Avoiding Scammers in Marketplace.

[D-Type]

I got asked in marketplace how my proposed method for avoiding scammers works. Being a bit slow took me a minute or 2 to realize this maybe of general interest. No doubt there are members with better knowledge of cyber security so if there is a flaw in this system feel free to point it out ... politely.

Whilst there maybe scammers that I am not aware of, the pattern that I have seen is as follows1. Member X offers an item for sale.2.Member Y replies I will take it.3.Scammer pretends to be X and sends a message from the forum with an identity that directing payment to the Scammers account.4.Member Y sends money5.Tears all roundWhat they haven't done is hacked Member X's account.Any private message sent to Member X can not be seen by the scammer. So when member Y receives an email at his private email address after privately messaging Member X he or she can be confident that it is genuine.This will work as long as the scammers don't hack the private messaging.Hope [a] this answers your question [b] I haven't made a monumental error.Cheers

[Hodgo]

I can do better than that:

CASH on pick up
, no holding deposits or "my sister lives up that way and will pick up" bs

I'm happy to transfer funds to members on this forum and similar ones due to forum filtering and tighter scrutiny

But marketplace and gumtree - see above

Hodgo

[pippin88]

The problem on the forum has been impersonation by setting up an account with a name very close to a sellers name, e.g adding a bit of punctuation.

JoeBlo is selling on the marketplace
JoeBlo. (Note the period) or JoeBloe get registered by a scammer.
Scammer PMs anyone who replies to thread with "I'll take it"

[D-Type]

Do you see how my method of the purchaser sending a PM to the seller avoids this problem? If not, I'll have another go at explaining this.

Cheers

[ErrolFlynn]

If there's ever any doubt, and there usually is doubt, cash on pick-up is the best way to go.

[Hodgo]

Do you see how my method of the purchaser sending a PM to the seller avoids this problem? If not, I'll have another go at explaining this.

Cheers

It looks like you were talking about WWF market place, me thinking FB marketplace, sorry 'bout that

In saying that I don't recall having any problems with WWF market place

Hodgo

[D-Type]

Are you telling me this Facebook thing has stolen our idea and name for a selling space. Who is this Facebook? Have they got any money? Should we sue?

[mature one]

In todays climate getting abused on pickup is the norm for most .