How to know if a buying and selling platform is safe (and why WhatsApp matters)

I was once offered an apartment in Laureles at an impossible price. The seller would reply quickly, send pretty photos, and only asked for a deposit to "reserve" it before the visit. Of course: when I asked to visit before paying, they disappeared. Their Facebook account was two weeks old and had three generic profile pictures.

That type of scam works because platforms without verification don't know who you are. You can create a fake account in ten minutes, post twenty misleading ads, and disappear before anyone reports you. There is no real number, no identity, no consequences. If you want to see real options right now, you can see apartments and houses on Colombia Move — posting is completely free.

The difference between that type of platform and one that requires verification via WhatsApp or Telegram is huge. Not because the technology is magical, but because in Colombia, your phone number IS your real identity.

In Colombia, your WhatsApp number is more than just a phone number.

Most Colombian WhatsApp accounts are linked to a local mobile line — and since 2016, registering a SIM in Colombia requires showing a national ID or foreign ID. It isn't foolproof, but it means there is a real identity behind the number in most cases.

That doesn't happen with an email address. You can create ten Gmail accounts in ten minutes without showing any documents. That is why platforms that use email as the only registration method have a structural problem: they don't know if you are real.

When a marketplace platform uses WhatsApp or Telegram to verify you — it sends a code to the number to confirm that the phone is in your possession — it is tying your account to a real number. And in Colombia, that number has a physical identity behind it.

What happens when a platform doesn't verify anything

Facebook Marketplace is the clearest example. Nobody asks you for ID to post. Any Facebook account, regardless of whether it is a day or ten years old, can post an apartment, a car, or a service.

The result is a market full of prices that are "too good to be true" that capture your attention and make you lower your guard, sellers who ask for a deposit before any physical visit, photos copied from Finca Raíz or MercadoLibre to make the post more credible, and accounts that disappear as soon as the first complaint arrives.

Careful: this doesn't mean everything on Facebook is a scam. There are completely legitimate sellers. The problem is that you cannot know it easily because the platform doesn't give you reliable signals of identity. For additional strategies, read how to avoid scams when buying on Facebook Marketplace in Colombia.

How WhatsApp verification works in practice

The process is simple: when someone creates an account on Colombia Move, the platform sends a verification code to the WhatsApp or Telegram number they registered. Without that code, there is no account. Without an account, there is no ad.

That seems small, but it has an important practical effect: the scammer who wants to create ten fake accounts needs ten different phone numbers, all verified. That has a real cost — SIM cards, time, and the possibility that each number is traceable. It is not impossible, but it raises the bar significantly.

Additionally, when you report an account on Colombia Move, there is a real phone number attached. That facilitates blocking, reporting, and — if it becomes necessary — any legal action.

What this means if you are a buyer

When you see an ad on Colombia Move and decide to contact the seller, you already know that person went through a real number verification. It doesn't guarantee the seller is perfect — no platform can do that — but it does mean you aren't chatting with a ghost.

Some practical steps you should still take:

• Check the seller's profile: active time on the platform, other posted ads.
• For high-value goods (car, apartment, motorcycle), insist on an in-person visit before any payment.
• Use the "Make an offer" option within the platform instead of agreeing on prices via external chat.
• If the seller asks to pay outside the platform or creates extreme urgency, stop.
• A seller with a store created on Colombia Move and multiple active ads is a positive sign.

What this means if you are a seller

If you sell on Colombia Move, WhatsApp verification also benefits you directly. When buyers arrive at your profile, they know you are a verified user — not an anonymous profile that appeared out of thin air.

Furthermore, if you have a store created on Colombia Move, your public profile shows all your active ads. Someone who has several ads and months on the platform inspires more trust than an account created three days ago with a single ad at a gift price. Visit colombiamove.com/publicar to post for free.

Warning signs that still apply even on verified platforms

No platform is proof against all risks. Stay sharp with these signs even if you are on Colombia Move:

• Price far below market. An apartment in El Poblado at half price with no explanation is not a bargain — it is a hook.
• Artificial urgency. "I have three interested parties, if you don't pay today you'll lose it" is a classic tactic.
• Mandatory deposit before visit. For cars, farms, or apartments, any request for an advance payment before a physical visit is a red flag.
• Refusal to do a video call. For high-value goods, a legitimate seller has no problem showing what they are selling live.
• Inconsistent photos or with watermarks from other platforms. Images copied from Finca Raíz or MercadoLibre usually have weird metadata or visible watermarks.

If they ask for an advance payment with urgency, stop. Read how to sell your car without scammers to see how scammers operate from the other side — it helps you recognize them when they approach you as a buyer.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does Colombia Move verify ID cards in addition to WhatsApp?

Not currently. The platform verifies the phone number as a mandatory step — that links every account to a real number. ID verification would require integration with the National Registry, which involves different costs and complexities. The WhatsApp number is the first concrete filter.

❓ Can I report a Colombia Move user if I get scammed?

Yes. Inside every ad there are report options. Additionally, since the account is linked to a real number, you can file a formal report with the Cyber Police (CAI Virtual) at www.caivirtual.policia.gov.co. Take screenshots of the entire conversation before doing so.

❓ Is it safe to give my personal WhatsApp number to an unknown buyer?

Not necessarily — and that is why Colombia Move has internal messaging. You can coordinate visits and negotiate without revealing your number until you decide to. If the buyer insists on moving to an external chat immediately, that is already a red flag.

❓ Is Facebook Marketplace always dangerous?

Not always, but it has a notably higher fraud rate than platforms with verification. The problem is not Facebook as a company — it is that it does not require a real identity to post. You can use it, but you need to perform more due diligence yourself in every transaction.

❓ What should I do if I think an ad is fake?

First, do not transfer money. Second, report the ad within the platform. Third, if there is an active scam, report it to the Cyber Police. And fourth — tell the community so others do not fall for it. You can do this at colombiamove.com/comunidad.