Too good to be true?

[old and tired]

Report that ad as a scam before someone falls for it....

 

[Midniteoyl]

Most of Marketplace is 'first-come, face-to-face' transactions. If someone asks for a deposit or wire transfer before I can even come look at it, it is a scam. Period.

 

[rontaki]

I have reported many a false ad in FBM, they never do anything about the ads.I gave up trying or caring. I still browse FB Marketplace, with no expectations. Most of the ads seem to be written by cretins.

Having spewed that, yes, do report that ad. Who knows, maybe FB will remove it, but if you hold your breath you will asphyxiate. Or at least turn a festive shade of purple.

 

[4570Man]

A 40 retails for like $70,000 and it’s probably worth $50,000 in that condition. Do you actually think they’re selling it for $15,000? Let’s be real here.

 

[bdhsfz6]

I've bought & sold quite a bit of farm equipment on FBM and every transaction has been face to face in person. I always take cell phone pics of vehicles, license plates, drivers licenses and the people involved. I would NEVER deal over the phone or the internet. These ads are almost always a scam. Deal there at your own peril!

 

[dougtrr2]

One easy way to find out is to try to arrange to see it. Regardless of where they say it is, claim you have a friend in that city that can be there in 10 minutes. Watch the backpedaling excuses start.

Doug in SW IA

 

[dodge man]

How can you see it person when it’s in a storage container ready for shipment.

 

[RjCorazza]

Didn't pan out for this particular excavator, but doing a reverse image search is usually very revealing of a scam.
The below result shows the same excavator (based on boulder in photo), one from a known reputable dealer and the other being sold for $13k.

 

[Barnowl]

Please comment only if you’ve had direct experience with this type of Facebook marketplace ad. They say that their prices are low because they are brokering repo machines. Of course, they want a wire transfer.
View attachment 4307487

Simple explanation why their explanation of low prices is a pile of BS. Banks repo cars all the time. I used to buy at these auctions, it’s always full of dealers (and retail buyers when allowed) and a bank will quickly get the wholesale value of the car. Unless no one wants an excavator anymore, the bank would do the same with construction equipment, and that auction would be full of people like us that would love to buy that machine at wholesale value.

 

[kenlip]

There was, and might still be, a 'company' in Adelaide, Australia that ran similar bargain ads. They cited similar reasons for their ability to sell so cheaply. They even offered free deliver interstate. Similar M.O. - need payment in advance, needed a copy of buyer's drivers licence, etc. They 'highjacked' a legitimate car repairer's name, company registration number, etc. They also started a similar operation under a different name. They are absolute scammers!