Expert Reveals 5 Tips to Avoid Scams on Preowned Platforms

An expert has offered advice to minimise the risk of falling prey to online shopping scams, alongside new data pinpointing the most active second-hand shopping areas.

The data was analysed by QR Code Generator examining Google searches from the past year for terms such as ‘online thrift store’, ‘second-hand clothes’, and ‘sustainable fashion’, scaled per 100k searches.

With many of us looking to build up our summer wardrobe on a budget and hoping to ditch fast fashion, more consumers are turning to second-hand online retailers such as Depop and Vinted over high-street stores.   

However, as second-hand online marketplaces have become more popular, as have second-hand scams. Some users have experienced issues with packages never being shipped, or arriving far more damaged than what was pictured.  

Others have found themselves in possession of cheap knock-offs rather than designer pieces, or have been tricked into giving away their personal details, losing huge sums of money.  

It turns out that shoppers in Blackpool are the most interested in purchasing second-hand clothing online, reporting an average of 330.67 monthly Google searches per 100k searches – 40% above the national average (235.72 per 100k).   

This makes Blackpool residents the most vulnerable to online second-hand shopping scams, closely followed by the town of Mansfield, who made an average of 310.27 monthly searches per 100k.    

Preston is third, with 310.03 monthly Google searches per 100k, closely followed by Peterborough at 305.51 searches, and Blackburn at 304.13.   

The UK areas most likely to buy second-hand clothes online are…

   

	Area	Average Monthly Google Searches per 100k Searches
1	Blackpool	330.67
2	Mansfield	310.27
3	Preston	310.03
4	Peterborough	305.51
5	Blackburn	304.13
6	Bradford	299.97
7	St Helens	295.90
8	Swansea	292.55
9	Huddersfield	289.79
10	Walsall	284.60

   

On the other end of the scale, the city with the lowest interest in pre-loved clothing is Oxford, with just 69.01 searches per 100k– more than one-quarter (29%) lower than the national average.    

Marc Porcar, CEO of QR Code Generator, offers advice for online shoppers and sellers on how to spot and avoid scams, predicting these will surge given an increase in demand. He says: “Second-hand shopping is a great way to introduce new items to your summer wardrobe in a budget-friendly way.    

“While the continuing rise in popularity of sites like Depop and Vinted indicates consumers are thinking more carefully about their environmental impact, it also suggests that saving money is a priority – and unfortunately, some scammers will look to take advantage of online shoppers seeking a bargain.

“Follow these tips to avoid being made a victim of a second-hand online shopping scam this summer – and make sure to remain vigilant whenever you purchase an item online.”  

  

1. Film your boxing/unboxing   

For sellers and shoppers alike, a common problem with second-hand shopping is quality assurance. Often, scammers will report that a product has arrived damaged, or that the box was empty and will request a refund. Make sure you take plenty of photos of the item before you ship it off, and even film yourself packaging the product to keep as evidence. For buyers, to prove the product arrived damaged, film yourself unwrapping the item so that any issues are immediately evident.    

   

2. Keep your personal details private   

You should never give a seller any of your personal information, including your email address, bank details and social media accounts. Scammers often pretend that the platform requires a customer’s email address or bank card information to verify a purchase, but this isn’t true and is often against resale sites’ terms of use. Similarly, SMS messages or emails asking for your login details, personal information, or containing links to sites are usually fraudulent and should be ignored.    

   

3. Never make a transaction outside the platform   

To circumvent additional costs like buyer protection some traders may ask for payment outside of the app. Buying outside of the platform means both the seller and the buyer will not have access to protection in case something goes wrong with the sale. These protection fees grant you the right to an investigation and refund if the exchange goes awry, so only clicking the ‘Buy Now’ button on the resale platform ensures that your purchase is covered.   

   

4. Check out the profile reviews   

Fake sellers will often pretend that they are new to the platform, and therefore have not yet made a sale. When Depop and Vinted detect fraudulent activity, such as accounts reported for the above scams, they will deactivate the profile, leaving scam users to simply create a new one. Similarly, eBay listings with a short date reduce a scammer’s chance of getting caught. It is important to check the reviews for your buyer or seller, and if there are none, check out their profile to judge their legitimacy.   

   

5. Authenticate big ticket items   

If you’re looking to buy a vintage or designer piece worth £100 or more, you’ll want to make sure that your item is legitimate. Vinted offers an Item Verification service for a fee of £10 and will check out your purchase to make sure it’s authentic before it’s shipped. While this service isn’t available on all second-hand platforms, there are additional ways to prove legitimacy such as an authenticity card, which you can ask to see alongside a receipt. Be wary of ‘too good to be true’ prices on high-end items.  

  

Article courtesy of QRFY.com