Phones, laptops and other electronics are some of the fastest-moving items in any Ghanaian market, online or off. That speed attracts fraudsters too. Most scams that hit electronics sellers follow a handful of familiar patterns, and once you know them they are easy to shut down. This guide covers the ones to watch for and the habits that keep you, your stock and your money safe.
Know exactly what you are selling
Buyers who are serious will ask about the device’s identity and condition. Have the answers ready before you list:
- IMEI and serial number. Dial
*#06#on the phone to show its IMEI, and check that it matches the box and the phone’s settings. A mismatch makes buyers nervous, and it should make you nervous too if you bought the phone second-hand. - Account locks. Sign out of iCloud (Find My) on iPhones and remove the Google account on Android phones before you hand them over. A phone still tied to your account cannot be set up by the new owner, and that will bring them straight back to you.
- Honest condition notes. Battery health, screen marks, repairs and replaced parts. Saying it upfront prevents disputes after the sale.
The Mobile Money tricks to watch for
Most losses happen at the payment stage, not the meeting.
- Fake “payment received” messages. A text that looks like a MoMo confirmation is not proof of payment. Before you release an item, check your balance in your network’s official app or by dialling your Mobile Money short code yourself.
- “I sent it by mistake, please reverse.” If someone says they sent you too much or sent money by accident, do not send anything back yourself. Ask them to contact their network to reverse it. Genuine mistakes are fixed that way; scams are not.
- Never share codes or your PIN. No buyer, and no one claiming to be from FeelyFeely or your network, needs your Mobile Money PIN or a one-time code sent to your phone.
- Payment before delivery, delivery before payment. Agree upfront which happens first. For in-person sales, the safest rule is simple: the item changes hands once the money is confirmed in your wallet.
Meeting buyers safely
- Meet in a busy public place during the day: a mall, a bank’s banking hall or a well-known shop front.
- Take someone with you for high-value items, and tell someone else where you are going.
- Bring only the item being sold, not your other stock.
- Let the buyer test the device in front of you, but keep hold of the box and accessories until payment is confirmed.
Red flags in messages
- A buyer who agrees to your price instantly without asking a single question about the device.
- Pressure to move the conversation off the platform straight away, or to ship before payment “because they are travelling”.
- Offers to pay more than you asked, or to send a “courier” to collect.
- Requests for photos of your ID or for verification codes “to confirm you are real”.
How FeelyFeely helps
Verified sellers carry a badge on their profile and listings, so buyers can see they are dealing with a real person or registered business, and verified buyers give you the same reassurance. If you are not verified yet, start from your profile on feelyfeely.com. If a buyer behaves suspiciously, stop the conversation and tell our support team so we can look into the account.
A few minutes of care on each sale protects your money and your reputation, and a good reputation is what brings buyers back.
