If you think you might be getting scammed, STOP. You should feel comfortable with a purchase, not skeptical or suspicious.
I was once scammed in an indoor plant group on Facebook thinking being retired law enforcement, I could never fall for such a thing, yet I did. I have since learned how to spot the scammers.
1. It is highly suspicious when they don't list their location. Every legitimate seller will at least tell you what country they're in, if not state and city.
2. Look at the pictures they post. Many times they can be found searching them on Google or using tineye.com
3. Read the replies on the posts (Facebook). If it is a scam, you'll either see they are not replying to them (because they are messaging them) or they will reply that they will contact them privately.
4. Scammers on Facebook don't have a website, but that alone doesn't mean they are a scam as some legitimate ones don't either.
5. Read the reviews. If you see good reviews, check out the person who left it as if it's a scam, their account is brand new.
6. Don't be fooled by the number of "followers" they have. There are thousands of bot accounts these scammers share amongst themselves.
7. If you think they're legit and agree to pay via Paypal, but they instruct you to check the Friends and Family box instead of leaving it defaulted to Goods and Services, that's a scam. Paypal may cover you for purchases made as Goods and Services, but by checking it Friends and Family, you have no recourse.
8. If after you've paid them for whatever you supposedly purchased from them and aren't aware you've been scammed yet, then they ask for more money for insurance, that's a scam. Stop there. USPS insures Priority Mail for $100 free. $200 of insurance is $3.50. It keeps going up a little to a value of $5,000. FedEx is also free for the first $100 and $3.90 for $300. UPS is the same as FedEx. If they state they're using a private shipping company, that's very likely a scam. Ask for the name of it.
Once it's over and you're out the money, all contact methods to reach who scammed you will be cut off. If Facebook, you're now blocked from their group and anyone you dealt with has blocked you. It does no good to try contact other administrators as they're all in on the scam. You'll either need a friend, or you can make a new account, to be able to get their info and can try report it to Facebook or whoever hosts their domain if it's a website on the internet.
If you happen to have used a credit card, call your bank immediately to have the transaction stopped, then cancel that card.
Even though usually nothing can be done to apprehend the scammers, you should still report it to your local authorities, giving them any information and receipts you have. You can also report it to https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/
Other links regarding scams that may be of interest:
https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-avoid-scam
https://www.consumerprotection.govt.nz/general-help/scamwatch/avoiding-scams
https://www.npr.org/2023/11/07/1196978201/protect-yourself-from-scams
https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/protect-yourself/ways-to-spot-and-avoid-scams
I was once scammed in an indoor plant group on Facebook thinking being retired law enforcement, I could never fall for such a thing, yet I did. I have since learned how to spot the scammers.
1. It is highly suspicious when they don't list their location. Every legitimate seller will at least tell you what country they're in, if not state and city.
2. Look at the pictures they post. Many times they can be found searching them on Google or using tineye.com
3. Read the replies on the posts (Facebook). If it is a scam, you'll either see they are not replying to them (because they are messaging them) or they will reply that they will contact them privately.
4. Scammers on Facebook don't have a website, but that alone doesn't mean they are a scam as some legitimate ones don't either.
5. Read the reviews. If you see good reviews, check out the person who left it as if it's a scam, their account is brand new.
6. Don't be fooled by the number of "followers" they have. There are thousands of bot accounts these scammers share amongst themselves.
7. If you think they're legit and agree to pay via Paypal, but they instruct you to check the Friends and Family box instead of leaving it defaulted to Goods and Services, that's a scam. Paypal may cover you for purchases made as Goods and Services, but by checking it Friends and Family, you have no recourse.
8. If after you've paid them for whatever you supposedly purchased from them and aren't aware you've been scammed yet, then they ask for more money for insurance, that's a scam. Stop there. USPS insures Priority Mail for $100 free. $200 of insurance is $3.50. It keeps going up a little to a value of $5,000. FedEx is also free for the first $100 and $3.90 for $300. UPS is the same as FedEx. If they state they're using a private shipping company, that's very likely a scam. Ask for the name of it.
Once it's over and you're out the money, all contact methods to reach who scammed you will be cut off. If Facebook, you're now blocked from their group and anyone you dealt with has blocked you. It does no good to try contact other administrators as they're all in on the scam. You'll either need a friend, or you can make a new account, to be able to get their info and can try report it to Facebook or whoever hosts their domain if it's a website on the internet.
If you happen to have used a credit card, call your bank immediately to have the transaction stopped, then cancel that card.
Even though usually nothing can be done to apprehend the scammers, you should still report it to your local authorities, giving them any information and receipts you have. You can also report it to https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/
Other links regarding scams that may be of interest:
https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-avoid-scam
https://www.consumerprotection.govt.nz/general-help/scamwatch/avoiding-scams
https://www.npr.org/2023/11/07/1196978201/protect-yourself-from-scams
https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/protect-yourself/ways-to-spot-and-avoid-scams
, we are elderly and aware that it is always possible we could be manipulated)
)
