As the saying goes, "May naloloko kasi may nagpapaloko." Be a wise buyer online and you will not be easily scammed. Kaya naisipan namin i-put together yung mga modus ng mga scammers para sa kaalaman nyo. Para in case na ma-encounter nyo ang ganitong acts ng seller, may alert sign na kukulbit sayo para sabihing, "Beshie or Mamshie, ingat ka dyan. May pagka-galawang scammer oh."
Let's begin...
1. Inconsistent photos.
There are sellers online who uses the same photographs from their suppliers. That's for brand new items. But for preloved items, pag iba iba yung background ng pictures especially if paiba iba din ang quality ng photos, medyo magduda ka kasi baka grabbed lang ng seller yung pictures nya from other sellers too. Do not easily trust those sellers who post their items na halatang "screen shot" lang.
Yung ibang scammers kasi, sasali sa mga selling groups to grab photos and claim it as theirs. Kaya we encourage our sellers to put watermarks on their photos para di basta ma-grab ng mga scammers.
What you can do: Ask the seller if she can provide a when worn photos. Yung iba, baka di makapag provide kasi di na kasya sa kanila. So siguro, request a photograph ng specific part of the item para makasiguro ka na kanya nga yung item.
Examples: "Sis, pwede pa-picture naman nung underarm part." * "Sis, pwede pa-picture naman close-up nung fabric." * "Sis, pwede pa-picture naman with measuring tape across the chest para makita ko if kakasya sa akin. Thanks!"
2. Confusing identity.
As mentioned as previous post namin, medyo mag duda ka na kung iba iba yung name na nag a-appear sa URL, sa Facebook profile, name na binigay sayo para sa payment at name na naga-appear sa mga proof of transactions nya.
SAMPLE 1
Name sa URL: https://www.facebook.com/frances.mangao
Name sa Profile: Riza Malaya Castillote
Name na binigay para sa payment: Jaylene Tiana Sariua
Name na nakalagay sa proof of transactions: Russell Cayetano
What you can do: Ask the seller for bakit magkaiba yung name sa Facebook nya at sa name na gagamitin mo para mag bayad. You can also request for proof of transactions na makikita yung name nya to confirm if ano ba talaga identity nya as seller. Dapat consistent. Ask nicely para di rin naman offensive ang dating.
DO NOT REQUEST FOR THEIR ID. AND DO NOT EASILY GIVE YOUR ID TO ANYONE. AVOID IDENTITY THEFT.
3. Overly defensive.
If the seller became overly defensive nung nag request ka ng proof or question regarding sa confusing identity nya, then medyo back off ka na sa deal. A legit seller would not be too defensive kasi maiintindihan nya why the buyer is somewhat doubting.
If the seller begins saying something like, "Kung ayaw mo maniwala, edi wag na tayo mag deal." Then that's a sign na baka nga scammer yang katransact mo. Why did we say so? Kasi, ang magsasabi lang nyan, yung mga taong wala naman mawawala sa kanila kasi scammers nga. For a legit seller, they wouldn't say such kasi 1) they do not want to lose any customer 2) kasiraan nila yan as seller.
What you can do: Explain mo sa kanya ng maayos kung bakit ka medyo nag duda. Gaya ng sabi namin, ang matinong seller, maiintindihan ka. Mag bibigay sila ng proof para makampante ka. Ang scammer, ibloblock ka nalang siguro kasi parang na-corner mo na sya.
4. Private offers.
Wag na wag kang tatanggap ng mga offers done privately. Kung nag post ka ng "looking for" sa isang group, require them to post in the comment box of your post. Do not entertain offers don via private chat. Kasi ang legit sellers, they will offer their items publicly para makita rin ng iba. Para in case mag pass yung buyer, makita pa ng ibang buyers na maaring maging intersado sa item nya.
It's no different with "under the table" transactions. So be careful.
What you can do: Tell the seller to offer her items in the post or ask kung saan pa sya posted para makita mo iba pa nyang items. Then gawin mo yung number 1 as list na ito.
5. Too Generous.
Alam nyo naman siguro din yung kasabihan na, "too good to be true". Kung masyadong mababa ang presyo for a particular item or that sobrang galante na ng seller sa pag bibigay sayo ng discounts & freebies, medyo back-off ka ng saglit.
