Your FB Group might be run by SCAMMERS

[@prettyingreen]

I made a safe FB GROUP: facebook.com/groups/prettyingreen

[@Planty-Mandy]

One thing that I HATE is these people make me suspicious of anyone who types with bad English. Lots of local people have other first languages and I don’t want to treat them any differently, but it’s such a huge red flag for recognizing scammers. 😢

[@jackiewhitney5031]

It's a red flag of a scammer like everything else...most telemarketers who call as well.

[@SAA-hr9gr]

I literally don't trust ANYONE from the French speaking part of Switzerland because of this same reason too. I have been scammed once and come across so many that all have their location set to the French speaking part. So as soon as it says that area, I ignore the post.

[@ohemmygee216]

First of all- thank you for the censor bar on the male nipples. 10/10 for editing! Yes to your fb group! The big ones give me the icks these days- all you have to do is post an ISO and you get dozens of scammers showing up. Ive gotten really lucky so far but definitely changing how I buy in groups the more I pay attention to the PISS group! The Alocasia USA BST group is my favorite one at the moment- the admins actually go out of their way to post about current scam trends when they arise. Also I had no idea ppl bought animals in FB groups 😂😭😬 and why do they all look like extras from Tiger King?

[@AlexandriaFryer]

Now I understand why I wasn’t accepted into a lot of groups when I first made my Facebook account (it’s about a year old or less now), I was never interested in the app but my hobbies called for it so I made an account (but with a fake name and a profile picture of one of my pets since I know Facebook isn’t exactly safe). I joined a bunch of groups but a lot of them didn’t accept me, either for no reason or my account age but I couldn’t understand why because I had answered the questions to let you in. But now I get it, my account probably looked hella suspicious, brand new, plausibly fake name, profile picture not including my face and nothing to prove i wasn’t a scammer like a friends list or at the very least, a bio. I wasn’t aware scamming was such a big thing since I’m too suspicious of people to even entertain the idea of buying anything from there

[@carolstuff]

I really appreciate all the research you do for the plant community Chris; thanks!

[@daytona1295]

My best advice to avoid these scams. Stick to local groups and local pickups they might not have as many options, but the chances of getting are a lot less likely scammed. Also I'd love to be a part of any group you may create. Keep up the great work love your videos.

[@iamclaudiaq]

Thank you for including that phone call 😂 In all seriousness, thank you for bringing awareness to this!!!

[@CassyAthena]

thank you for all the research! and yessss start your own group!

[@annafink2245]

Always so stoked when you post a new video. And this is horrifying - it's almost like you can only buy from trusted sellers/breeders at this point, which screws the individual small seller. With all the time and effort they put into this, they could literally have a real job. I stick with Anthurium Addicts.

[@sarahg2665]

I shop exclusively through PPUSA (Plant Purge USA) and if I’m buying from a new seller I cross reference their name in Plant Inspectors Scammer Shoutout (PISS - lol) and Plant Purge USA Plant Patrol. If nothing comes up for their name under those groups, I try to use PayPal or Venmo gifts and services (not friends and family) that way I can get my money back if it turns out to be a scam.

[@prettyingreen]

Thank you for the words! Yes -- Anthurium Addicts is a GREAT group!!

[@dafnesaenz1617]

Holy crap… I love your plants and shop but wow.. I NEED more of your videos! They are so well made and informative because of your long background in plants, sales and trends in the plant community. I really hope you keep doing this and you explode on KZbin. Best channel ever 💯

[@prettyingreen]

Damn. This makes my day!! Thank you for the kind words 😊

[@sunflowerhillhomesteadaust7887]

One of those Cameroon outfits stole money from me a couple of years ago when I was going through a horrifically bad time. They are RUTHLESS. Thanks for these sorts of exposes, anything that helps combat these arseholes is welcome!

[@GreenWitch1]

I’m no longer on Facebook, but I have planty friends that are in several plant groups. I’ll share this video with them. Good work!!

[@woowooone]

How scary! I joined a group for people who want to adopt chichuahuas. I found the price quoted to be to be too good to be true. My brain said "yeah, but they are in West Virginia so maybe the price there is different". But I really think it's a scam group

[@l.cussenot3633]

Thank you so much to raise the awareness, I had no clue scam FB groups could exist and become so wide. I will be super careful and will know what to check as of now.

[@1faithchick7]

Thank you for all the hard work on this. Scams are a big fear of mine. Yes to your FB group!

[@Plantlady77]

Absolutely YES to the FB group!! I’d join right now! I’ve bought from you several times now and I know I for SURE you ain’t gonna let no funny business go on! 😆🤣

[@joyfulgirlrecovery7526]

Omg seeing a popular FB group scammer that has gotten me in the last 2 years on this video was WILD!!! Beltine!!!

[@lorenzopowell9137]

You always put out great content. Which are extremely helpful and informative. You help keep us updated with the plant world.... Great job!

[@dillonkentworth6718]

Excellent analysis as usual, Chris!

[@elizabethlacey7708]

Absolutely down for a plant group. Love your channel and love your content!!!!!! Have a great weekend!!! Can't wait for your next video!!!

