14 Facebook Marketplace Scams to Watch Out For (2023)

More than a billion users buy and sell products on Facebook Marketplace every month, but they're not the only ones getting paid. Facebook Marketplace scams are on the rise: 9 out of 10 victims of online shopping scams say they were scammed via Facebook or Instagram in 2021, according to the latest Federal Trade Commission report.

"Unlike eBay or Amazon, buyers on Facebook Marketplace have a much more direct interaction and conversation with sellers," says Paul Bischoff, chief privacy officer at Comparitech, a cybersecurity firm. “This creates opportunities for scammers to trick victims into a series of scams.Fraudwith less supervision.

These scams may look convincing, but they share certain warning signs that make them easier to spot. Here, experts discuss the most common Facebook Marketplace scams and how to avoid them so you can protect your money from criminals while you shop. After reading about importantFacebook Marketplace Security Tips, I likehow to block someone on messengerrjHow to Recover a Hacked Facebook Account, meet theseOffer,Ebayjamazon scam.

Common Facebook Marketplace Scams

Pay or communicate outside of Facebook

How this scam works:Once you've expressed interest in an item for sale, the seller may ask you to contact another platform or pay through another platform. "Scammers often want to get your money in an irretrievable way," says Bischoff, such as through a wire transfer or Venmo payment. "In addition to external payment methods, they can convince victims to call or chat outside of Facebook, where their correspondence cannot be monitored."

How to recognize it:Beware of buyers and sellers who insist on communicating or receiving payments outside of official Facebook channels. Facebook's buyer protection policy only covers payments made through Facebook Checkout, so there's no guarantee you'll get your money back if you pay with another method. If you want to pay with another app, be careful with thosevenmo punchjCashApp Scam.

mail item

How this scam works:In this scam, scammers ask you to pay first and then never ship the item. By agreeing to prepay for an item, "buyers run the risk of not receiving the items they paid for, either because they weren't delivered or something was delivered other than what they paid for," says Chris Hauk, Pixel Privacy Consumers Privacy Expert . The scammer may provide false shipping information or screenshots to make it look like the item has been shipped, but in fact they've already taken your money.

How to recognize it:While it's best to only buy items that you can inspect and collect in person, sometimes getting products in the mail is unavoidable. In these cases, sellers who cannot provide you with photos and videos of the item before you buy it, or who may ask you to pay for the item outside official Facebook channels, may not be good and you're better off taking your money elsewhere. place. Facebook Marketplace Scams Are More Stealth Than You Think: ThisThe true story of someone who got scammed on facebookit's just an example.

selling counterfeit items

rd.com

How this scam works:Don't be fooled by bargains on a designer handbag or a rare game console. The Facebook Marketplace is full of counterfeit or pirated items with price tags that are suspiciously below market price. "If a seller is asking for an item that is well below the normal retail price, they probably have something up their sleeves," says Hauk.

How to recognize it:Hauk recommends researching an item's typical price ahead of time and comparing it to the list price on Facebook Marketplace. "Always keep the old adage in mind: if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is," he says. You should also request multiple photos and even a video of the item before purchasing and take one.reverse image searchto see if an image is fake.

Overpay the seller

How this scam works:Believe it or not, scammers can also scam sellers. In one common scam, a buyer uses a stolen credit card to pay the seller more than the asking price for the item, then claims they made a mistake and requests a partial refund. The victim will refund the excess amount, but the original payment is rejected and never reaches the seller's account, leaving the victim to pay the bill while the criminal keeps the money.

How to recognize it:If you receive an overpayment, decline the charge and ask the buyer to send you the correct amount. Anyone who responds suspiciously to this request may be a scammer. In the future, make sure you know how to identify these others.common online scamsin addition to that, moreover.

request advances

How this scam works:A scammer might tell you an item is popular and ask you to make a deposit or prepayment to secure your spot. Most likely you will never receive the item and the scammer will disappear with your money. Known as a "reservation" or "prepayment" scheme, "this is one of the easiest ways to get scammed," says Matthew Paxton, founder of gaming and tech site Hypernia.

