I thought I was smarter than this. Sharing because I've seen the same scammer in other cities in the last hour and don't want others to fall prey to it. I've also been flagging on FBM.
Pattern:
- Seller with lots of MCM items on FBM. Broyhill, American of Martinsville, etc.
- Some prices were a bit low, but most were pretty standard market prices for the items they had. They were not-too-good-to-be-true prices, which I would have seen as a red flag.
- Listings are super detailed with measurements and lots of photos. No broken English. Detailed instructions about the item and how to pick-up.
- Most photos have an ugly grey and white geometric rug pattern. Some are taken outside a house. Some are taken in what looks like a storefront. 90% have the ugly grey geometric rug.
- Listings had been on there for 7 weeks. Shop had not been flagged or taken down in that time.
- Several other listings they had were marked as SOLD.
- Items are listed as a modern metropolitan area but in reality they are 2 hours away. You'll only find that when you chat with them. They'll get snarky and tell you that it is considered part of the metro area.
- Pickup is only allowed from 7-8pm Sundays because they run a family restaurant. This is in the listing. They are trying to start a family furniture business.
- No worries though...they deliver to your major metropolitan area for $25 an item. I told them this seemed low and they said that they have a great delivery company that does a lot of bulk runs.
- FB profile was a senior who had few friends, but had been on FBM for over a year. I see the same exact thing in their Atlanta and Charlotte, NC posts.
- Very communicative on FBM.
- Once you say you are ready to purchase they tell you to contact their daughter who keeps the books. She will take down your info and send you an invoice. I sent her my phone number and address. The invoice I received looked legit for a small family business. Even had taxes for the item. They had a business logo and address. I now realize this is the house of someone they likely do not know.
- You pay, they tell you your order is complete and delivery is on the way, and then they block you and disappear.
I felt very silly contacting my bank because in hindsight I knew it was a red flag that I had to contact someone else to pay, but the family business story seemed plausible. And the invoice gave me more trust to send the payment.
Sharing to help keep someone else from falling prey to the same scam.