Online yard sales can be great for finding deals or selling unused items—but beware! Scammers are lurking, ready to trick unsuspecting buyers and sellers. It’s easy to want to believe everyone’s intentions are good, but unfortunately, online scams are far too common. Staying alert is your best defense!
Where Are These Online Yard Sale Scams?
The internet is an endless landscape of information and opportunity, but one platform stands out for online buying and selling: Facebook. This social platform connects users from all over the world, allowing for instant communication between friends and strangers alike.
Sounds so cool and fun, huh? It is! But it is important to remember that with great power comes great responsibility (I think that may have been a Spiderman quote).
Here are some places where yard sale scams often show up:
- Personal Facebook pages
- Facebook Marketplace
- Facebook town or city groups
Think of Facebook Marketplace as Craigslist or Uncle Henry’s, but with instant messaging built right in. You can call sellers, but you can also message them right from the app, speeding up communication. These interactions allow for genuine exchange as well as perceptive perpetration.
So, when you're browsing terms like, “free couch,” “bar stools,” or “boat trailer near me,” how can you tell if it’s legit?
The Red Flags
A wise Judge Judith Sheindlin once said,
“If it doesn’t make sense, it’s usually not true.” In other words, it’s important to peruse these online yard sales with logic over emotion. Below are a few common scam signs to look out for:
- Did you get an immediate response to your inquiry, and does their writing feel scripted?
- Be on the lookout for responses that look curiously automated. With advancements in technology, it’s a real possibility that you could very well be speaking to a computer or a robot; or as the kids say, a “bot.”
- During your communications, is the seller asking you a lot of questions that seem irrelevant to conversation?
- Be cautious if someone asks for personal details, such as your home address, phone number, or date of birth, especially if that information isn't necessary to complete the sale.
- Is the seller creating a sense of urgency?
- Posts that use phrases like *FCFS* (first come, first serve) or “Act Now!” should raise some concern. Scammers will create a false sense of urgency while trying to help you decide to pull the trigger on a sale. In almost all cases, if the product and intentions of the seller are legitimate, there’s no reason urgency would need to be encouraged.
- Did the seller insist you pay before a face-to-face meet up can take place?
- If the seller demands payment upfront, be weary. This is a classic scam tactic. Once the money is sent, the seller can easily disappear, along with your cash and your hopes for that “like new” kayak.
- Have they stressed that there is only one form of payment that they will accept, such as Venmo, CashApp or Zelle?
- Scammers often insist on using peer-to-peer payment apps because these platforms offer little to no buyer protection. Real sellers will usually be flexible (or at least open to a method that gives you some peace of mind).
- Lastly (and this one isn’t always a deal breaker): Does the seller have a compelling narrative as to why they are selling?
- Scammers may offer additional information as to why they are desperate for a sale. Maybe they “really don’t want to” sell their “great car with low mileage that has nothing wrong with it” for a fraction of what it should cost but are suddenly “moving across the country.” Hmmm… sound too good to be true? It could be. These stories are often designed to lower your guard. While not every sad story is a scam, combine it with other red flags and you’ve got yourself a sketchy seller in disguise.
What Can You Do to Protect Yourself?
Before buying, take a few moments to investigate the seller’s profile:
- Do they have more than one picture? Often times scammers only add a few photos to their profile.
- Did they just join Facebook/create a profile? If their page was created only within the couple of years, think twice about purchasing anything from them.
- Do they have other posts, normal interactions and appropriate information regarding where they went to school, job or current location? Do you have any shared friends? Indicators of living locally and having an active presence on social media are important to consider.
If something feels off, trust your instincts. It's always better to walk away from a deal than to risk your safety or money. Scams are common, and your gut feeling is often your best early warning system.
Here are some additional safety tips when buying from Facebook Marketplace:
- Communicate through Facebook Messenger: Keeping the conversation on the platform adds a layer of protection. Avoid switching to text or email too quickly, as that can make it easier for scammers to operate undetected.
- Meet in a public place: Choose a well-lit, busy location like a coffee shop, a mall parking lot, or even a designated "safe exchange zone" (often offered by local police departments). Avoid secluded areas or inviting strangers to your home.
- Bring someone with you: If possible, take a friend or family member along when meeting the seller. There’s safety in numbers!
- Inspect the item thoroughly before paying: Make sure the item matches the description and works properly. Take your time to check everything.
A Noteworthy Mention:
There are also other scam posts on these local yard sale pages that don’t fall under the category “For Sale.” Rather, these elaborate listings use fake pictures paired with false narratives typically involving missing children, families in crisis, lost pets, a plea for assistance, etc.
The goal is to evoke sympathy and urgency, prompting users to share, comment and repost without verifying the source. These viral scams can quickly spread misinformation and may even be used to collect personal data or manipulate engagement for malicious purposes.
So before you click, question before you commit and always prioritize your instincts over impulse, because getting duped online is no one’s idea of a good yard sale... unless you're the scammer!
