Planning to splurge on rare sneakers? Or thinking about a unique holiday gift? If you are buying from an Instagram seller, be careful. Over the past several months, BBB Scam Tracker has seen an uptick in reports from shoppers who paid hundreds for hard-to-find or custom sneakers, but never received what they were promised.
How the Scam Works
You are scrolling through your Instagram feed when a post or sponsored ad pops up. It’s a pair of sneakers you would love to add to your collection. Lucky you, the shoes in the photo are for sale.
The account is run by someone who collects and resells sneakers, and it seems legitimate. The seller has great photos and a lot of followers. To buy the sneakers, all you need to do is send a direct message. After some back and forth with the seller, who sends you enough pictures of the shoes to convince you they are real, you are asked to make a payment using CashApp, Venmo, or another online form of payment.
You make the payment and wait for your new sneakers to be delivered. Days turn into weeks, and the shoes never arrive. When you contact the seller, they may promise you a refund, which never materializes. One consumer reported that after several attempts to get a refund, “the merchant blocked me on social media where I originally contacted him and he also blocked my number, making me unable to call him or any [of his] associates.”
How to Avoid Social Media Sales Scams
- Research the seller. Read the comments and reviews of other consumers on the seller’s social media accounts and website, and on BBB.org. If other buyers make negative comments or report not receiving merchandise they paid for, steer clear. Review the seller’s website carefully to make sure it is secure and legitimate before making a purchase. If they say they are an authorized reseller, verify that claim.
- Use a safe payment method. Apps like Venmo, Facebook Pay, CashApp, and the like may seem like convenient ways to pay, but this kind of app was designed to allow friends, family members, and coworkers to send each other money. BBB advises against using payment apps with strangers; instead, use a credit card.
- Don’t be pressured to make a quick purchase. Many scammers try to pressure you to buy, even if the deal doesn’t quite feel right. They may claim “this is the last pair of sneakers they have in stock” or “it’s a deal that won’t last long because the sneakers are a collectible pair worth much more than the selling price.” Never purchase under pressure. Do your research first, then buy.
For More Information
For more ways to protect yourself from scams when shopping online, visit BBB.org/AvoidScams. Learn more about peer-to-peer payment platforms, such as Venmo, check out this BBB.org resource.
If you’ve been the victim of a scam, help others avoid the same by reporting your experience at BBB.org/ScamTracker.