7 Tips To Buy/Sell On Facebook Marketplace Nigeria (To Avoid Scam)

Facebook Marketplace avails you the options to purchase varieties (items of your choice) on the platform, see tips on how to buy and sell on Facebook Marketplace Nigeria.

The African largest economy has become the new Facebook Marketplace, where buyers meet sellers on the platform. However, in an effort to regulate the platform’s sanity, — keeping the platform safe from scammers, Facebook has revealed some top tips to stay alert while making transactions.

The distinctive measures to active buying and selling responsibly on Facebook Marketplace has been compile by Brandnewsday for you. Below are the top tips to go about it:

7 Tips To Buy/Sell On Facebook Marketplace Nigeria

Commerce Policy:

Commerce policy comes first, in order to purchase items, products or services sold on Facebook, you must adhere strictly with Facebook’s Community Standards, as well as the Commerce Policies. Sellers and Merchants are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations.

Report Scammers:

There are ways you could report a seller or listing: that’s if you find out a seller or product violates Facebook Commerce Policies, you can report them.

Verification of the item:

For high-value items (example: watches, luxury bags), consider requesting a certificate of authenticity or proof of purchase. If you’re not satisfied with an item’s condition or have doubts about its authenticity, you can decline to complete the purchase. If the seller offers to ship the item rather than exchanging it in person, keep in mind that you may not have the opportunity to verify the item before completing your purchase.

Meet in a public location:

If you are meeting, ensure this is in a public place. Don’t invite buyers or sellers into your home. Before going to the agreed location, tell a family member or a friend the exact location where you will meet, bring your cell phone, and consider asking another adult to come with you. If the value of the item you intend to buy or sell requires a significant amount of cash, you might consider using a person-to-person payment method.

READ: Facebook Unveils Its Marketplace In Nigeria

Cash, COD, or Person-to-Person Payment methods:

Moving further, all buyers and sellers may agree to offers of Cash on Delivery (COD) or person-to-person (P2P) payments. If you choose to pay electronically using bank transfer codes or money order solutions, avoid payment links and log in directly through the payment method’s website. Keep in mind that personal checks or bank drafts can be counterfeit. Transactions are between the buyer and seller only, and no third-party guarantee should be involved.

Protect your privacy:

Don’t share your financial account information (example: Payment login and password, bank account info) with buyers or sellers. Additionally, make sure your Facebook Privacy Settings are up-to-date. These settings help limit what other people can see (for example, status updates, location, photos) on your profile page and what you share on Facebook.

How To Identify scammers:

For instance, be wary of sellers who express urgency or claim to be in rush. Always take the time to verify the product meets your needs before making a final decision. Also, be wary of people who pretend to be employees of Facebook and ask for your account information and personal details or suggest using any kind of services to complete a transaction.

These are the tips to buy and sell on the Facebook Marketplace and an easy way to detect scams.