had all kinds of tag sale stuff in her garage - it was clear she was getting stuff super-cheap and reselling it for a profit at a flea market somewhere. I took the sale off the marketplace the same day. But hey at least I got rid of the one bookcase.

We practically gave away everything we needed to get rid of at an actual physical tag/garage/yard sale (whatever you call it where you come from). That included loading up our pickup truck and hauling our bedroom furniture and living room couch to Habitat for Humanity. In the end, we paid for the privilege of getting rid of our stuff.

I'll have to learn a better strategy for next time but honestly - I plan on my current furnishings to remain mine, until they break and I have to throw them away. Most of them are antiques, but I don't believe in "display only" furniture. I prefer to actually use them.

Thank you, good post, I will remember to use ONLY E bay.

Zelle offers no protection. Only use it for people you know.

Don't use Zelle.

Re: ebay
People both buyers and sellers do not realize the expense. Outrageous how can you evil seller charge so much for shipping. Well ebay charges the seller their listing fee on the shipping and then everyone pays with paypal and they take their cut on gross sale including shipping. I've not sold on ebay in quite a while but total fees were like 20%. Now you need to collect tax as well. I expect that people pay the tax using paypal. So you pay that fee on the tax as well.
Even feedback has changed. The seller cannot leave negative feedback for a buyer. So the buyer from HELL will have great feedback.

Zelle Risky?
 

Clarify for me... how is Zelle a risk? If someone shows up to buy something for "cash only" and I give them my Zelle account name -- they complete the transfer of funds while on site -- I confirm it's in my account, how is that a risk?

Help me to understand how this form of electronic transfer is risky. Thanks.

Confession I am a pack rat. Our move to the villages was sort of a two year plan. I did 4-5 garage sales. Typically got 2-3,000 per day. Original post mentioned bikes. No fib I sold 7-8 bikes. Wife screamed get a dumpster and throw it out. Truth I made roughly 40,000 on my stuff. On ebay, I did not tell the buyer but I was shocked at what people paid for some stuff.
I had a pair of old brass doorknobs. Seems people collect old door knobs. There is even a collectors guide. Mine are on page ??? in the guide. They sold for over $100 on ebay. It was a lot of work. It was both fun and aggravation. I do regret selling some of my STUFF-wife does not. Money is far lighter, and takes less room then STUFF.

As stated in another post, I sold a lot of STUFF before moving. I sold a HUGE bandsaw.

A nice guy bought it, he had a small Japanese car. I still can't believe he moved that thing strapped to his car. Teasing a little. I got CASH and told him I do not guarantee it past my driveway.

I sort of regret it but I sold a seven and a half foot antique wooden airplane propeller to a teacher, He sent a student in a small car to pick it up. Another strapped it to the car. I could not help saying it might fly off at high speed. Of course no guarantee on delivery.

I do not know what market place is. I used our town newspaper for garage sales, they had a regular section for them. I used ebay, listed in another post. It is not as easy as it once was. I used craigslist it is free-I would be more aware of scammers there. I sold my boat on craiglist and I think a couple of bikes.

I would suggest you go to a couple of garage sales and flee markets to get an idea of what to ask for your STUFF. You can call one of the tag sale pros they will cost you 30-40% of what they get for your stuff and will not be interested if you do not have enough that they can sell.

ebay is not immune to con artists. I bought a gift hardcover book collection ( harry potter) at a very low price then received an email from ebay saying be wary of this transaction. As it turns out the seller was a known fraudster to ebay yet he was on there selling. I received my refund so be forewarned, the scammers are everywhere

I have used Marketplace and Craigslist plenty of times in the past, selling even high money items, successfully. The thing is not to flee from it, but to be careful sellers and buyers. Scams, and scammers are everywhere. There is no platform that is immune. Learn to spot the red flags. If your gut tells you something is wrong, listen to it.

Before we moved, we sold items for about 10% of what we paid for them. And when we got here, many people were asking about 100% of what they paid for items - except for golf clubs. They are usually a bargain down here.

I have Sold numerous items on Facebook marketplace. Cash only, meet somewhere, and pick up only. You learn very quickly who is legit. If they ask immediately if they can contact you by phone, they are scammers! And, check out their Facebook profile for another clue!

Recommend you contact Zelle.
Explain the issue, and ask for your account number to be changed.
As well as change your password.

