A businessman who runs one of the UK’s leading appliance reuse networks has called for more to be done to protect people buying electrical goods online this Christmas.
James Farmer, director of The Appliance Recycling Group, based in Tipton, in the West Midlands, said vulnerable people looking for low-price second-hand goods and appliances amid the cost-of-living crisis were being ripped off and left out of pocket by unscrupulous traders.
“Appliance poverty is a real issue, and the cost-of-living crisis means people are being forced to find new ways to save money,” he said. “When their washing machine or fridge breaks, they have no choice but to look for a quick and cheap replacement online.
“But they are in a vulnerable position. Scammers posing as individuals may take cash and leave them with a faulty appliance or one that doesn’t work at all, which makes a bad thing worse.
“Scammers are everywhere, especially at this time of year, and people should take extra care when they are looking to buy second-hand goods online. The companies that run these online buying and selling sites should also take more care to protect those involved.”
James said sites like eBay had systems in place to protect buyers, but others were not so robust.
Facebook Marketplace in particular is a huge draw for people looking for bargains. It does have measures in place for users to report scammers and fraudulent posts, but people are…
