How to buy and sell second-hand safely in Buenos Aires
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The main rule: money and item change hands at the same time, in person. The buyer doesn't transfer a prepayment for something they haven't seen; the seller doesn't hand over the item until the money appears in their own banking app — a screenshot of a "transfer" proves nothing. Meet in daylight in a busy place, or in the lobby of a building with a doorman, and check the item on the spot.
Which scams are the most common?
- A prepayment "to reserve" or "for delivery". The seller asks you to transfer part of the amount, then disappears. Especially common with cheap iPhones, game consoles and tickets.
- A fake transfer screenshot. The buyer shows a "comprobante" on their phone, takes the item, and the money never arrives. There are apps that draw a convincing receipt.
- "A courier will pick it up, I'll pay through a service". The link leads to a fake "payment" page that asks for your card details.
- A swap at the meeting. They show you a working phone and hand over a different one in the same box.
- A price that is too low. The latest iPhone "at half price" is almost always a scam. On ArgHub, listings that ask for a prepayment, a deposit, a transfer "to a card" or Western Union are automatically flagged as suspicious for the moderator. That is not a guarantee: ArgHub is a platform, not a party to the deal, and you have to check the seller and the item yourself.
How do I check the seller or buyer?
- Look at the profile: how long ago they registered, whether they have other listings, whether the photos match.
- Ask for an extra photo of the item with a note showing today's date, or from a different angle.
- Run the same photos through a reverse image search — stolen pictures from the internet give a scammer away.
- On ArgHub, the conversation happens in the in-app chat: don't move to unfamiliar messengers via links, and don't open "payment" links.
Where and how should I meet for a private sale?
- In daylight, in a busy place: a shopping mall, a café, a metro entrance, the lobby of a building with security.
- Large items — at the seller's home; go with someone and tell friends where you are going.
- Don't carry more cash than the deal needs; count the money away from the street.
- Switch the appliance on and check it at the meeting (the checklist is in the article "Where to buy second-hand furniture and electronics").
How do I pay more safely for a second-hand purchase?
- Method — Risk for the buyer — Risk for the seller — What to do
- Cash at the meeting — Low — Counterfeit notes — Check the notes; do large sums in a safe place
- Transfer at the meeting (bank, Mercado Pago, alias/CVU) — Low — Fake screenshot — Hand over the item only once the money is visible in your own app
- Prepayment to a stranger — High — — — Don't
- Payment inside the platform (for example, Mercado Libre) — Depends on the platform's rules: read the purchase-protection terms before paying — The platform's commission — Don't leave the platform for a "direct transfer" Instant transfers (transferencias inmediatas) in Argentina, according to the Central Bank (BCRA), are credited within 15 seconds at most and work around the clock, every day of the year, so "wait, the money will arrive tomorrow" is a reason to be wary.
What should I check if I'm buying a phone?
- The IMEI on the box, in the settings (*#06#) and on the SIM tray must match.
- Check that the phone is not blacklisted: on the ENACOM site imei.enacom.gob.ar you can enter the IMEI and see whether the device is blocked (theft, loss, invalid IMEI).
- The seller's account (iCloud/Google) must be removed from the phone in front of you.
What should I do if I’ve been scammed in a second-hand purchase?
- Save the conversation, the listing, screenshots and the transfer details.
- If you paid by transfer, contact your bank or wallet immediately and report the fraud.
- Report the listing on ArgHub ("Report" button) — the moderator can take it down.
- File a report (denuncia) with the police or the prosecutor's office. In Buenos Aires, the City's prosecution service (Ministerio Público Fiscal CABA) accepts reports, including for fraud (estafas), online at denuncias.fiscalias.gob.ar, on the free 24-hour phone line 0800 33 347225 (0800-33-FISCAL) or in person at the Unidad de Orientación y Denuncia; you can also go to a police station (comisaría). This is information, not legal advice.
Domande frequenti
Can I pay a deposit for an item from a marketplace group?
Better not. Pay on receipt, when the item is in your hands.
How do I know a transfer is real?
Only when it shows up in your own banking app. A screenshot or "comprobante" on someone else's phone can be faked.
Where is it safest to meet?
In daylight, in a busy place or in the lobby of a building with security; for a large item, at the seller's home, with someone else.
Does ArgHub verify sellers?
ArgHub flags suspicious listings (for example, ones asking for a prepayment) and takes reports, but is not part of the deal and does not guarantee it.
What should I do if I've been scammed?
Save the evidence, tell your bank, report the listing and file a denuncia.