HOUSTON – In today’s digital age, online marketplaces have become a popular way to find great deals, often from people in your own neighborhood.
The early days of online marketplaces were ruled by Craigslist.
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Now, there are more players in the game like OfferUp, Let It Go and Facebook Marketplace.
We’ve all heard the tips from law enforcement about only doing exchanges in a safe, public space, never sending money ahead of time and not sharing your personal information, like your address.
But that’s not all. There’s more you can do before you decide to purchase something from a place like Facebook Marketplace.
Before contacting a seller on Facebook, take a moment to check out their profile.
This can help you determine if they are legitimate.
Look for a history of buying or selling and assess whether their profile seems authentic.
If something feels off, it probably is, and it’s best to avoid taking unnecessary risks.
If everything checks out, feel free to send a message.
However, before agreeing to meet up, ask for a unique picture.
For instance, request the seller to hold up two fingers in front of the product with the current time displayed on their phone.
Scammers are unlikely to comply with such a specific request.
Finally, the most important piece of advice is to never go alone.
If possible, bring a friend along. Two people are always safer than one when meeting someone new.
