The comparison of payment methods between individuals

PayPal

PayPal is a payment method suitable for e-commerce and purchases from professionals, but contrary to popular belief, it is far from being the best payment method for transactions between individuals. In the event of a dispute, PayPal will in most cases favour the seller, or the buyer if he can justify the transaction, even if he is at fault with the problem. It is therefore easy to be wronged, regardless of whether you are a buyer or a seller.

An unsuitable and unsecured means of payment for transactions between individuals

On PayPal, payments are not irrevocable, and it is quite possible for a dishonest person to contest the transaction, for many reasons (non-receipt of the goods, opposition to the payment, declaration of fraudulent use of the account.... Sellers can therefore easily get their money back from the sale!

Beyond the scams with false PayPal interfaces or other schemes, even the official service is strongly discouraged for transactions between individuals, especially when the buyer and seller do not know each other. As for hand-delivered transactions, in the event of a problem, the seller will have absolutely no recourse as he will have no proof!

High transaction costs

Hold on to your hats, PayPal will charge you 3.4% of the amount + 0.25€! For a transaction of €100, it will cost you €3.65 (compared to €2.5 with Obvy) or €34.25 for €1000 (compared to €10 on Obvy)!

Why use Obvy instead of PayPal

On Obvy, you can make purchases and sales by hand delivery or by delivery and always benefit from a secure private transaction. Payments are irrevocable once completed but can be cancelled until the transaction is finalized. Obvy, unlike PayPal, is a payment method specially designed for commerce between individuals and offers many features (real-time negotiation, anti-fraud video evidence, messaging, etc.).

Western Union, Money Order...

Cash and Western Union money orders are suitable for transactions between friends and family, within the country or internationally. Money orders are not at all suitable or dedicated to commercial transactions (sale and/or purchase)!

Scammers love money orders

The process is very simple: the buyer goes to a Western Union branch or a post office, requests a money order, transmits the number of the money order to the beneficiary, allowing him to withdraw the money anywhere in the world. Scammers use fake IDs or have accomplices in the branch to withdraw the money and disappear into thin air. There is no way to turn around once the money has been withdrawn. Even a complaint to the gendarmerie or the national police will not get the money back.

Why use Obvy instead of Western Union, Money Order...

It is very simple: money orders provide no guarantees, no traceability and no means of recourse in the event of a problem. You should never carry out a transaction between individuals with a stranger via this type of payment. Obvy, on the other hand, is specially designed for transactions between individuals and guarantees maximum security for both the seller and the buyer and avoids 100% of scams. Funds are secure, identities are verifiable and the entire traceability of the transaction is permanently accessible.

PCS (Mastercard, Transcash, Toneo...)

This means of payment by "reloads" available in tobacconists, newspapers, etc., are intended to pay for purchases from professionals, online or in physical shops, but absolutely not between individuals.

A PCS payment request between individuals almost always rhymes with scamming

Let's face it: if you are asked to pay for a transaction between individuals using PCS, it is most likely a scam. This is because these payment methods are designed to be untraceable, and if a gullible buyer sends the top-up code to someone, that person can simply cash it in and never follow up. It will be impossible to trace the recipient of the PCS top-up if they use a fake email address or a prepaid phone number.

Why use Obvy rather than PCS

Obvy allows any user to complete a transaction only if they are satisfied. Obvy partners with a specially authorised identity verification institution to ensure maximum security for its payment method and the nature of its users. All transactions are tracked and cross-referenced to provide the highest level of protection for all users.

MoneyGram

MoneyGram is a money transfer service very similar to WesternUnion, and allows money to be sent between two people who live in the same country or internationally. However, this service is not at all suitable for transactions between individuals, especially for commercial transactions between people who do not know each other.

A payment service popular with scammers

MoneyGram itself recommends never sending money to a stranger via its service, as stated here. Scammers know that a MoneyGram transaction is irrevocable and that the victim will never get their money back.

Attempts to defraud Leboncoin and other classified ad sites via this payment method are very common, for all types of transactions, so never accept to pay a stranger with MoneyGram.

Why use Obvy instead of MoneyGram

Any request for payment by MoneyGram for a transaction between individuals is likely to be a scam. In contrast, Obvy is a payment method specifically designed to secure, simplify and ensure transactions between individuals. Today, Obvy is the most advanced payment method on the market for buying and selling on classified ad platforms.

Cash

Many sellers ask for cash in private transactions, thinking that this is a real guarantee. Unfortunately, scammers have developed sophisticated techniques to defraud sellers, and others use sometimes violent methods to steal from buyers.

An untraceable and unsuitable means of payment for certain transactions

Cash should never be put in an envelope and sent to another person to pay for a sale or purchase at a distance. If there is a problem, you will not be able to prove that it is your money. In addition, if you have a problem with your purchase, you will not be able to make any claims. It is also strongly recommended that you never carry a large sum of money around with you.

