How to Spot the Red Flags for Online Selling Scams
by Immediate Past President Mark Rommel Ababao Rotaract Club of Manila Bay
In this new normal, people made a lot of changes to adapt, which led to several discoveries. With social contact being limited, online selling has become prevalent and an important part of the local economy. Online marketplaces such as the Facebook marketplace provides convenience to both sellers and customers. The Facebook marketplace is a popular online platform that is meant to be a community-oriented service that brings people together to buy and sell different products. Although it does not have a built-in payment system and requires having a Facebook profile to use the service, security and convenience are two of the major priorities of the app. If you are a seller, it is easy to use the platform - upload a photo of the product and indicate its price. For customers, they can easily type the product they are looking for, click on the item, and message the seller. While the platform provides easy access to products, it can be an easy venue for different scammers. In the marketplace, people may encounter bogus buyers or sellers. Here are some red flags to watch out for when doing online shopping:
