Originally Posted by LAFwUs (Post 2175196)

...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.

Originally Posted by GpaVader (Post 2175097)

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.

Originally Posted by RiderOnTheStorm (Post 2175634)

You open yourself up to scammers by using online payment accounts such as the ones you mentioned. Why not stick to cash or certified check upon pickup? We do. never lost a sale or been scammed.

Originally Posted by JGibson (Post 2175146)

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.

Originally Posted by RiderOnTheStorm (Post 2175634)

You open yourself up to scammers by using online payment accounts such as the ones you mentioned. Why not stick to cash or certified check upon pickup? We do. never lost a sale or been scammed.

Originally Posted by retiredguy123 (Post 2175500)

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.

Originally Posted by Reynoka (Post 2175884)

Selling seems like so much work. Does anyone else just donate to Goodwill or other charities and use as a tax deduction?

Originally Posted by jparsoneau@aol.com (Post 2175373)

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.

Originally Posted by Reynoka (Post 2175884)

Selling seems like so much work. Does anyone else just donate to Goodwill or other charities and use as a tax deduction?

Originally Posted by JGibson (Post 2175146)

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.

Originally Posted by MsPCGenius (Post 2175297)

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.

Originally Posted by Caymus (Post 2175899)

Many articles on using Zelle.

How to get your money back from a Zelle scam or accidental money transfer - Elliott Report

Originally Posted by PugMom (Post 2176050)

Zelle is a risk because you do not know who you are dealing with, even if they claim to id themselves. all a hacker needs to do is get a copy page of your bank statement, ( hacked from a gas pump, etc.), & your money is gone.

Originally Posted by Rainger99 (Post 2175908)

The standard deduction for a single person is $12,950 and for a married couple filing jointly, it is $25,900.

Standard Deduction for 2022 vs. 2023 | Kiplinger

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby (Post 2176390)

You can still claim charitable deductions, even if you take the standard deduction. $300 for an individual, $600 married filing jointly.

Originally Posted by PugMom (Post 2176094)

BOA told me it is common to gain access to people accts using a gas pump skimmer. apparently that was how ours was hacked. the person gained the actt number, then called ME claiming to be a BOA rep. they said my zelle acct was hacked & needed to confirm purchases with me. the person could see my legitimate transactions! then read off to me some that i did not make. i was told i needed to shut down this acct asap & the phony rep would help me create a new zelle acct. i stupidly & foolishly believed this person was an employee of the bank, & with 'new' info i provided, they emptied the acct