How to recognize it:You should never agree to pay for an item before you receive it, says Paxton. If the seller uses high-pressure tactics and a sense of urgency to get paid upfront, it's probably a sign that they're dealing with a scammer. FYI, scammers also use high-pressure romance scam tactics on dating sites and social media, so look out for these red flags.

create fake accounts

How this scam works:Before buying anything on Facebook Marketplace, take a close look at the seller's profile. Some scammers create fake Facebook accounts to trick people into buying fake or non-existent items and then disappearing with the money.

How to recognize it:One of the most important things to look for is the date the Facebook account was created. According to Burton Kelso, a technology specialist at Integral, a local IT service, new accounts should be a red flag. “Today most people have a Facebook that was created at least 10 years ago,” he says. "If you see a Facebook account created in the last few months, you should be careful as a buyer."Signs an Amazon Seller Is UntrustworthyWorldwide.

Fake Rental Advertisement

RD. how

How this scam works:Attention apartment seekers: not all apartment and house rental offers on Facebook Marketplace are reputable. "We found that this is a niche full of scammers," says Sebastian Illing, co-founder of Alpaca Technology, which filters thousands of ads on Facebook. “We've encountered several apartment rental scams, such as: B. Listings that use false or misleading images, bait and switch rental fees, charge illegal background check fees, and even post rentals owned by others.

How to recognize it:There are many tricks that scammers use to sell fake rentals to victims, such as: B. Demanding immediate payment, not showing the apartment, or using fake or misleading photos. As a general rule, you should always inspect the property in person and confirm availability before applying or transferring any money. Anyone who claims they can't show you the property because they're out of town, or who asks you to put down a deposit right away, should sound the alarm, says Illing.

Sell ​​items that don't work

How this scam works:According to Kelso, one of the most popular scams on Facebook Marketplace is selling an item that doesn't work. "This can happen especially when buying computers or other technical devices," he says. The seller knows the item is broken, but expects you not to inspect it before handing over the money.

How to recognize it:When shopping for items like electronics, Kelso recommends turning on and testing the equipment to make sure it's working properly before paying. And "don't let yourself be pressured into a deal," says Hauk. "If the seller or buyer is urging you to make a quick decision, get out of the business. If it smells like fish, it probably is." watch out for theseSneaky "deals" that are actually money scamsin addition to that, moreover.

fake advertising gifts

How this scam works:Crooks post links to fake cryptocurrency gifts on their profiles, hoping unsuspecting users will click on them, says Patrick Moore, co-founder of cryptocurrency site CryptoWhat. "Scammers can use [Facebook] as a venue for their own advertising because anyone can post without verification," he explains. Clicking the link allows victims to download malware onto their computers, giving hackers access to sensitive information such as email addresses and bank account passwords.

How to recognize it:Like many other Facebook Marketplace scams, giveaways that seem too good to be true probably are too. To prevent your information from falling into the wrong hands, ignore links that look suspicious, report fake accounts to Facebook, and keep an eye out for them.red flagsthat your computer was hacked.

ask for a car deposit

How this scam works:Demand for vehicles on Facebook Marketplace is growing, but buyers should think twice before making a deposit. According to Piyush Yadav, owner of price comparison site Ask Any Difference, scammers often ask buyers to pay a small fee to store a car, then provide a false address when meeting.

How to recognize it:Rather than relying on an online seller's promises, do your research ahead of time by checking Kelley Blue Book or other reputable sites to find out how much you're likely to have to pay. The Facebook Help Center also recommends requesting a vehicle history report from the Federal Trade Commission and scheduling an automotive inspection prior to making a purchase.

inconsistent prices

How this scam works:If a seller changes the price of an item after you send them a message, walk away, says Paxton. It could be a sign that you are dealing with a bait-and-switch scam. In this scenario, a scammer lures customers in with a low price, but then tries to sell them a different, more expensive item.

How to recognize it:"As soon as they show signs of inconsistency, back off," advises Paxton. "Not worth the drama." Facebook Marketplace policies also suggest rejecting requests from sellers to "make additional shipping payments or other fees not listed above after the transaction is complete." Incoherence is also aSigns you may be buying from a fake website.

Fraudes do Google Voice

How does this scam work?s:A scammer contacts a seller on Facebook Marketplace, expresses interest in their product, and asks the seller to provide a phone number to prove they are a real person. Using this phone number, the scammer opens a Google Voice account, sends the Google verification code to the seller and asks for the code to verify that it is legitimate. After the seller provided the code, the scammer now has a new Google Voice number that he can use for other nefarious purposes, such asphone call fraudjataques doxing.

