• Scam Alert. Members are reminded to NOT send money to buy anything. Don't buy things remote and have it shipped - go get it yourself, pay in person, and take your equipment with you. Scammers have burned people on this forum. Urgency, secrecy, excuses, selling for friend, newish members, FUD, are RED FLAGS. A video conference call is not adequate assurance. Face to face interactions are required. Please report suspicions to the forum admins. Stay Safe - anyone can get scammed.

Facebook responds regarding my report of scammer...

Twenty or so years ago I opened a Fecalbook account. I posted quite a few photos for family to see. A few months later Fecalbook announced that anything that was posted on the Fecalbook site they owned the copyright to. There was a lot of complaints and Fecalbook ended up posting a link where you could delete your account I deleted mine and would never return.
 
Twenty or so years ago I opened a Fecalbook account. I posted quite a few photos for family to see. A few months later Fecalbook announced that anything that was posted on the Fecalbook site they owned the copyright to. There was a lot of complaints and Fecalbook ended up posting a link where you could delete your account I deleted mine and would never return.

I read their terms and conditions a few years ago. It was enough to give me a heart attack. Apparently, opening an account on Facebook gave them the right to snoop in your phone or computer - emails, txt messages, photos, etc. Even listen to your voice calls! WTF!
 
So I think it's reasonable to think it's only a matter of time before someone does die.

You can say that about heading out the front door, you got to keep living and not get paranoid.

When buying, I don't meet people anywhere but their house, anything else seems risky. Selling, come to my house like a normal human being, I've nothing to hide (It's most unlikely I'm planning on conking you on the head when you know my home address).... but you only get the address after giving a phone number so you are not anonymous. ( you cannot get a "burner" phone in Canada with a credit card, so if you give a P#, you give up anonymity). I'm not sitting in a parking lot waiting for someone who may be late or not show.

Seems safest imo.

That and I just don't respond to anyone who isn't polite and well mannered. If they don't seem like the sort I'd want to meet, I don't. Mind you, I'm selling micrometers not iphones or video games so it attracts a more refined, intelligent crowd (mostly!)than the average kijiji bear .

The only issue I've had, 20 years of selling a lot of stuff, was a wanker who wanted to return an item because he decided he didn't need it. Really annoying, but not knowing what sort of nutbar they might be, I just said fine and gave them their money back .... and asked them never to contact me again. That is more than offset by a number people I've met with similar interests who have become friends over the years
 
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The only issue I've had, 20 years of selling a lot of stuff, was a wanker who wanted to return an item because he decided he didn't need it. Really annoying, but not knowing what sort of nutbar they might be, I just said fine and gave them their money back .... and asked them never to contact me again. That is more than offset by a number people I've met with similar interests who have become friends over the years
You just described the Costco return line….. summers over better take these back and get winter stuff.
 
I just tried searching for a tool box on Facebook marketplace after missing out on the Princess Auto score that Slow poke got. Seems that is the biggest cesspool of scammers around. I can't even spend another minute looking for a legitimate seller, its got to be 80-90% scam ads at this point. Here's my assessment of the first page worth of ads for Tool Chest on marketplace - X's are scams.

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Weapon by who - Victim or robber?
Note, I'm not paranoid, but within the last couple of years have been on the receiving end of at least a few attempts to lure me to locations to pick up items worth a lot of money. And despite what McGyver says about phone numbers, you cant trust that a phone number will trace back to anyone real due to the proliferation of software based anonymous phone apps.

I don't meet anyone except at verified home address, or in front of the police station unless it is for an item with trivial value. Even then it is during daylight, public space with loads of people and a camera over head.

statistically the odds of injury increase for either party but more for the victim IIRC.

just an FYI, while the overall crime rate has been relatively steady, the crime severity index was up over 2% in 2023 with recorded higher rates of extortion (+35%), robbery (+4%) and assault committed with a weapon or causing bodily harm (+7%). Most of this was in urban centers, and much of it related to online generated sales activity or car theft.

Also some types of non-violent crime also increased in 2023, including fraud (+12%), shoplifting ($5,000 or under; +18%), and motor vehicle theft (+5%). Most of the shoplifting gangs are selling their stolen goods online. Wanna guess where?
 
I just tried searching for a tool box on Facebook marketplace after missing out on the Princess Auto score that Slow poke got. Seems that is the biggest cesspool of scammers around. I can't even spend another minute looking for a legitimate seller, its got to be 80-90% scam ads at this point. Here's my assessment of the first page worth of ads for Tool Chest on marketplace - X's are scams.

View attachment 55013
no say it isn't so Joe, say it isn't so...
 
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