StuckintheMudd
Junior Member
Hey guys, so I was doing some shopping for parts across Offer Up, Craigslist, eBay, & Facebook Marketplace and thought I'd try using our fellow Instagram Community to search for deals on used Toyota/4Runner parts. It can definitely be a good place to look, but just wanted to share some accounts out there to stay away from and what red flags to look out for. It's easy to fake Instagram followers nowadays, so don't think that just because they have more than 1,000 followers that that means they are trustworthy and proven.
The other main red flag comes once you open up communication about a part of interest. If they are unable to provide you with more information/details and even proof that they posses this actual part (with video proof or more photos) then they are likely scamming. I've asked for more photos before (because I was skeptical) and all they did was send me the same photo or unclear other photos in reduced quality as if I was talking to someone in a third world county or with a flip phone.
ALSO, if they ask for ZELLE as payment, and it's their only accepted form of payment - STAY AWAY.
These social media pages will change their usernames and and create new accounts over and over, they spend their time adding Toyota owners as friends on Instagram in hopes you'll reach out about a part. A lot of times they are successful with someone who is unfamiliar with these shady games. Hope this helps keep others aware and saves someone from throwing away a few hundred, or thousands of dollars.
The other main red flag comes once you open up communication about a part of interest. If they are unable to provide you with more information/details and even proof that they posses this actual part (with video proof or more photos) then they are likely scamming. I've asked for more photos before (because I was skeptical) and all they did was send me the same photo or unclear other photos in reduced quality as if I was talking to someone in a third world county or with a flip phone.
ALSO, if they ask for ZELLE as payment, and it's their only accepted form of payment - STAY AWAY.
These social media pages will change their usernames and and create new accounts over and over, they spend their time adding Toyota owners as friends on Instagram in hopes you'll reach out about a part. A lot of times they are successful with someone who is unfamiliar with these shady games. Hope this helps keep others aware and saves someone from throwing away a few hundred, or thousands of dollars.
