Have you ever sent money to social media vendors only for them to vanish into thin air? No response, no product, no refund—just a blocked account and a painful lesson?
Sadly, this is happening every day in Nigeria.
Social media is now flooded with fake vendors who disguise themselves as genuine sellers, waiting for unsuspecting buyers to fall into their trap. They look convincing, they sound legit, and before you know it, your hard-earned money is gone.
The worst part? These scammers are getting smarter! One wrong move, and you could lose your money in seconds.
But don’t worry—I’m about to share 5 powerful tips to help you spot fake vendors and protect yourself from online scams.
Read till the end, and don’t forget to share this with your friends!
Why Should You Care About These Tips?
Because online shopping is the future! And social media vendors make it all better by bringing their products right where we are chilling and having fun
In Nigeria, social media vendors have changed the way we shop. They introduce us to products we never even knew existed—products that make our lives easier, healthier, and more stylish.
Let’s be honest, even if you decide to search the items you see on social media in your local market, 70% of the time, you won’t find them. And when you do, the prices are usually much higher than what social media vendors are selling.
That’s why more Nigerians are choosing to shop online. But to shop safely, you need to know the warning signs of a fake social media vendor.
Here are powerful tips to help you spot vendors on any social media platform
1. Check The Profiles Of Social Media Vendors for Clues
Before you send money to any vendor, take a few minutes to investigate their profile. You’ll be surprised at what you can uncover!
A good social media vendor profile should look like the one above
a. Check Their Profile Activities
- Do they have posts on their profile/page?
- What kind of things do they post?
- How do people engage with their posts?
- Are there comments, and what are people saying?
Red flag: If the page has little to no activity, proceed with caution.
b. Check How Old the Profile Is
Check for these:
- How long has this page existed? Check the date of their first post.
- If the profile is too new and has only a few posts, better not send them money.
- Do they have followers? Who are these followers? Fake social media vendors sometimes buy fake followers to look trustworthy.
c. Check Who Owns the Profile
Look out for these;
- Is there a real name or face attached to the account?
- How often does the vendor show their own face in their posts or videos?
- Are they only using random images downloaded from Google?
If something feels off, trust your gut and walk away
2. Verify Social Media Vendors Contact Information
Check for the the following;
a. Do They Have a Phone Number?
- Copy the number and check it on Truecaller app—who does it belong to?
- Google the number—has it been used on any other social post and been reported for scams before?
b. Do They Have a WhatsApp Link?
- If they don’t display a phone number but have a WhatsApp link, click on it.
- Once you get their WhatsApp, copy the number, and repeat the Truecaller and Google search procedure.
If the information you got on the number doesn’t match the business name or name of the person associated with the profile, the vendor is suspicious, and please don’t send them money.
3. Look for Real Reviews From Social Media Vendors(Not Fake Screenshots!)
One of the best ways to know if a vendor is genuine is through customer reviews. But be careful—scammers know how to fake chat screenshots!
How to Spot Real Reviews:
- ✅ Look for video reviews where customers show their faces and the product they are reviewing.
- ✅ Check for tagged customer reviews (real people, not bots).
- ❌ Avoid profiles and pages that only post anonymous chat screenshots—those are too easy to fake.
Stay Safe While Dealing With Social Media Vendors
Online shopping is amazing, but only if you do it safely. Scammers are always looking for their next victim, but with these tips, you won’t be one of them!
- 👉 Double-check profiles before making payments.
- 👉 Verify contact details before trusting a vendor.
- 👉 Look for real customer reviews, not fake chats.
- 👉 Listen to your instincts—if something feels fishy, don’t risk it!
Now that you know how to shop safely online, share this with your friends! You might just save someone from being scammed.
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