Thank you for letting me know how the scam worked. I got a email regarding the same thing and I just felt something was up. I told him to have the pickup person bring cash. He kept saying he would pay online and I told him no, cash only sale. I just didn't quite know how the scam worked, but I knew something felt off. So thanks for explaining what would have happened if I agreed to make the sale using his payment form. We always have to keep are guard up.

Before moving to TV, I used Craigslist to sell a bunch of items. I ran into a couple of people who tried a similar scheme.

Up north, preparing to come here, I sold a ton of stuff without incident, on FBM.

The text of all the ads stated that pickup was at my house and on camera.

I keep FB for FBM, and to keep an eye on local goings on, do not use it to network, so am not concerned about its surveillance capabilities.

I use Next Door with great success also called Habitat for Humanity to donate some large items.

All resales should be cash only. There are so many scams out there similar to what you experienced

There are scams on all kinds of websites from Facebook to craigslist to eBay to all kinds of websites. There’s always somebody trying to take advantage of your money. Meet them in a local parking lot take cash only from them don’t ever send them a code and I’m at the point where I don’t even respond to people asking me if it’s still available and I put that in the ad. But there’s still people out there that will give people their personal information.

I usually meet at the local police station for the exchange.

Try Nextdoor
 

I’ve had good luck selling items on Nextdoor. Cash only, meet in a public place.

You definitely have to be careful and my policy was to only accept cash. We sold an entire household of unwanted items before moving here, so it can be done, just be careful.

I sell a lot on FB Marketplace. When you first list your ad, you instantly (within seconds) get one or two inquires. Ignore those. They are always scammers. Always put in your ad “cash only”, no Zelle, Paypal, etc and “only local sales”. Then stick to it, and you won’t get scammed.

You should know better. Facebook marketplace is for local sales mostly. Cash only!

I agree the fees are a little high but not 20% more like 12% and I agree they put shipping in that few percentages.

It has become more of a buyer protection place than seller protection. But you don't have weirdos showing up at your house.

I don't believe eBay uses Paypal anymore they have their internal payment system.

No system is 100% but eBay is safer than FB or Craiglist.

I am so spoiled by Amazon. I want it tomorrow and I want free shipping. Otherwise, I'm not buying it.

"In God we trust" everyone else pays Cash

Demand cash and in person.
 

We had an almost identical attempt

risky Zelle?
 

Zelle itself is safe when used in the way Zelle and many others recommend.

The situation described where someone pretended to send money and was having a cousin pick up the item is not a Zelle problem, but a process a scam artist (thief) can use to get your money.

The situation you described is having a person physically in front of you and not handing over the item until you have confirmed you have the money in your account. That is how it should occur unless the individual is a family member or friend...if you trust them.

If people are going to use technology for moving money, they need to understand how to use it securely and not just assume everyone else is honest.

FB scam
 

What I can't believe is that you actually fell for this one. This type of scam has been around for a long time. They always say they are out of town and a friend will pick it up for them. Then they claim they sent the money and ask for a refund because they changed their minds. Or they send too much and ask you send back the overpayment. THIS IS ALWAYS A SCAM!!!!!

eBay is not immune to scams
 

We’ve got scammed on eBay a few years back… We got a fake eBay message after an auction sale from someone who claimed he won the auction. The scammers asked to ship the item to a different address claiming it was a gift. It was a painful lesson. Always check the email address/user id on eBay.

When we left Colorado for TV, we used FB marketplace a lot. If the buyer shows up (which is not always the case), we accepted cash, Zelle and Venmo… on the spot. Send me the money and when it hits my account, you can have the item. Easy peasy and no deliveries, period. For big items, bring help to load yourself.

The transactions always took place either in the garage with all the doors open or in the driveway and never give out your cell phone number… and if possible, create a dummy Gmail account if you want to communicate that way but we never used one, all comms went thru FB messenger.

Same thing happened to my daughter. Total scam!

My father passed away last year and we have been selling contents of house on Facebook market place and craigslist and a yard sale. Have been doing cash only except for one or two items and have had good luck so far. have made over $6000 so far so it was definitely worth the trouble. Some things took awhile to get rid of and some had bidding wars when multiple people wanted the item and this wasn't an auction item!

I don't know how Zelle works, but it is not always safe to assume that, just because money is in your account, that the bank may not remove the money later if they discover that the transaction was fraudulent. It happens all the time with counterfeit checks.

I have bought and sold literally tons of stuff on CraigsList. 99% of the time there is at least one scam attempt. Usually, with a little thought, the scams are highly obvious. Just be on your toes. Oh, and always exchange the item for cash in person. Hard to scam that.