By Yunana Gladys Musa U19mm1011
A friend of mine recently tried to buy a pair of shoes from an Instagram vendor. Everything seemed normal, friendly chats, fast replies, until payment was confirmed. Then silence.
No delivery. No feedback. Just ghosted.
She later posted about it on her story, asking people to report the page. That was when I realized how common this is and how easy it is to get scammed.
Instagram is now a full-blown marketplace. People buy clothes, wigs, gadgets, everything. And while some vendors are genuine, others are fraudsters hiding behind good branding.
They post high-quality pictures, create fake reviews, and build polished pages just to look legit. But once they get your money, they vanish. No delivery. No refund.
Personally, I avoid buying from vendors I do not know. If you are not someone I trust or at least know through a mutual friend, I will not be comfortable doing business with you.
One time, I referred my sister to a vendor I found on Instagram. She bought a wig, and what arrived was pure disappointment. It looked nothing like what was posted. That experience taught me to be more wary of online vendors.
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How to Avoid Getting Scammed
Quick tips to stay safe when dealing with online vendors:
1. Avoid pages that only use personal accounts
2. Check for real reviews outside Instagram
3. Ask for a product video with your name on a paper beside it
4. If it feels off, don’t proceed
The problem is not Instagram; it is how people misuse it. If you ever get scammed, speak up about it. Post about it and always remember to report the page; you could save someone who might end up being a victim.