FB Marketplace buyer wants to pay by bank transfer

SunnyCat

Hello,

I am trying to sell a few pieces of furniture on FB marketplace, as we are reorganising one of the rooms. Got a few messages where a prospective buyer wants to pay by PayPal and send a courier to collect. This made me wary of a potential scam and I've refused these offers. However, someone else has now offered to pay by bank transfer. Does this sound legit or also a potential scam? 

Thanks in advance!

dil1976

Yes its perfectly safe, but what you will find  them doing is sending you a email saying it has been sent and funds will be released once you have sent proof of postage which itself is a scam, so before you send the goods ensure the funds are in your bank account and not just a email.

theoretica

Cash is nice - but pretty much limits you to buyers who own vans for large furniture.  I would be happier with local driver + van service collecting than a big courier and buyer strangely far away.

Our local auction house asks for payment by bank transfer and have a list of known couriers/furniture movers, so are clearly happy with this themselves.

soolin

If taking a bank transfer check your bank yourself, don’t rely on any notifications.

I’ve been selling some bits on Facebook , still lots of scammers out there, most common scam for me so far is the ‘Id like your item please but I can’t collect as I’m busy at work/overseas so will need to send a courier with a van. They then either offer a bank transfer which on investigation the bank will allegedly hold until the courier confirms safe collection (yeah right) or they will make a payment via an escrow system that again will be released when courier collects, yada yada .

Make sure however buyer pays that you can see the money is actually there, not pending, not in escrow and not notified by an email. 

lr1277

Doesn't the OP run the risk that if the buyer's bank account is involved with fraud, then their own bank is locked whilst the sitation is investigated? Whilst the OP has not committed fraunt, they might be tainted by association?

SunnyCat

Thank you all for responding. All the messages I've received so far is the same story "can't come in person, but want to send someone else to collect and pay by paypal or bank transfer. Many of them even use the same wording, saying they want to pay "so you can mark it as sold", don't negotiate (for items with asking price of a few hundred £) or ask item specific questions.

I've ended up saying cash only, as I dont need the headache of making arrangements just to find out it's a scam (and not so keen to give out my own bank details where it most likely is). If someone messages and appears more like a real person then I'll consider it.

pinkshoes

I've sold plenty on Facebook and have used Bank Transfer. I just make sure I log into my bank account and check the money is actually there before they take the item. 

I think PayPal friends and family is ok too, as that isn't reversible and there is no fee either. Again, you need to make sure the money has reached your account. 

Otherwise I'd go with cash on collection.

spiritus

pinkshoes said:

I've sold plenty on Facebook and have used Bank Transfer. I just make sure I log into my bank account and check the money is actually there before they take the item. 

I think PayPal friends and family is ok too, as that isn't reversible and there is no fee either. Again, you need to make sure the money has reached your account. 

Otherwise I'd go with cash on collection.

Pretty sure the buyer could transfer the money, collect the goods and then claim with their bank that they were swindled by you and goods were not given to them.

Cash is king.

soolin

spiritus said:

pinkshoes said:

I've sold plenty on Facebook and have used Bank Transfer. I just make sure I log into my bank account and check the money is actually there before they take the item. 

I think PayPal friends and family is ok too, as that isn't reversible and there is no fee either. Again, you need to make sure the money has reached your account. 

Otherwise I'd go with cash on collection.

Pretty sure the buyer could transfer the money, collect the goods and then claim with their bank that they were swindled by you and goods were not given to them.

Cash is king.

Cash is difficult if you are posting something out though.

Bank transfers can't just be recalled on a whim anyway, High street banks now warn users before making payments that they need to ensure they know the person as the money cannot be recalled later.