May mga sellers talaga na generous because it is part of their marketing strategy. Pero kung "too good to be true" nga, wag agad agad magpadala. Minsan kasi, ginagamit yang ng scammers para ma-convince ka ng husto.
What you can do: Be wise. Wag masyado magpadala sa mga freebies or mga malalakihang discounts or bargains. Wag masyado magpadala sa mga "marketing strategy" nila kasi they are only attracting you.
6. Smart Padala.
Hindi lahat ng gumagamit ng Smart Padala as their mode of payment ay scammer. Maganda din sanang service ang Smart Padala kung ginagamit sana sa tama. May iba kasing Smart Padala outlets na di nagrerequire ng ID para mag claim ng pera. Kaya malakas ang loob ng mga scammer kasi hindi sila traceable through this outlet.
What you can do: Ask for another payment option. Suggest via Palawan or Cebuana nalang kamo. Pag insist ni seller na Smart Padala lang talaga ang MOP nya, medyo mag duda ka na.
Though there are really sellers using this service kasi wala silang ID to claim payments done via remittance centers. Kaya naman under husband's name ang ginagamit ng iba. Kaya pag ganun, ask for some sort of proof lang kamo para makampante ka as the buyer.
7. Rushing payments.
There are legit sellers who rush payments simply because they have a cut-off time or dahil they strictly implement their reservation periods. But for some sellers whose shopping policies are not well indicated, medyo magduda ka kung inaagad ka sa payment. Tipong every 5-10 minutes nalang, tinatanong kung nakapag bayad ka na.
What you can do: Wag ka na muna mag bayad. Do your own research or legit checking. Follow the steps in this post to guide you.
8. No waybill.
Pag nag bayad ka na sa seller at sinabing napaship na nya pero wala sya maipakitang waybill no matter how many times ka nag request sa kanya, either burara yung seller or scammer sya.
Make sure na yung waybill, kung may naipakita sya, yung signed copy ng mismong rider. Hindi pwede yung kabago-bagong fill up lang ng seller ng waybill.
What you can do: Ang magagawa mo lang talaga is kulitin ang seller to provide you a waybill para matrack mo yung parcel na sinasabi nyang pinaship na nya. Kung sa isang Facebook group mo sya katransact, like for example with Preloved Clothes Manila, if di makipag cooperate sayo ang seller, you can contact the admins to help you.
9. Blocking Act.
Pag after payment, bigla ka nalang binolock, 'matic na yan. Scammer yan! Walang matinong seller na matapos magbayad ng buyer eh ibloblock. Nuff said.
What you can do: Ask a family or friend or another account to check if the account blocked you or was deactivated. If your finding is that the seller only blocked you (the seller's profile is available in other accounts), use that account to message the seller. Pag pati yung account na yan, binolock, scammer na nga yan. Post mo na para maging aware iba. Make sure na public ang post mo para madali makita ng iba.
10. Account Deactivation.
Unlike number 7, pag after ng payment, bigla mo nalang di mahagilap yung seller, try mo sya i-contact sa binigay nyang mobile number sayo. Baka naman kasi mismong Facebook ang nag down ng profile nya. Nangyayari kasi yan sa mga sellers na very active ang postings sa group. Akala kasi ni Facebook, spammer or nagflo-flood ng posts.
What you can do: Mabuting i-contact mo sya gamit yung number na binigay nya sayo. Ang matinong seller, magrereply sayo about it. Pag walang response pati sa mobile na binigay nya, baka nga scammer na yan. Post mo na agad para ma-aware ang iba. Pero do not label the person scammer agad, try to seek help na ma-reach sya. If may iba pa syang nabiktima, only then can you somewhat conclude na baka nga scammer ang katransact nyo.
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We will keep this post updated pag may na-encounter pa kami na bagong modus. If you know one na hindi nabanggit sa list na ito, please do comment below para maisama po namin. Maraming salamat.
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*We do not claim property to the graphics used in the over. It was grabbed from Google images and was put together for this post. Full credits to the owners of these graphics.
