Buyer safety tips for Instagram declutter sales

Most declutter sellers are honest people clearing out homes or running small resale businesses. A few are not. These habits protect you either way.

Before you message

• Look at the account, not just the post. How long has it been posting? Do real people comment, and are there tagged posts from past buyers?
• Be wary of prices far below market. A 4K TV at a quarter of the usual price is a red flag, especially with pressure to “pay now before someone else does”.
• Reverse-search photos. Scammers reuse photos from other sellers. A quick image search can expose this.

Inspecting the item

• See it in person, in daylight. Bring someone with you and meet at the seller's stated location or a busy public place for small items.
• Power it on. TVs, fridges, ACs, laptops and phones should be tested working. For fridges, ask that it's been running before you arrive.
• Phones: check the IMEI, that iCloud / Google account is removed, battery health and Face ID / fingerprint.
• Furniture: check frames, joints, foam, drawers and for signs of termites or water damage. Measure your space and doorways first.
• Know the words. “Brand new” should mean unused. “Fairly used”, “UK used” and “tokunbo” all mean pre-owned, often imported, and still need inspecting.

Paying

• Pay after inspection where possible. Avoid sending full payment to someone you've never met.
• If you must pay a deposit, keep it small and keep screenshots of the chat and the transfer.
• Never share OTPs, card PINs or bank login details. No genuine seller needs them.
• Agree delivery costs up front. Large items often need a van and loaders, which are usually extra.

If something goes wrong

Report the account to Instagram, and to your bank immediately if you've paid. You can also report it to the Nigeria Police Force or the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC). Tell us at hello@michaeladegoke.net and we'll review the seller and pause their listings if needed.

Declutter Scout doesn't sell items or handle payments between buyers and sellers, so we can't refund or mediate transactions.