Vendors: tickets can be falsified

Millions of euros in counterfeit notes are circulating in the country. The creation of counterfeit money is becoming increasingly sophisticated and the €50, €100 and €200 notes are the most imitated. It is therefore possible to be given counterfeit notes in a transaction, which will then be refused and confiscated in order to hand them over to the Banque de France.

Buyers: theft is common

Fake sellers, who in reality turn out to be thieves, meet buyers with varying amounts of cash on them in order to rob them. Many of the stories can be found on the internet.

Why use Obvy instead of cash

Digital payment with Obvy ensures the availability and quality of funds, requires no handling of cash, no ATM withdrawals. In addition to the speed and convenience, Obvy guarantees optimal traceability of the transaction should the need arise for foolproof security.

Bank cheque

The bank cheque (not to be confused with the bank cheque) is a means of payment that is still very widespread in France. Almost all of us have a chequebook, given to us by our bank. Many transactions between individuals are still settled via this method of payment, which is less and less secure and allows swindlers to set up quick, effective scams that allow them to never be caught.

Questionable security

There is a good reason why more and more businesses no longer accept cheques. Indeed, they can be made out of wood (without provision), falsified or even stolen! In other words, payment is far from guaranteed... Especially since crooks generally also use false identity papers bearing the same name as the one written on the cheque.

Harmful delays

Moreover, banking deadlines do not allow for the assurance of final receipt of the cheque for at least 48 hours. This is a very comfortable time for a scammer, who will have plenty of time to cover his tracks and vanish into thin air. It will then be almost impossible to trace them. Moreover, no recourse or refund will be possible.

Why use Obvy instead of a cheque

Obvy guarantees the source and existence of the funds. There is absolutely no risk of the seller having the money withdrawn, which is not the case with a bank cheque where the money can be credited and then withdrawn. Obvy protects users by being able to verify the identities of buyers and sellers while offering a service that is always available and does not require delays that can be burdensome.

The bank cheque

The bank cheque is issued directly by the bank, and is a superior version in terms of security and availability of funds to a traditional bank cheque. Widely used for transactions involving valuable goods (cars, motorbikes, works of art, etc.), it is very popular in France. But the fact that it is a simple piece of paper opens up major security loopholes.

A binding means of payment

In order to obtain a bank cheque, it is essential to go to a bank branch, and many people know that branch hours are not ideal for travelling there. Moreover, the seller who receives the cheque must also go to the branch to cash it, and this can take up to 15 working days.

It is therefore a payment method that requires a lot of back and forth and long delays.

The bank cheque is unsuitable for many transactions

Many people sell valuable goods remotely (computers, smartphones, collectors' items, etc.) and a bank cheque should never be sent to pay a seller, as this is extremely risky!

An easily falsifiable means of payment

There are many fake bank cheque scams, with many victims losing both the proceeds of their sale and the item, as the bank has 8 working days to realise that it is a fake. Others go so far as to present false proof of identity and set up false telephone numbers so that, if the buyer calls the number written on the cheque, he or she will find an accomplice of the fraudster.

Why use Obvy instead of a bank cheque

Obvy imposes no constraints: everything is done online, 24/7, for both the buyer (deposit and security of funds) and the seller (payment guarantee in case of transaction and online collection). The application cannot be tampered with and can verify the identities of users. Obvy can be seen as a digital alternative to the bank cheque, but simpler, faster and more secure, with strong guarantees.

Bank transfer

More and more individuals are using bank transfers, in particular to replace cheques. Fast, simple and secure, it allows you to send funds from your bank interface without leaving home. But when it comes to paying a stranger, this method of payment can quickly turn out to be dangerous, thanks to some terribly effective tricks used by scammers.

Funds provisioned... temporarily!

Once the transfer has been made, the buyer will then inform the seller. The seller will see that the transfer has been made and that the funds are in his bank account. He will then proceed to hand over the property, either in person or by post. But there is a catch: a bank transfer can be made by depositing a cheque in the bank. Crooks know this well, and proceed in this way by using a bad cheque (without funds) or simply a fake one. Between the time it takes to check the cheque and the bank's reaction, which is to take the money out of the seller's account, and the time it takes to remit the money, many sellers are defrauded and lose not only the object of the sale but also the funds resulting from it.

Why use Obvy instead of a bank transfer

Unlike a bank transfer, funds deposited on Obvy guarantee the solvency of the buyer and the protection of the seller. In addition, it is possible to cancel a transaction at the last moment and change the price of the transaction, free of charge. Obvy is the ultimate alternative to common payment methods when it comes to securing transactions between individuals.