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I see it happen time and time again. Every day, another person gets scammed buying sneakers on Instagram. When a sneaker is in high demand and short supply, dishonest sellers on social media are quick to take advantage. In this article, we figure out what to look for to avoid these scams!
Buying Sneakers On Instagram
It is overall not safe to buy sneakers from individual resellers on Instagram. With proper precautions, the odds of being scammed can be reduced, but not eliminated completely.
There are two main ways a scammer can rip you off on social media. They either take your money and never send the sneakers, or sell you an “authentic” pair that turns out to be fake. Remember, if you are not buying from an authorized retailer, you are running a risk.
How To Know If A Shoe Seller Is Legit On Instagram
If a shoe seller is an authorized retailer, they are legit. Otherwise, it’s impossible to know for sure; as any other type of seller presents a risk.
Air Jordan 1s are one of the most faked/
scammed sneakers out there due to the
popularity of the model.
Shop AJ1s: eBay
If you are thinking of buying a pair of sneakers off of someone you don’t know on social media, think again. Point blank: I would recommend to never buy a sneaker from an individual seller on Instagram, unless you know them. Even then, take proper precautions, especially if you only know the person online and not in real life.
When a hype sneaker drops, there is typically a flood of resellers claiming to have legitimate pairs. For example, this happens with almost every pair of Air Jordan 1s that releases. Avoid sneaker resellers on Instagram unless you are certain about their reputation. Follower count is irrelevant when attempting to determine if a seller is legitimate or not.
The only way to know if a seller is legit is if they are an authorized retailer. Otherwise, the best you can do is research the seller and look for any red flags.
How To Get Shoes Without Being Scammed
Buy from an authorized retailer, or failing that, a third-party aftermarket site like eBay. If purchasing from an individual, review previous feedback, listings and website (if available), and only use payment methods with buyer protection.
One of the most heavily faked dunks
when they first came out
Shop SB Dunks: eBay
The sneaker game relies heavily on reputation. If you are considering buying a pair of kicks from an online reseller, research that specific seller in depth. Ask around online for other people’s experiences with that seller. If they have other transactions, go through them and look for any red flags. Check if they have an eBay account and go through their feedback there. At the slightest inkling of anything suspect, run the other way!
For example, I have nearly 100% positive eBay feedback, a podcast and this website. I’m never selling mass amounts of popular or hype sneakers, just old pairs from my collection on a one-by-one basis. A purchase from someone like me with an established reputation would be a safer look than a random seller in IG comments. Frankly, I have a lot to lose if my reputation were to be tarnished!
If a seller has an online store, check out the store and what types of sneakers they sell. Look for a physical business address if available. Ask around for any feedback from others that have bought from that site. The site should be secure, and if they state they are an authorized reseller, do your best to verify this.
It’s one thing if someone is selling a personal pair from their collection. But a reseller claiming to have access to limited pairs is suspect, particularly on sites like Instagram. If you decide to make a purchase, do not use apps like Zelle where you have no way of getting your money back if scammed. Instead use Paypal invoice, or transact through eBay. Make sure you have some kind of buyer protection, and never give your credit or debit card info to someone you just met on social media!
How To Identify A Scammer
Unscrupulous Sneaker resellers will have too-good-to-be-true prices and/or availability on limited sneakers. If they contact you without you requesting it first, this is also suspect.
Beware of resellers scamming on Nike dunks,
or any other popular models out there.
Shop Dunks: eBay
Popular models, for example Dunks and SB Dunks, will almost always have replicas created by unauthorized manufacturers in order to capitalize on demand. Scammers on IG trying to pass off fake sneakers as legitimate will typically offer them at attractive prices below market value. They also usually claim to have lots in stock. If it’s too good to be true, it probably is!
Sometimes these types of sellers will have an online store. They aren’t actually directly selling the sneakers on Instagram, so it’s legit right? The answer: not really. Remember, before social media, one of the main ways to get burned with a fake was buying from a disreputable sneaker site. There are still tons of these around, moving replicas to unsuspecting buyers.
Scammers will also try to transact in a way that limits a buyer’s ability to get their money back in case of fraud. If the seller wants to do the transaction via Paypal gift, Zelle or similar, avoid this unless you know them personally. Remember, it is up to you to determine what is safe and what isn’t. If anything seems alarming about the purchase, don’t go through with it.
If a reseller reaches out via DM or in Instagram comments instead of you reaching out to them, avoid them. Unsolicited sales are not only intrusive and obnoxious, they are highly suspect!
Verdict On Resellers Selling Sneakers On Instagram: AVOID
There are plenty of ways to get sneakers without getting scammed these days. With third-party aftermarket sites that have built-in legit checking, and several authorized retailers online, there is no reason to get burned by a shady reseller on Instagram.
If you want to try your luck to save a few bucks on a limited pair by transacting with an unknown seller, understand you are taking a risk. At a minimum, do your due diligence to research the seller and use purchase methods that offer buyer protection.