Over the past few weeks, we’ve noticed an increase in fake accounts posting equipment for sale in grounds and greenkeeping-related Facebook groups. A lot of these scams involve line markers, and it looks like they’re copying images from genuine eBay listings to make the posts look more convincing.
We’ve had several messages about this already, and from what we’ve seen, these profiles tend to follow the same pattern:
- They’ve only just joined the group.
- Their personal profiles are completely blank or barely filled out.
- They’re listing items with no clear location or pickup options.
- They push for PayPal payments and typically use friends and family instead of goods and services.
Once they’ve got the money, they disappear. If you end up buying from one of these “sellers”, you won’t get what you bought, and you won’t get a refund. You’ll be unlikely to hear from them again and will struggle to contact them.
If you’re buying anything through social media groups, especially expensive kit, we strongly advise that you do a quick profile check before sending a message. Ask yourself:
- Has this person been in the group long?
- Do they have mutual contacts or visible turf experience?
- Are they willing to show me the equipment via video call?
We’re not saying that you should never buy from people in the groups—there are plenty of genuine members selling gear second-hand, and you can get yourself a good deal—but be careful. Avoid any sellers that seem suspicious.
Lastly, if you come across a dodgy post or you’ve been scammed, please report the post to the group admin and let them know.