Setting up an e-commerce retail shop online is quite easy, and what’s more, using a popular Facebook social media platform can increase your visibility, allowing many interested customers to view your products that are on sale.
Regardless of all the controversies that Facebook faces, it remains popular among many. With a new feature added, namely the “Facebook Marketplace,” you can find many people from all walks of life. It is equally important for you to understand Facebook Marketplace Scams.
If you are among those who wish to increase your retail shop’s visibility, you can surely consider opting for Facebook Marketplace. In this article, we will show you strategies for boosting business sales while simultaneously avoiding falling victim to any scam.
Improving your visibility
One of the best ways to improve your visibility is by following a lot of people, so when you post any new products to display, they can be viewed by many who are on your friend list.
You can also join communities where they allow you to display your products. For example, if you are selling a custom bike product, since it is a niche market, your average customer would own a bike or two. Thus, by joining a “custom bike club” or “custom bike accessories,” you are increasing your market presence online.
You should also be aware that many scammers will try to pull you into Facebook Marketplace Scams since they are quite aware of products that are expensive, and even if they sell a stolen product that is worth $1000 for $500, it is still a 100% profit for them.
It’s free to list products on Facebook Marketplace.
Facebook does not charge anyone for posting pictures of items or products on their Facebook Marketplace; it’s free. You can share a ton of pictures of the products for free.
A clear picture of the products and tagging them
Having pictures of your products for sale should be clear and in high definition. It is more important if you are selling items or products that are highly detailed. For example, selling customized 3D-printed parts
It will be advantageous if the product is named in the picture. The best way to do this is to tag your photo. Tagging your product is important since the algorithm on Facebook will help pull up your product’s picture when someone is interested in buying that product.
Mobile users
Roughly 98% of Facebook users are more inclined to use their mobile devices to surf Facebook, so you do not have to tweak Facebook to reach your intended customers. Since Facebook Marketplace Scams are a dime a dozen online, you should be careful while sharing your mobile number. Refrain from entering the OTP that you are asked to enter by scammers who wish to confirm that you are a real seller. You can always say that if they don’t want the product, they are free to do so.
Approaching the professionals
You can approach Facebook’s marketing team to improve your online store’s visibility. Facebook will post your ad for you for a fee. For a limited amount of time, Facebook will change its algorithms, allowing your product to be viewed by all Facebook users. These ads can be customized depending on the geographical location, age limit, target audience, and so forth.
As important as sales are, it is equally important to safeguard your interests against any online scams.
Although the digital world has increased our reach globally, it is also important to understand that several cyber threats and scams are prevalent.
Online Facebook Marketplace scams
Facebook Marketplace Scams are pulled by scammers who impersonate buyers and are known to rip off their victims. Let this article help you spot a potential scammer who intends to rip you off.
Secured area: When someone calls you to buy your product, it is important to meet in a crowded and well-lit public place. Avoid any dark alleys or shady neighborhoods. Let the buyer inspect your product before you and check the money when being paid in cash. If they are going to make a payment through a credit card, wait until you get the money before selling off your product.
Overpaid: Scammers will sometimes overpay you for the product intentionally under the guise of a “mistake.” Avoid paying them the money since they will call their credit card provider and charge back the amount. You end up paying the scammer while getting nothing in return.
Paying for shipment: Some scammers are smart; they will recommend a courier service offering to pay for the shipment while buying a product from you. What these scammers want to do is provide you with a fake address when you ship by courier. Once it reaches its destination, it will try to reach out to the scammers at the address provided by them, but it will not be received. Then the scammer will ask for a chargeback from their credit card provider and change the destination of the shipment. Thus, you lose both your product and cash.
Several scammers from third-world countries will use these Facebook Marketplace Scams, to pull a fast one on the seller. You need to exercise extra caution when dealing with someone from these countries. It is equally true that there are some genuine buyers from these countries too.
You can be sure that you are dealing with a genuine customer if they fail to show the above red flags that we have mentioned.
Conclusion:
As easy as it is to make money online through an e-commerce retail shop, it is equally easy to lose money online too. Let your gut take over if you think there are some obvious red flags regarding a particular customer. It is better to lose a customer than lose an expensive product and money. Scrutinize each customer, as it’s better to be safe than regret later.
Several have lost their money, products, or both to Facebook Marketplace Scams, so it is equally important for you to be extra cautious while dealing with customers who start making demands that are not normal.
