Facebook Marketplace connects over 1 billion people around the world. This massive userbase fuels a bustling online marketplace where you can buy and sell almost anything.
While Facebook Marketplace offers convenience and potential deals, it also attracts numerous scammers hoping to take advantage of unwary users.
In this guide, I‘ll walk you through the most common Facebook Marketplace scams, who they target, and most importantly – how to protect yourself.
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Top Facebook Marketplace Scams to Watch Out For
Scams Targeting Buyers
As a Facebook Marketplace buyer, here are some of the top scams to watch out for:
1. Fake Giveaways
Scammers may message you out of the blue with an unbelievable offer, like winning a free MacBook or a $500 Amazon gift card. To "claim" your prize, they‘ll ask you to click on a link, which sends you to a phishing site designed to steal your login credentials or install malware on your device. Other versions of this scam ask you to pay a small "processing fee" to receive your prize.
How to avoid it: Never click on unsolicited links or provide any personal/payment information to collect supposed "prizes" from strangers on Facebook. Legitimate giveaways don‘t ask for money or info upfront.
2. Bait and Switch
A scammer advertises an item you want at a great price. But when you inquire, they claim it‘s no longer available and try to switch you to a more expensive product instead.
How to avoid it: Be skeptical of sellers who frequently have items "sell out" then redirect you to pricier substitutes. And don‘t rush into purchases without inspecting the item‘s condition first.
3. Non-Delivery
In this scam, a seller lists an item but has no intention of ever shipping it out. They just take buyers‘ money and disappear.
How to avoid it: For expensive or risky purchases, only buy from established sellers with recent reviews confirming they deliver as promised. And avoid paying outside Facebook‘s checkout system, which offers purchase protection.
4. Counterfeit Goods
Dishonest sellers pass off fake or knockoff products as the real thing. The items often have a too-good-to-be-true price.
How to avoid it: Research signs of authenticity for the brand/item you want. Ask for detailed photos and videos. And buy only from reputable sellers.
5. Faulty or Broken Items
Some scammers knowingly sell you a defective product, then disappear once you pay. Others lie that a working item you bought is "faulty" and demand a refund while refusing to return the product.
How to avoid it: Test expensive electronics thoroughly before purchase. Only buy from established sellers, and record yourself opening packages and testing items.
6. Rental Scams
Scammers list fake apartment/house rentals, cars, and other equipment for rent. They ask interested buyers to pay a deposit upfront then disappear.
How to avoid it: Never pay any money until you‘ve verified a rental in-person. And don‘t submit applications with sensitive info like your SSN.
7. Vehicle Deposit Scams
Similar to rentals, scammers list cars/trucks for sale. They pressure buyers to put down a deposit to "hold" the vehicle, then cut off contact.
How to avoid it: Never pay any money until you‘ve inspected the vehicle in-person, taken it for a test drive, and verified ownership.
8. Gift Card Payment Requests
Scammers insist on being paid with gift cards like Amazon or iTunes cards. This allows them to take payment while being untraceable.
How to avoid it: There‘s never a good reason for someone to require gift card payment. Refuse and move on if a seller pushes this.
Scams Targeting Sellers
As a seller, here are some top Facebook Marketplace scams to be aware of:
1. Claiming Packages Never Arrived
Dishonest buyers falsely claim they never received items purchased. They keep the items and demand refunds from sellers.
How to avoid it: Always ship items with tracking and signature confirmation. Have evidence the package was delivered successfully.
2. Overpayment Scams
A buyer "accidentally" pays too much via PayPal or another payment method. They ask the seller to wire back the excess amount. But the original payment is fraudulent and gets reversed, leaving the seller out their real money sent back.
How to avoid it: Never accept overpayments. And don‘t refund anyone until verified payments have fully cleared.
3. Stolen Credit Card Purchases
Criminals buy items using stolen credit cards. They try to rush sellers into shipping before the fraudulent payments can be detected and canceled.
How to avoid it: Watch for overly pushy buyers demanding immediate shipment. Only ship to verified addresses after payments fully clear.
4. Prepaid Shipping Label Scams
Scammers supply a prepaid shipping label for you to use. But the label is in the scammer‘s name. Once you ship, they intercept the package and you have no proof of delivery.
How to avoid it: Never ship items with labels supplied by buyers. Always get tracking in your name.
5. QR Code Payment Scams
Scammers trick sellers into scanning bogus QR code "payments" that are either fake or steal financial data. They then disappear with items already shipped.
How to avoid it: Never accept QR code payments. Stick to secure options like Facebook checkout.
6. Fraudulent Pickup Requests
Instead of buying/paying, scammers message sellers requesting to pickup items for "inspection" before buying. Once they pickup the item, they cut off contact and disappear.
How to avoid it: Never hand over items until verified payment is made.
Scams Targeting Both Buyers and Sellers
Here are scams that can affect both buyers and sellers on Facebook Marketplace:
1. Fake Facebook Accounts
Scammers use fake accounts with no profile photos or friends to list fraudulent items, take payments, then disappear.
How to avoid it: Check that sellers have valid profiles, friends, and existing reviews before you buy.
2. Shipping Before Payment
Scammers convince sellers to ship expensive items before receiving payment. Obviously, the payment never arrives.
How to avoid it: Never send items until verified payment clears. No exceptions.
3. Phishing for Personal Details
Scammers try eliciting personal details like your email or phone number outside of Facebook Messenger. This gives them info needed for account hacking, identity theft, or other fraud.
How to avoid it: Keep all communications strictly within Messenger. Never share personal details.
4. Fake Links to Malware Sites
Scammers send links claiming you need to "verify your account," "claim a deal," etc. The links install malware if clicked.
