When Bronwyn and I decided to start the emigration process, we knew we needed to get rid of things we didn’t need or couldn’t take with us. We started sorting items into categories: things to donate, things to sell, and things to throw away. It seemed simple at the time. One of the more painful decisions was selling my PlayStation, something I’d bought for myself for my 21st birthday. I had spent R13,500 on it, plus an extra controller. It was one of those things I had wanted for ages, so saying goodbye wasn’t easy. But with our move ahead, it was time to let it go.

I listed my PlayStation, the extra controller, and five games on Facebook Marketplace for R9,500. It was a loss, but I was happy to part with it at that price, given it was second-hand. What I didn’t expect was that selling it would cost me far more than just the price.

The inquiries came in quickly, and as someone who had sold online before, I knew to be cautious. I checked out the buyer’s profile. It looked legitimate—they had friends, posts, and seemed like a real person. We arranged for them to come and collect the PlayStation. I thought I had all my bases covered. I always insisted on cash to avoid scams involving bank transfers or fake proof of payment, so I wasn’t worried.

When the buyers showed up, they asked me to bring everything to the gate, which I did. They inspected it all, and everything seemed fine. They then counted out the money and told me they only had R200 notes, but they’d add an extra R100 for our “honesty.” It felt cheeky at the time, but I didn’t think too much of it. They put the money in a bank bag, loaded the PlayStation into their car, and drove off.

As soon as I walked back inside, something felt wrong. Normally, I would’ve counted the money myself, but this time I hadn’t. I pulled the cash out and started counting it. It didn’t feel right. The texture was off. My stomach sank. We rushed to the bank to try depositing the money, hoping it was all just in my head. But when we tried putting it into the ATM, it spat it right back out. That’s when it hit us—everything you hear about scammers? Well, we were the ones who had just been scammed.

The feeling was horrible. I couldn’t believe it had happened to us. We’d lost the PlayStation, the games, and the money. We’d heard of this happening to others, but it was a sinking feeling realizing we were now part of those stories. At the time, it made us question everything. Were we really making the right decision to move? After this, it became clear—yes, we were. Sure, there are scammers everywhere, but this was the final push we needed to know we were doing the right thing.

My advice to anyone selling items before emigrating is to be extra careful. If you can, sell to family, friends, or even list in local community groups where you have a better chance of knowing the people you’re dealing with. Facebook Marketplace can be tempting because it reaches a larger audience, but as we learned, the risks can be significant.

Don’t let this experience happen to you. Selling your possessions should help you transition into your new life, not leave you feeling cheated. Stay cautious, trust your gut, and stick to selling to people you know if possible.