No matter what you are looking for, the probability that you will find it on Le Bon Coin is extremely high. The classifieds site is free and hosts nearly 39 million listings for everything from furniture and clothing to jobs and pets. Anyone can place an ad in any of the 75 sections, which is a boon for many bad guys. 60 million consumers share with us a short user guide to sniff out bad things and get you out of a scam.
Call the seller
Since anyone (especially anyone) can place an ad on Le Bon Coin disclosing false information, it can sometimes be difficult to trace a seller. That's why 60 million recommends making at least one phone call to the seller or buyer to ensure the reliability of the latter and to keep a digital record of the transaction. If the latter is cautious about the idea of exchanging other than through the platform's messaging, be extra careful. Scammers don't like to leave traces, especially not a phone number …
Pay in person
The more tangible the money, the less change you have to have it stolen from you. The best way to avoid scams is still the exchange by hand. A good for money, face to face, and no digital transfer. The problem with online payments, as the magazine points out, is that you can easily be fooled by a fake interface (a fake PayPal page for example). Not to mention that payment platforms are not always very secure and it is better to avoid them like the plague on some sites. Plus, a face-to-face transaction helps ensure the product is what it sold and is as functional as advertised.
Do not send any personal documents
No identity paper or bank card number: nothing that would allow you to usurp your identity. If you want to rent a vacation home for example, a scam that has become more and more common in recent years, the seller may ask to see identity documents, tax notices, pay slips, etc. Never send these documents at the risk of seeing your identity usurped or credits opened in your name in banks for example. As much as possible, whether on Le Bon Coin or elsewhere, avoid revealing too much information about your private life.
Don't give in to pressure from sellers
A little pushy salespeople are never a good sign. 60 million tells the story of a young man who paid the price by wanting to buy a PlayStation 5 on Le Bon Coin. The seller took advantage of the fact that the console was out of stock everywhere else to put pressure on the young man and extract 850 euros from him for merchandise that would never reach him. Almost double the retail price in store. The seller asked him to pay this amount by a deposit, then a first payment, then the entire amount on the pretext that he was in a hurry and that he was in line at the relay to ship the package. Never give in to the solicitations of a seller who wants to be urgent. And if the advertisement seems legitimate to you all the same: it is better to privilege the face to face to verify that such a package exists indeed and, you understood it, to pay in person.
Do not try to reach the platform by phone
You may not know it: Le Bon Coin does not have a telephone platform. All complaints are made exclusively by email or by contact form. If you come across a number that promises to reach the site's customer service, then it is a scam. These numbers are mostly surcharged, with calls going up to $ 2 a minute for help you never get. Although poorly referenced on the Internet, these numbers can come up when they are well looked for. Be careful not to be fooled.
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