How to avoid it: Never click unsolicited links from strangers. Stick to the Messenger app for all communications.
5. QR Code and Money Flipping Scams
Scammers persuade you to scan a QR code that tricks you into sending the scammer money, thinking you‘ll get more money back.
How to avoid it: Never scan unsolicited QR codes or engage in money flipping deals on Facebook.
Is Facebook Marketplace Safe to Use?
Facebook Marketplace scams are widespread. But the platform still provides tremendous utility when used with proper precautions. Here are some tips to use Facebook Marketplace more safely:
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Vet sellers/buyers – Review profiles carefully. Avoid new users with no friends or ratings.
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Insist on Messenger only – Keep all communications on Messenger. Don‘t provide other contact info.
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Meet locally – For local deals, inspect items and meet sellers in safe public places.
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Use Facebook Pay – For shipped items, use Facebook‘s checkout system for purchase protection.
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PayPal for high value – For extra assurance, consider paying through PayPal‘s Goods and Services option.
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Verify payment cleared – For sellers, don‘t ship until verified payments have fully cleared.
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Review frequently – Check bank statements regularly for signs of fraud.
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Report scammers – If scammed, immediately report the bad actor to Facebook.
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List safely – When selling, avoid listing valuables that would attract scammers.
What to Do if You Get Scammed on Facebook Marketplace
If you do fall victim to a scam, here are important steps to take:
Contact your bank – Notify your bank if scammers gained access to your payment accounts or credit cards. Request new cards/accounts be issued. Monitor statements closely for signs of further fraud.
Report to Facebook – Report the scammer‘s profile to Facebook through the Report link on their profile. Provide details on how they scammed you.
Report to authorities – File a report with your local police department. Give them details on what happened. Get a copy of the report to submit to Facebook and your bank.
Secure accounts – Change passwords on all financial accounts that may have been compromised. Enable two-factor authentication everywhere possible.
Sign up for identity theft protection – Get identity monitoring to detect any misuse of your personal information. This will alert you if scammers try opening accounts in your name.
Dispute payments – If scammed on Facebook checkout, file a dispute through Facebook‘s resolution center. For credit card charges, file chargebacks with your card issuer.
Be vigilant – Carefully review bank accounts and credit reports over the next several months for any signs of fraud. Act quickly to shut down scammer access and report any misuse.
8 Clever Ways Scammers Try to Trick You on Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace scammers use sophisticated psychological tactics to manipulate users. Here are some of the most common tricks they employ:
1. Pretending familiarity
Scammers address you like you‘re already acquaintances, using terms like "Hey friend!" This makes their messages seem more harmless.
2. Creating false urgency
They make excuses why you need to act quickly before you have time to properly vet the deal. Watch for tactics like claiming another buyer made an offer or that the item will be sold soon.
3. Making you feel special
Scammers flatter you or make it seem like they‘re doing you a special favor. People let their guard down when they feel uniquely valued.
4. Pretending confusion
Scammers pretend not to fully understand Messenger or the Facebook payment process. They use this supposed "confusion" as a pretext to get you communicate outside of Facebook.
5. Citing COVID-19 or Ukraine
Scammers blame global events for why they can‘t meet locally or need to use unorthodox payment methods. Don‘t let world events distract from protecting yourself.
6. Offering discounts and prizes
They tempt you with too-good-to-be-true offers like 75% discounts or free gifts with purchase. This plants visions of amazing deals that blind you to red flags.
7. Making simple mistakes
Minor typos and grammar errors make scammers seem harmless and sincere rather than calculated predators. Don‘t let an informal tone put your guard down.
8. Playing on emotions
Scammers know empathy, excitement, and curiosity are weaknesses. Stories like sick relatives or hardships make you want to help. Fight the urge to let emotion override caution.
Stay skeptical of anyone employing these psychological tactics to pressure you into quick purchases, payments, or sharing personal details outside of Messenger.
9 Expert Tips to Stay Safe on Facebook Marketplace
After a decade investigating online scams, here are my top safety tips when using Facebook Marketplace:
1. Vet buyers and sellers. Check that profiles have real photos, friends, and existing ratings. Be wary of new accounts with minimal activity.
2. Insist on Messenger only. Keep communications on Messenger. Don‘t provide other contact info or click unsolicited links.
3. Never buy sight unseen. With local deals, always inspect big ticket purchases in-person before paying.
4. Meet in public. When meeting locals, choose a safe public place like a cafe or bank lobby. Bring someone with you.
5. Verify before you buy. Ask for serial numbers and scrutinize labels on expensive brands. Search the internet for guides on spotting fakes if buying collectibles.
6. Document everything. Record videos showing you testing and inspecting items. Save all Messenger communications.
7. Avoid "too good to be true." Extreme deals and hard-to-find inventory are red flags. Discounted gift cards are almost always a scam.
8. Pay safely. Use Facebook Checkout which provides purchase protection. PayPal Goods and Services also gives recourse if issues arise.
9. Trust your gut. If anything seems even slightly off, walk away. There are endless other deals. Don‘t compromise your safety for convenience.
Final Thoughts
Facebook Marketplace scams are on the rise as more people use the platform to search for deals online. But you can tap into Marketplace safely by following some simple precautions.
The most important things are vetting profiles thoroughly, sticking to Messenger for communications, meeting locally when possible, inspecting items before purchase, paying through protected means only, and trusting your instincts if an offer seems suspicious.
Remember, if you do become the victim of a scam, act quickly to report it and secure your accounts. Monitor your credit reports and bank accounts closely for signs of identity theft over the months following the scam.
With vigilance and common sense, Facebook Marketplace can still be used to find amazing deals and hard-to-find items. Just employ some healthy skepticism. If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.
