Buying From a Facebook or Instagram Seller? Don't Pay Until You Read This
A huge share of online buying in Ghana happens through Facebook Marketplace pages, Instagram shops, and WhatsApp catalogs — with a personal MoMo number as the only way to pay. That setup has no protection built in at all. SurePay gives independent social-media sellers and their buyers an escrow layer without either side needing a website or a business account.
Why social-media selling is where most scams start
- Anyone can post product photos and a MoMo number — no verification required
- A page or account can disappear the moment a payment lands
- There's no shared record of what was actually promised in the DMs
- Even a genuine seller has no way to prove you're not the one who's lying about non-delivery
How to use SurePay with a social-media seller
1. Ask for their SurePay link
Verified sellers can share a SurePay deal link or their Digital Seller Card instead of a bare MoMo number.
2. Pay into escrow, not the DM number
Your MTN, Telecel or AirtelTigo payment goes into escrow — not straight to the seller.
3. Confirm before it's final
You get a window to check the item matches what was shown before funds release.
4. Dispute if it doesn't match
If it's not as described, it goes to dispute review instead of just being your word against theirs.
Frequently asked questions
A seller I found on Facebook doesn't have SurePay — what do I do?
You can suggest it — sellers sign up free and get a verified badge and Seller Card that makes their page more trustworthy to every future buyer, not just you.
Does this work for WhatsApp Business catalogs too?
Yes — SurePay isn't tied to any one platform. However you found the seller, the payment and confirmation step happens on SurePay instead of a direct MoMo transfer.
How do I know the seller's SurePay profile is really verified?
Verified sellers carry a Digital Seller Card with a QR code you can scan to confirm their identity and track record, rather than taking a screen name at its word.
What if the seller pressures me to pay outside SurePay for a 'discount'?
That's a common way scams route around any buyer protection — a legitimate discount doesn't require abandoning the one thing keeping your payment safe.