10 Ways To Avoid Scams When Buying Used Instruments In Nigeria.

If you’re buying used musical instruments, especially guitars, keyboards, drums, or studio equipment, scams can happen in ways that aren’t immediately obvious. Here’s a practical guide you can also turn into a Marvin Empire blog post.

How to Avoid Scams When Buying Used Instruments

1. Don’t pay before verifying the seller
Ask for the seller’s full name, phone number, location, and clear photos/videos of the actual instrument. Be cautious if they refuse a video call or keep giving excuses.

2. Ask for a fresh video
Don’t rely only on pictures. Ask the seller to make a video showing:

• The instrument from different angles
• Serial/model number
• Powering it on, where applicable
• Every major function working
• Any defects or repairs

A useful trick is asking them to say your name and the current date in the video. This helps confirm that they actually have the instrument.

3. Never trust an unusually cheap price
If a ₦500,000 instrument is suddenly offered for ₦180,000 with a story like “I urgently need money” or “I’m relocating tomorrow,” slow down.

A great deal is possible. An unbelievable deal deserves investigation.

4. Inspect before making full payment
For local purchases, meet at the seller’s location or another safe place where the instrument can actually be tested.

For guitars, check the:

• Neck and truss rod
• Frets
• Bridge
• Headstock
• Tuning stability
• Electronics/pickups
• Cracks and previous repairs

For keyboards, test every key, screen, buttons, speakers, outputs, USB/MIDI, pedals and other major functions.

5. Check the serial number
Where applicable, record the serial number and investigate whether it corresponds with the stated brand/model. A missing, altered or suspicious serial number is a major warning sign.

6. Don’t be pressured by “another buyer is coming”
Scammers often create urgency:

“Send the money now because someone else is already on the way.”

Don’t allow another person’s urgency to make you skip verification.

7. Be careful with payment screenshots
A screenshot showing “payment successful” is not proof that you have received money.

Confirm the transaction directly in your own bank/payment account before releasing the instrument.

8. Don’t send unnecessary personal information
You don’t need to give a stranger sensitive information just because you’re buying an instrument.

9. For delivery purchases, use a safer process
If you can’t inspect the instrument yourself, consider using a trusted person in the seller’s city to inspect and test it first.

For expensive instruments, the cost of inspection is tiny compared with losing hundreds of thousands of naira.

10. Trust the transaction, not just the person
Someone can sound friendly, professional and convincing and still be running a scam.

The rule should be:

Verify the instrument → verify the seller → verify the payment → then complete the deal.

🚩 Biggest red flags

Be particularly careful when the seller:

• Refuses a live video call
• Won’t show the actual instrument
• Uses someone else’s photos
• Gives conflicting information
• Has a price far below market value
• Creates extreme urgency
• Requests payment to a different person’s account
• Refuses physical inspection
• Claims they’re selling on behalf of someone but can’t provide details
• Says a courier will collect the instrument after you pay
• Becomes aggressive when you ask normal verification questions

Buy with confidence. At Marvin Empire, every deal is built on trust, transparency, and proper verification.
No unnecessary pressure, no hidden surprises, just instruments and services you can confidently rely on.

👉 Click Marvin Empire for a free consultation – Quick response, Pickup or Same-day delivery