[@braukorpshomebrew6039]

I only join local groups where you have to meet the person. The amount of scammers and lack of trust in larger groups deter me.

[@shannonjohnson891]

Omg, Beltine Bright scammed me! 2 monsteras. It was 155. At least it wasn’t more. I tried to get my money back from the bank. But I charged it. 😔

[@joyfulgirlrecovery7526]

They scammed me too!

[@thelourensfamily8048]

OMG - I'm in this group. I noticed a name change about a month ago which I thought was weird. OMG!!! I saw that post trying to sell those monsteras! I literally skip over that stuff because I live in Cape Town, South Africa so I'm not going to buy/swap with people in the US. Thank you so much for doing a video on this.

[@lexmaariee96]

I'm also in the monstera group and the admin searched me out in someone else's comment section. SHOOK. I asked too many questions though. I bet she will remove me now 🙄

[@KuyaCraig]

Oh yes. These are not amateurs at all. They’re smart conmen. I’ve been scammed a few times. I don’t buy anything off Facebook anymore.

[@SAA-hr9gr]

I do but only in person pretty much

[@sharondriver2445]

Yes to the fb group

[@roncruise4]

Yup, just got scammed. I joined the fake Plant Purge USA 2.0. I promptly fell for the plants and prices. The admin is the main scammer. Lesson learned.

[@wandashaw3551]

Omg. These people are destined for plants, kittens, and teacup pig hell. And yes, I'm down for our own FB page. Please keep these informative videos coming. ❤

[@jackiewhitney5031]

I do not do fb anymore but I don't miss your you-tube channel :)) You bring us so much eye-opening videos so I thank you for that Chris........wish everyone did!

[@SAA-hr9gr]

I sometimes write to the people in Swiss German (easy give away but obviously not 100% that you won't discard foreigners that don't speak the languahe) and always try and pick and pay in person.

[@txoovlouquieusvaj]

I was waiting to see if you were gonna mention Beltine Bright lol

[@hefoxed]

Generative AI is making spotting the scammers harder. The AI detection tools aren't reliable. Most of the probably-scam posts I've seen lately don't re-use existing photos but are probably ai-generated, and smart enough to not have hands or the more obvious tells.

[@noora7773]

I'm so glad I'm not on Facebook. I don't like to get scammed. I'd only buy or sell plants when meeting face to face or buying from a real online plant shop. I generally only would buy with money I could lose without losing my sleep, because you could get a bad looking plant or have pests with it... I appreciate if sellers sell that exact plant which they have a picture of and not just photograph the nicest specimen and then send the ugly ones to their customers!

[@tyannageller3912]

I totally got scammed for a plant for $50. Then got blocked.I now do NOT buy and check the profiles. The group was called Indoor plants Care tips and guide.

[@kindallnight1615]

Yes of course we want a plant group

"Hello please. Join my rare plant group 'Monstera #1 Lucky Happiness Friendship'." Hahaha, these group names are like something from Family Guy or South Park.

[@kendals3833]

I started my own group and was so excited that I was getting many followers, but most of them are scammers... Why do they do this... What do they get from this? I have nothing that I'm selling.

[@bekkimunster1852]

Can't wait to join your FB group!! 😊

[@NaturallyNatural81]

Not me being on some of these FB groups!! OMG im glad i dont buy anything

[@woowooone]

I am totally down for you creating a group

[@Aroid_Hunter]

" oh hell no this isn't a scam" 😂☠️

[@CabinGirl57]

You created the video I’d love to create I recently joined several national park groups where the majority are fake accounts (admin) operating out of India or Pakistan The AI generated pics tipped me off

[@gopibble]

USPS next day? Yeah ..

[@MsApril-vo7iz]

The Kristy Mitchell wanted payment through WhatsApp or another one. I refused and told her she smelled of fish.

[@prettyingreen]

hahaha SO glad you avoided this!!!

[@hardshengpizi]

I was trying to buy aloe suzzane from a Cameroonian seller and got scamme d

[@gypsylee333]

Bummer, did you know they lived there first? Do you live there as well?

[@hardshengpizi]

@@gypsylee333 no I don't live there. They did'nt state they are from cameroon

[@Jusmar2020]

Did you give up on selling on palm street app?

[@kylekozlowski4641]

I’ve been wanting to create another fb group for rare aroids! Yes to another group!

[@lexmaariee96]

Damn you saved me $70 😅🤣 glad I did my research

[@prettyingreen]

YAY!!! No more ppl getting scammed!

[@AhmadAsrafHashim]

That's why I only buy from nurseries 😊

[@Planty-Mandy]

Yeah I’m too cheap to pay shipping. 😂 I do use FB Marketplace but I pay cash once the plant is in hand.

[@D0J0Master]

Ugh, but now these scammers are going to be much harder to spot once they find this vid 🥲

[@jordanschoffstall]

Genuinely not sure if you're being facetious/sarcastic or not. The emoji is throwin' me off. I'm gonna give ya the benefit of the doubt and assume you are.