One of the best things about the online community is that it's never been easier to purchase or sell items. Marketplaces like Mercari, eBay, Facebook marketplace, and Etsy have changed the lives of millions of buyers and sellers around the world. While these platforms are legit, scammers also abuse them to make a quick buck. Unfortunately, Mercari is a platform where scams may happen if you're not careful.
Scams happen on Mercari because there isn't much moderation. The best way to avoid them is to check user reviews of sellers and buyers. Otherwise, you'll never know how trustworthy someone is. Some of the most common scams on Mercari include getting fake items, like a rip-off Gucci bag, or having something completely different arrive at your door.
The good news is that these scams can be avoided when you're careful. We'll show you what to look out for and how to avoid scams on Mercari. Read on to learn more below.
What is Mercari?
Mercari is a Japanese e-commerce company that began in 2013 and was founded by Shintaro Yamada, Ryo Ishizuka, and Tommy Tomishima. Today, Mercari is Japan's largest marketplace that's driven by community members. In fact, billions worth of transactions happen every month in Japan alone, and the app has been downloaded more than 10 million times.
Mercari is also an international company. It has locations in the United States and the United Kingdom and allows users to buy and sell in these regions. Therefore, it's quickly becoming one of the largest community-driven marketplaces in the world.
Is Mercari a Legitimate Platform?
Mercari is a legitimate platform. There are several reasons to use Mercari and buyers and sellers usually leave positive reviews. Security measures are also taken by the platform to ensure that people have a positive shopping experience.
While the website is legitimate, that doesn't mean it's perfect. Like other online marketplaces, it's possible to get scammed if you're not careful. The company does have a few measures to help buyers and sellers who get scammed, so you're not on your own.
What are the Common Mercari Scams?
People use Mercari to scam other users out of money. This is an unfortunate reality that occurs in almost every major community-driven marketplace. One of the best ways to avoid scams on the platform is to know what common Mercari scams look like. We'll take you through some popular methods users use to scam others.
Taking the Sale Elsewhere
Mercari has specific measures in place to ensure that people buy and sell on the platform. Therefore, it's always best to use the tools Mercari gives you to buy or sell something. When people want to take the transaction off the platform, this is a big red flag. Taking the transaction off the platform prevents Mercari from protecting you in the event of a scam.
Sellers Lying about the Condition of a Product
Mercari is a good platform because you don't have to buy everything new. There are plenty of used items on the platform that you can purchase for a discounted price. That said, some of the items are in poor condition when the seller says they're in good condition.
To avoid this type of scam it's best to buy from featured sellers. Additionally, never purchase something like a Gucci bag for $20 because there's a good chance that it's a knockoff or in bad condition.
Sellers Changing the Address
Sellers will change the address of an order to a random location in your area to get around the 3-day return window. While it's a less common scam, changing the address helps sellers get away with sending you garbage. To avoid this scam, keep an eye on the address when you buy a product from Mercari. Catching this early will help you get a refund.
Buyers Claiming Damage
Damage is a way that buyers will scam sellers on the platform. Buyers will claim that a product arrived in bad condition to get a refund. To avoid this scam, make sure you take good pictures of the product and take notes of its condition before you sell it. Failing to do so leaves you more vulnerable to these types of scams.
How to Avoid Mercari Scams?
Avoiding scams is not impossible on Mercari as long as you're careful. The best way to avoid scams is to purchase from verified sellers or sell to buyers who have positive reviews but there are other methods you can use for extra protection. These methods include public records search tools and avoiding new accounts.
Read Seller and Buyer Reviews
The best way to stay safe on Mercari is to read the reviews that a seller or buyer has. People are rated based on their ability to complete orders, the quality of orders, and their customer service. To avoid most Mercari scams, use reviews to determine if the buyer or seller is high in quality. This won't work in every situation but it's an excellent way to stay safe on the platform.
Run a Search on the User
Users on Mercari may include some information about themselves. You may find their full name, email address, or even their phone number. Once you have this information you can learn a lot about them when you run a search on websites like Information.com.
Information.com has this criminal history search that helps you verify someone's identity. This tool is perfect to verify the identity of sellers or buyers who don't have a lot of reviews. All you have to do is enter their information into the tool, click "Search," and open their full report.
When you open the report you'll learn the following:
● Full name
● Email addresses
● Social media accounts
● Address
● Criminal records
● Misdemeanors
● Sex offender status
● Phone number
● Dating profiles
Aside from this information, you'll find anything else that's public record. Learning this information will give you a good idea of whether or not they're legitimate. Plus, you'll know if they're keeping their identity secret for nefarious purposes.
Never Get Scammed Again
Mercari is a great platform for people who live in the U.S., U.K., and Japan. However, like eBay and Facebook Marketplace, scams are possible and happen more than you think. The good news is that you can be prepared to avoid these scams when you only buy from high-rated sellers.
Plus, running a background check on a seller can help you know if they are who they say they are. Using every tool at your disposal will help you get the item you're looking for without the risk of being scammed.
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