Is OfferUp Legit? (What to Know Before Buying Or Selling)
OfferUp seeks to change how consumers buy and sell goods. However, there is the question of safety on the app. Read on to find out more.
OfferUp is a C2C marketplace that prioritizes in-person interactions on mobile devices.
It was established as a rival to Craigslist, setting itself apart with responsive mobile apps and user profiles with ratings.
The app enables users to list products fast by taking a photo, deciding on a price, and providing a succinct description.
Potential buyers can browse a gallery of images, haggle over a price, and schedule a local or remote transaction.
Within search, browse, and category results, sellers can pay to advertise their products to show up in the top 50 featured places.
However, the question of fake sellers on the platform has caused users to doubt its authenticity.
This article will answer all the questions you have.
Is it Safe to Buy on OfferUp?
It’s secure to use OfferUp. All you need to do is use common sense.
Don’t sell extremely pricey items or conduct transactions late at night.
You should always trust your gut. Avoid meeting up for the transaction if something about a potential buyer on OfferUp seems off.
It’s less anonymous because buyers and sellers both have profile photographs and ratings (based on previous purchases and sells).
You ought to feel more secure as a buyer or a seller as a result.
Additionally, having a chat within the app is incredibly simple and convenient.
My phone number and email address are private, so please don’t share them with anyone.
How to Tell a Real Seller from Fake
1. Fake Accounts
Every fraud begins with the con artist.
Checking a seller’s past will help you avoid unpleasant situations. They should have several listings and positive reviews.
But watch out for profiles with no reviews, accounts with duplicate information, poor product photographs, or those that want to contact outside of the app.
2. Paying Outside OfferUp
Stick within the app for shipping transactions if you aren’t making a cash payment in person.
According to OfferUp, sellers may ask for gift cards, a certified check, accept payments through Venmo, PayPal, or Cash App, as well as a wire transfer using Western Union or MoneyGram.
It is much more challenging to try to recover your money using some of these methods because they are untraceable.
3. Google Voice Verification Code Scam
In this scam, a caller requests your phone number in order to send you a Google Voice verification code, simply to make sure you’re who you say you are.
Not at all. The request is probably an attempt to get you to send back the code.
In that case, the con artist can connect a Google Voice number to your personal phone.
This enables the bad guy to create fresh accounts and pose as a seller. It’s an opportunity to con fresh waves of victims.
4. Too-Good-to-Be-True Scams
The most recent, top-tier iPhone is being sold for $50. Any red flags? That’s true, most likely.
With those kinds of offers, con artists could demand wire transfers of funds before delivering a product.
You won’t actually receive the item you believed you had purchased; instead, the con artist will take the money you paid for it.
How to Become a Seller on OfferUp
You can follow these steps to start selling:
Create a profile on OfferUp and specify your location: This is required by OfferUp in order to display the location of your sale. Others won’t be able to see your precise position.
Click the camera-icon-shaped “Post” button to share: This button is located in the app’s bottom center.
Take or choose pictures of the object you want to display: buyers can see what they are actually purchasing through images.
Make sure your shot clearly and unclutteredly depicts the object.
Name your document: Keep the headline succinct and to the point; you can add more information afterward.
Choose a category for your item, then describe it along with its state: For this phase, the app provides you with a selection of possibilities.
Numerous categories are available for you to select from. The condition selection is a little more constrained, but you can explain this information in the following step.
Include details in your description of your item: Include any further information about your item, such as its condition or whether you’re selling it with accessories.
Decide on a price: You have the option of setting a hard price or allowing them to bargain with you. This section can be found under the “Firm on price” option.
Select a delivery strategy: You can decide to sell your goods solely locally or send them across the country.
More people will notice your post thanks to shipping. There is a service charge, which is a drawback.
A charge can be paid to increase your listing’s visibility if you’re eager to sell your item, but there’s still no guarantee that it will.
What Can You Sell on OfferUp?
Have you ever wondered which item will sell on OfferUp the best?
The first step is to know what goods and items you can sell on OfferUp.
Therefore, let’s begin by taking a look at some of the top items to sell on OfferUp.
Clothing
Jewelry
Household Items and home decor
Power tools
Gardening Equipment
Sports Equipment
Toys [Kids stuff]
Pet supplies
Wedding items
Baby gear
What to Do if You’ve Been Scammed
If you’ve been scammed on OfferUp, here are a few steps you can take:
Any shipping purchase can be claimed by the buyer, but OfferUp advises users to first ask for a refund. This might imply a quicker resolution to your problem if you’re lucky.
By clicking on the three dots in the top right corner of the poster’s profile and selecting “Report” for iOS or “Flag” for Android, you can anonymously report prohibited items, offensive behavior, or suspicious activity.
On the following screen, choose a justification or prohibit the user. Select “Submit report.”
Of course, you can also inform the police about criminal activities.
They’ll require information, including the user profile of the person you were chatting with.
OfferUp advises that after filing a report, you should encourage the investigating officer to get in touch with OfferUp and offer a case number or event ID so the business can cooperate with the investigator.
Can You Get a Refund if Scammed?
Here are some actions you can do if OfferUp has been used to defraud you: Any shipping purchase can be reclaimed by the buyer, but OfferUp advises users to first ask for a refund.
This might imply a quicker resolution to your problem if you’re lucky.
How to Avoid Getting Scammed
Never communicate with a buyer or seller outside of the app.
If someone asks for your cell phone number to send you a “verification link,” don’t do it. OfferUp does not use verification codes to verify posts.
Beware of any deal that is too good to be true.
Only Purchase Local Items
Research the Seller Before Buying From Them
Never provide any personal information about yourself.
Conclusion
Buying and selling on OfferUp app is easy.
You just need to thread with caution to avoid OfferUp scams. There are good eggs and there are bad eggs as well.
There are also a number of things to choose from if you want to sell items.
And, yes, a refund is also possible. So, OfferUp is legit.
CSN Team.