As the cost of living crisis continues to bite, demand has skyrocketed for second hand shopping sites. This where used goods are resold at a lower costs than the same good would have cost if it was new. An indication of this level of interest arises with 3.3 million people searching for ‘vinted’ in the last month.
However, experts at VPNOverview have warned people to watch out for scammers when second hand shopping after reports have revealed that scams whilst shopping on sites like Facebook Marketplace, Vinted and Depop are on the rise.
Cybersecurity expert Christopher Bluvshtein has revealed what to look out for when using second hand shopping sites and he has explained the key issues to Digital Journal.
Bluvshtein says: “Social marketplaces like Facebook, Vinted, and Depop are great for saving money, but their lack of regulation poses dangers. When it comes to buying second-hand from the Internet, here are some red flags to look out for.”
In outlining these, Bluvshtein presents:
Buyers asking to pay you by bank transfer
Bluvshtein states: “The funds can be charged back after they’ve taken your item. Similarly, don’t accept cheques.”
Sellers asking you to send money with PayPal’s ‘Friends & Family’ transfer
Bluvshtein adds: “It’s unlikely you’ll ever get your item, and worse, PayPal will not support buyers if they’ve bought an item using this form of transfer.”
A buyer offering more than you asked for
Bluvshtein reveals: “It’s often a way to blindside you and draw you into a planned scam.”
Somebody trying to take the conversation outside of the website
Bluvshtein observes: “Keep all discussions inside the platform where they are tracked and recorded.”
A buyer or seller who has a private profile without a photo
Here Bluvshtein finds: “While privacy settings limit what you can see, having zero information on the person isn’t a good sign.”
Someone who asks for you to post an item elsewhere
According to Bluvshtein: “A common Depop scam right now involves a third person. You post the item to a friend of the scammer, then they open an “item not received” dispute, usually winning, and keeping both the item and their money.”
Underpriced, high-value items
Bluvshtein warns: “They’re usually counterfeit, and you’ll be wasting your money if you think you’re getting the real thing.”
Buyers who overpay for an item
Bluvshtein states: “If you’re selling something, and the buyer pays more than they needed to, they might ask you to transfer the difference. Once you have, they’ll initiate a chargeback on the original sum – if it even clears in the first place.”
