Advice on Buying an iPad on Facebook Marketplace- Avoiding Scams???

BillybobBarmcake on 06/12/2024 - 12:16
Last edited 06/12/2024 - 16:45

I've never used Facebook Marketplace so I'm unaware of how scammy it usually is.

Currently wanting to buy a used 5th or 6th gen Ipad Pro 12.9" MUST be 1tb or 2tb (want 16gb of Ram for maximum layers in Procreate)

I've seen listings like this- https://www.facebook.com/share/1Akde8yWmQ/ $500 for "brand new, with keyboard and pencil."

Almost certain this is a scam. It seems WAY too good to be true as it's at least half price of more legit looking used listings.

What's the scam here? Stolen? Insurance scam? Money upfront and disappear scam? Pretty sure it doesn't actually exist.

And what's the advice for avoiding scams specifically for used Ipads? I'd ask any potential seller to show it's not activation locked, but what else is there to look out for?

Cheers!

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Comments

  • Bruceflix on 06/12/2024 - 12:19
    +9

    What's the scam here?

    I've got one just like that. Send me the money via bank deposit or PayID and I'll send it to you.

    • Sye on 06/12/2024 - 15:08
      +6

      I've got one just like that.

      Is this still available?

  • geekcohen on 06/12/2024 - 12:32
    +1

    what's the advice for avoiding scams specifically for Ipads

    Do it in Person and pay Cash Only. No PayID - One better, do it at a Police Station in front of Cameras.

    • NickCan on 06/12/2024 - 13:17
      +2

      geekohen is on the right track. Cash only, in person, in a place covered by security cameras.

      Get the seller to factory reset it in front of you.
      Check the battery health
      Begin the setup process and ensure that the device is not locked to an icloud account. If it is, walk away; device could be stolen.

      If it seems too good to be true, it's a scam.

    • jv on 06/12/2024 - 13:49

      Do it in Person and pay Cash Only. No PayID

      Seller is in India according to their profile…

      • geekcohen on 07/12/2024 - 10:04

        I don't have Stalkbook so I cannot see the item for sale.

    • Liger Zero on 06/12/2024 - 22:39

      What's wrong with PayID?

      • geekcohen on 07/12/2024 - 10:03

        Too risky. "I didn't get the payment, send it again". Possibly delays, just too risky. Heard way to many horror stories (there was a big OzBargain one a number of months ago).

        • Liger Zero on 07/12/2024 - 10:19

          Yeah fair. I would still use it for selling, and only hand over the item once payment clears. But I can understand the buyer would feel very uneasy if it really it some rare delay on the banking side

  • djones145 on 06/12/2024 - 12:33
    +2

    im on an oil rig, i can fedex it to ya

  • Bignudge on 06/12/2024 - 13:31
    +1

    Take a look at CEX. Some decent 2nd handed stuff on there with warranty too.

  • jv on 06/12/2024 - 13:48
    +1

    What's the scam here?

    "Listed in Brisbane, QLD"
    "Lives in Kolkata"

  • [Deactivated] on 06/12/2024 - 13:49

    Seems WAY too good to be true as it's at least half price of more legit looking used listings.

    The whole point of such scams is to first get you hooked with something that seems way too good to be true. That you're even contemplating it means you're the kind of target they're looking for. It's so clearly a scam, and yet you're thinking about it.

    Once you reach out, the fun and games will begin. There will be issues, it will take a while, they will say you have to make a deposit to hold it or some kind of payment before even meeting them. They will pressure you to get some kind of payment out of you before handing it over while making it seem legit. That's how these scams work. They create the sense it's a bargain then keep pushing you with the idea you're missing out on a bargain.

  • SnowDragon on 06/12/2024 - 14:54
    +2

    Here's a few things I immediately noticed in order of how sketchy it is

    • Blurry picture of the item - probably found on the internet
    • Absolute bargain price for the item + multiple extra expensive things thrown in
    • Seller has multiple iphones/ipads/goods for sale, all with one picture and only listing specifications
    • Seller is located in Kolkota
    • Location is set right in the middle of the city (not usually sus by itself, but given the profile is apparently in Kolkata, it raises flags)
    • Profile hasn't been updated since 2018 - could be a compromised account
    • No details about how to collect/pay for it, just a basic copy and paste description of the specs

    The most common thing I've seen is the first two. I've seen profiles with hundreds of listings in every city ranging from whitegoods to sheds.

  • Iwantthebestprice on 06/12/2024 - 14:58
    +1

    If it’s to good to be true it is. Don’t risk it otherwise you be down $500 and still have no iPad - what a sad situation that would be!

  • Sye on 06/12/2024 - 15:19
    +1

    Ask all the sellers "Is this still available?".
    If they respond then they're most likely scammers. If they block you that means they're most likely legit.

  • foxmulder on 06/12/2024 - 15:20
    +1

    At $500 and the person lives on Calcutta, probability of scam… 100%.

  • ihbh on 06/12/2024 - 15:27
    +1

    Seller has a number of shiny things for sale and has sold none.

    Be their first victim customer and report back.

  • BillybobBarmcake on 06/12/2024 - 16:40

    There's zero chance I would have actually gone for this one, it's way too obvious a scam. But it makes me worry about FB Marketplace in general- I only had a quick look but it seemed half of them had a whiff of scam about them.

    Is Ebay or Gumtree any better?

    • MilkDrinker on 06/12/2024 - 16:50
      +1

      Ebay generally better got a reasonably good buyer guarantee, gumtree is now a low class marketplace.

      I consider myself a reasonably well experienced marketplace and I got scammed buying a regular ipad for $100 cheaper than retail, it was set to us in settings and once I changed it to aus it locked itself and said return to a local primary school. One police report later and 12 months later and I'm out of luck and the policeman has not contacted me.

  • brendanm on 06/12/2024 - 17:13

    Mate, it's literally an Indian scammer, they even have it in their profile.

    Just buy it from anywhere that isn't marketplace, toi shouldn't be buying from there.

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