A Nigerian Tech Creator named @missTechy recently shared her personal experiences and research about detecting fake Instagram vendors. She encountered four fake vendors in just one week and learned how to identify them.
Here are some warning signs to remember when shopping online:
1. Username Changes: @missTechy noticed something fishy about a particular Instagram seller she wanted to buy from. This seller had changed their Instagram username 23 times! That’s a big warning sign, and you should avoid such vendors. To see how many times a seller changed their username, visit their profile page, click on the three dots at the top right, select “About,” and check the list of former usernames.
2. Verify physical Address: During her chats with a second scammer, @missTechy got an address. She decided to be smart and checked it on Google Maps with street view. Guess what?
There was no actual store at that address, even though it was supposed to be a furniture store. She then did a quick Google search and found out that the same address had been linked to job scams before.
So, make sure to verify addresses, especially if the seller doesn’t have a real store.
3. Insist on Video Call: If a business doesn’t have a physical store, ask for a live video call before buying something expensive.
For instance, @missTechy dealt with a scammer who avoided video calls and just sent a picture of the furniture.
Cleverly, she used Google Lens to check the picture and found out it was stolen from Facebook! If a seller says no to a video call, be cautious.
Keep asking, and if they keep refusing, it’s a sign to back away.
Remember, scammers are getting smarter every day. Stay alert and cautious. If you’ve been scammed before, you can share your experience on our Instagram page The 2us2 11 scamexpress.com MS.
You might end up helping others avoid falling into the same trap.
Source: Instagram / Nigerian Tech Creator @missTechy
