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

Once I was offered an apartment in Laureles at an impossible price. The seller responded quickly, sent beautiful photos, and only asked for a deposit to "hold" it before the visit. Of course: when I asked to visit before paying, he disappeared. His Facebook account was two weeks old and had three generic profile pictures.

That type of scam works because unverified platforms 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's 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 a phone

Most Colombian WhatsApp accounts are linked to a local mobile line — and since 2016, registering a SIM in Colombia requires showing an ID or foreign ID. It's not foolproof, but it means there's 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's why platforms that use email as the only registration method have a structural problem: they don't know if you're real.

When a buying and selling platform uses WhatsApp or Telegram to verify you — it sends a code to your number to confirm that phone is in your possession — it's 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 for ID to post. Any Facebook account, whether it's a day old or ten years old, can post an apartment, a car, or a service.

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

Heads up: this doesn't mean everything on Facebook is a scam. There are completely legitimate sellers. The problem is you can't easily tell, because the platform doesn't give you reliable identity signals. 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's no account. Without an account, there's 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's not impossible, but it raises the barrier significantly.

Plus, when you report an account on Colombia Move, there's a real phone number attached. That makes blocking, reporting, and — if necessary — any legal action easier.

What this means if you're 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're not chatting with a ghost.

Some practical steps you should still take:

• Check the seller's profile: time active on the platform, other ads posted
• For high-value items (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 through 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 signal

What this means if you're a seller

If you sell on Colombia Move, WhatsApp verification also benefits you directly. When buyers come to your profile, they know you're a verified user — not an anonymous profile that appeared out of nowhere.

Plus, 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 giveaway price. Visit colombiamove.com/publicar to post for free.

Red flags that still matter even on verified platforms

No platform is risk-proof. Watch out for these signals even on Colombia Move:

• Price way below market. An apartment in El Poblado at half price with no explanation isn't a bargain — it's a hook.
• Artificial urgency. "I have three interested buyers, 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 advance payment before a physical visit is a red flag.
• Refuses to do a video call. For high-value items, a legitimate seller has no problem showing what they're selling live.
• Inconsistent photos or with marks from other platforms. Images copied from Finca Raíz or MercadoLibre usually have weird metadata or visible watermarks.

If they ask you for an advance 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 in addition to WhatsApp?

Not currently. The platform verifies the phone number as a mandatory step — that links each account to a real number. ID verification would require integration with Registraduría, which has different costs and complexity. The WhatsApp number is the first concrete filter.

❓ Can I report a Colombia Move user if they scam me?

Yes. Within each listing there are report options. Also, since the account is linked to a real number, you can file a formal report with Cyber Police (CAI Virtual) at www.caivirtual.policia.gov.co. Save 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's 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 switching to external chat immediately, that's 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 isn't Facebook as a company — it's that it doesn't require real identity to post. You can use it, but you need to do more due diligence yourself in each transaction.

❓ What do I do if I think a listing is fake?

First, don't transfer money. Second, report the listing within the platform. Third, if there's active fraud, report it to Cyber Police. And fourth — tell the community so others don't fall for it. You can do it at colombiamove.com/comunidad.