4 ms·

How do you know those listings are all scams?

pixl97 5y ago
I would assume by reaching out and contacting the people and finding out they don't have a car, they just try to connect you to someone else that does and make a profit from it.
bruceb 5y ago
You can tell by click on them. Has a combo of these things: only one pic that is zoomed in a bit, price, they are on vacation mode, no license plate (different from blocking out license plate) etc. For example: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/497875541786220 https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/497875541786220 or: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/635418997520898 https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/635418997520898 This shows same make a model, there is only one listing is NOT a scam in a 20 mile area: https://imgur.com/a/LSvw42t https://imgur.com/a/LSvw42t
- AussieWog93 5y ago
  Are you sure? Both of the people you listed have accounts from pre-2010, and the first lady at least (Jodi) looks undeniably like a real person with real friends. EDIT: OK, the fact that they both have the same car listed in 20+ areas across multiple state boundaries is absolutely suss. I'm still confused as to where these accounts came from, though. They can't be fake. Were they maybe hacked?
  - culopatin 5y ago
    It’s a scam when they lost the blurry car in every possible state. It fits the pattern of hundreds of accounts showing the same. Also The prices are always too good. A 5-7yo car for 1500? It’s not 2016 anymore.
  - eswat 5y ago
    It's pretty common for scammers to use old, compromised accounts. They are likely less to be scrutinized than new accounts.
monkmartinez 5y ago
You can tell with a simple glance. Most of the time, the picture is just "wrong"... It will look very woody/forest when they are selling in Phoenix. The other give away is the price, as in 50% off or more compared to similar vehicles you are searching for.
- ipaddr 5y ago
  You might be passing up great deals if you discount cars sold cheaper than others for no other reason aside from price.
  - Tronno 5y ago
    If it's too good to be true, it isn't. Sellers seek the highest price the market will bear. If the price is unusually low, it's either a scam or there's something wrong with the item. There are some rare exceptions, but it doesn't average out in the buyer's favor.
    - muzani 5y ago
      There's always trying to sell as fast as possible before they leave the country or get a medical operation. 50% doesn't strike me as exceptionally low. I've sold things for much cheaper because it's better than throwing it away, and still I get faced with tire kickers who keep trying to negotiate it then insist on some other pound of flesh when I don't budge on price. It's why I avoid used item marketplaces.
    - deleted 5y ago
      [deleted]
    - K0balt 5y ago
      I’ve bought several cars at 70 percent of kbb value or lower. Many people sell for just above trade in value because that’s what they are being offered by a car dealership. That’s often 80 percent or less than private sale price. Other times they just need a specific amount of money, which happens to be substantially less than the item they are selling is worth. Other times, the seller is not the one that has to purchase the replacement. Phones are good examples here. A lot of people get a new flagship phone every year. Sometimes it’s just because they are bad with choices, boyfriend, etc. these people often sell their old phone for substantially less than market value. People are frequently not rational actors.

I would assume by reaching out and contacting the people and finding out they don't have a car, they just try to connect you to someone else that does and make a profit from it.

bruceb 5y ago

You can tell by click on them. Has a combo of these things: only one pic that is zoomed in a bit, price, they are on vacation mode, no license plate (different from blocking out license plate) etc. For example: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/497875541786220 https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/497875541786220 or: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/635418997520898 https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/635418997520898 This shows same make a model, there is only one listing is NOT a scam in a 20 mile area: https://imgur.com/a/LSvw42t https://imgur.com/a/LSvw42t

AussieWog93 5y ago
Are you sure? Both of the people you listed have accounts from pre-2010, and the first lady at least (Jodi) looks undeniably like a real person with real friends. EDIT: OK, the fact that they both have the same car listed in 20+ areas across multiple state boundaries is absolutely suss. I'm still confused as to where these accounts came from, though. They can't be fake. Were they maybe hacked?
- culopatin 5y ago
  It’s a scam when they lost the blurry car in every possible state. It fits the pattern of hundreds of accounts showing the same. Also The prices are always too good. A 5-7yo car for 1500? It’s not 2016 anymore.
- eswat 5y ago
  It's pretty common for scammers to use old, compromised accounts. They are likely less to be scrutinized than new accounts.

monkmartinez 5y ago

You can tell with a simple glance. Most of the time, the picture is just "wrong"... It will look very woody/forest when they are selling in Phoenix. The other give away is the price, as in 50% off or more compared to similar vehicles you are searching for.

ipaddr 5y ago
You might be passing up great deals if you discount cars sold cheaper than others for no other reason aside from price.
- Tronno 5y ago
  If it's too good to be true, it isn't. Sellers seek the highest price the market will bear. If the price is unusually low, it's either a scam or there's something wrong with the item. There are some rare exceptions, but it doesn't average out in the buyer's favor.
  - muzani 5y ago
    There's always trying to sell as fast as possible before they leave the country or get a medical operation. 50% doesn't strike me as exceptionally low. I've sold things for much cheaper because it's better than throwing it away, and still I get faced with tire kickers who keep trying to negotiate it then insist on some other pound of flesh when I don't budge on price. It's why I avoid used item marketplaces.
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
  - K0balt 5y ago
    I’ve bought several cars at 70 percent of kbb value or lower. Many people sell for just above trade in value because that’s what they are being offered by a car dealership. That’s often 80 percent or less than private sale price. Other times they just need a specific amount of money, which happens to be substantially less than the item they are selling is worth. Other times, the seller is not the one that has to purchase the replacement. Phones are good examples here. A lot of people get a new flagship phone every year. Sometimes it’s just because they are bad with choices, boyfriend, etc. these people often sell their old phone for substantially less than market value. People are frequently not rational actors.