Buyers can also become victimsGoogle Voice Scam🇧🇷 "Lately, we've heard that scammers are posing as sellers on Facebook Marketplace and asking potential buyers to confirm their legitimacy by providing them with a Google Voice verification code," said Mona Terry, Director of Victims for Facebook Marketplace Fraud Identity Theft Resource Center. 🇧🇷

How to recognize it:If someone contacts you on Facebook Marketplace and asks for personal information like your phone number, you should be suspicious, says Daniel Clemens, founder and CEO of Shadow Dragon, a developer of cybersecurity solutions. A request to send a Google Voice verification code should be an even bigger red flag to stop contacting someone.

insurance fraud

How this scam works:For mail-shipped items, scammers require buyers to pay for shipping insurance in addition to the item and shipping costs. Sometimes the scammer will even send a fake invoice as proof, says Terry. But as soon as the money is paid, the scammer disappears.

How to recognize it:Legitimate sellers on Facebook Marketplace will not ask for any additional payment beyond the cost of the item and any shipping costs. If someone asks you to send money for unexpected charges, cancel the transaction immediately.

Coup cell do Facebook Marketplace

How this scam works:Just like car deposit and prepayment scams,HandybetrugUse the popular digital payment service to steal your money. Scammers target sellers paying by mobile and sending more money than the item price, or for aidentity fraudEmail that appears to be from your cell phone. On the other hand, a fake seller might ask a buyer to pay for an item with a cell phone and then walk away with the money without shipping the item.

How to recognize it:Please think twice before agreeing to any payments or accepting payments from users on Facebook Marketplace via mobile. “Fraudsters know that Zelle offers instant transfers and that fees authorized by a user are not protected if a transaction fails,” said Chris Furtick, director of security engineering at Fortalice Solutions, a provider of cybersecurity services. Stick to more secure payment systems likePaypalor Facebook Checkout instead.

How to avoid hits on Facebook Marketplace

• to look for.With each transaction, take the time to verify with whom you are speaking. Hauk recommends checking the seller's profile for negative reviews and avoiding newly created accounts with no reviews.
• Pay for items via Facebook.Using official payment and shipping methods protects your money if something goes wrong.
• Get a tracking number.If you receive an item in the mail, Hauk recommends requesting a tracking number. Of course, make sure you also use Facebook Checkout to protect your purchase.
• If possible, meet the seller in person.Use Facebook Marketplace filters to narrow your search to items available for local pickup and meet the seller in person so you can inspect the item before you pay.
• Do not pay for an item before receiving it.Instead, exchange both the money and the item at the same time. For safety reasons, make sure it is in a well-lit, visible and public place.
• Don't go to a meeting alone.If you're meeting in person with a seller, Facebook recommends bringing another person with you or sharing your meeting schedule with a friend or family member as an extra precaution.
• reject overpayments.Also request that all payments be made through channels approved by Facebook. (Again, Facebook Checkout is your best bet here.)
• Do not share confidential information.In most cases, you should never give out your bank account, credit card, social security number, date of birth, or phone number. "If anyone asks about these things, be on the lookout," says Clemens.

What is Facebook doing to prevent fraud?

To prevent Facebook Marketplace scams, Facebook has created several protections for buyers and sellers. For starters, buyers can leave reviews for sellers using a five-star system based on their experience during the transaction. The seller's trading profile shows the rating of other buyers, as well as badges such as "Super Seller", "Very Responsive" and more.

Some Marketplace purchases are also covered by Facebook's Buyer Protection Policy. If a buyer did not receive their order or the order was damaged, they may be eligible for a refund. Keep in mind, however, that "the buyer protection plan is very specific about what's covered and how the item must be paid for," says Furtick. To qualify for the Buyer Protection Policy, you must use Facebook Checkout for your transaction.

Finally, Facebook offers an online guide to buying and selling safely and responsibly on the Facebook Marketplace. Covers many of the best practices that buyers and sellers should considerprotecthimself online, including face-to-face meetings, checking for counterfeit products and using secure payment methods. Be sure to check out these others.hit do facebookstay out of something.