The Real Dangers of Facebook Marketplace in the Centennial State

Facebook Marketplace is a great tool to have and use. It is a great way to find some fantastic deals for what you are looking for in Colorado. It can be used to find clothes, furniture, games, computers, televisions, cars, and much more. Odds are, if you need something, someone is selling it on Marketplace. While Facebook Marketplace can be a great tool to find what you are in need of, there are also dangers in using it in Colorado. 

Facebook Marketplace in Colorado

One of the best parts about Facebook Marketplace is that the prices are typically better than you will find anywhere else. Sometimes prices are heavily discounted, sometimes they are free, and sometimes they are outrageous, in which case you skip the item. Typically, items are in good to great condition, with others being in poor condition, and depending on what you are looking for, it may not matter. My family and I have used it for years and gotten some amazing deals, and we have also made a decent amount of money on it. It is a great way to find an item you temporarily need, or clothes that your kids will outgrow, and then turn around and sell them later and break even on the deal, instead of spending full price elsewhere. Most of the time, people will meet you somewhere or come to your home, buy the item, and you only hear from them again if there is an issue or if they buy something else. Other times, things take a dark turn, and recently, my family and I found this out. 

The Dangers of Facebook Marketplace in Colorado

When you decide to sell an item on Facebook Marketplace, depending on its size, you may have the buyer come to your home. While this may not seem like a significant issue, it can become alarming. Recently, my wife and I were selling a larger item, and a man came to the door asking for my wife by name. I didn't think of it at the time, but later realized that in all the years buyers have come to the home, nobody had ever asked for her by name, but instead usually said what they were there to buy. He looked at the item, decided it wasn't what he wanted, and left. This happens, but what made this unusual was a few hours later when he texted my wife, making inappropriate comments and asking inappropriate questions. Luckily, I am friends with the sheriff and other police officers that I called about the situation, and it was dealt with accordingly. It served as a reminder to be careful when using Marketplace and to make sure to never approach a buyer or seller alone, and to be cautious when inviting anyone to your home. 

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Luckily, nothing more came of the situation, but had I not been home, it is scary to think what could have happened. If possible, make sure to always meet people in public and safe places, and to always let someone know where you are going, or take someone with you. Make sure to be safe and make good choices when using Facebook Marketplace in Colorado.