Facebook Marketplace has become one of the most popular platforms for buying and selling goods locally and nationally. While it offers convenience and a vast user base, it has also become a hotspot for scammers. Both buyers and sellers are at risk of fraud. Understanding the most common scams, and how difficult they are to spot, can help users protect themselves from financial loss, identity theft, and emotional stress.
Scams Targeting Buyers (from easiest to hardest to detect)
1. Counterfeit or Fake Products
Overview: Sellers list branded items like sneakers, designer bags, electronics, or collectibles at attractive prices. In reality, the items are counterfeit, damaged, or completely different from what’s shown.
Red Flags:
- Prices significantly lower than retail.
- Poor grammar or vague product descriptions.
- No returns or refunds.
Detection Difficulty: Easy. Buyers should compare pricing, check the seller’s profile, and look for official authentication if buying luxury or branded items.
2. Bait-and-Switch Listings
Overview: A seller advertises a popular item (e.g., PS5, iPhone, or used car) at an enticing price. When the buyer messages them, the seller says it’s “just sold” but offers a “similar” item at a higher price or with worse condition.
Red Flags:
- Item disappears quickly after listing.
- Immediate redirection to a different product.
Detection Difficulty: Moderate. This relies on psychological urgency. Reputable sellers rarely do bait-and-switch tactics.
3. Payment Outside of Facebook
Overview: Some sellers ask buyers to use platforms like Zelle, Cash App, Venmo, or direct bank transfers. Once payment is sent, the seller vanishes with no delivery of the product.
Red Flags:
- Refusal to use Facebook Checkout or PayPal Goods & Services.
- Urging you to “secure” the item quickly.
Detection Difficulty: Moderate. Legitimate sellers should accept secure payment options. Never pay before seeing or receiving the item.
4. “Not at home” Urgency
Overview: A seller responds that they aren’t at home, and says they’ve received a lot of responses and asks you to send them a deposit to hold or secure the item. They may even try to seduce you with responses like, “someone is already on the way but I like you. If you send a down payment now, I’ll save it for you.”
Red Flags:
- Buyer asks for payment to secure the item, especially if the payment is via a non-secure payment method, like Paypal Friends & Family.
Detection Difficulty: Moderate. While there certainly could be a time where this could genuinely happen, you are much more likely to get scammed.
5. Fake Shipping and Delivery Scams
Overview: The seller offers to ship the item after payment. They may even send fake tracking numbers or bogus shipping links. Eventually, nothing arrives.
Red Flags:
- Unusual courier services or untraceable tracking numbers.
- Pressure to pay upfront for shipping fees.
Detection Difficulty: Hard. Fake shipping confirmations can look professional. Always verify the courier and tracking URL independently.
5. Rental Property Scams
Overview: Scammers post fake rental listings using photos copied from Zillow, Craigslist, or other websites. They ask for deposits or application fees before the “tour” or “approval.”
Red Flags:
- Too-good-to-be-true rent prices.
- Refusal to show the property in person.
- Requests for wire transfers or gift cards.
Detection Difficulty: Very Hard. Scammers often mimic real landlords and may even provide fake lease agreements. Always verify ownership through public records and never pay before a physical walkthrough.
Scams Targeting Sellers (from easiest to hardest to detect)
1. Overpayment Scam (Fake Check or Digital Payment Fraud)
Overview: A buyer offers to pay more than the asking price and sends a check or payment via Zelle/Venmo. They then ask you to refund the “extra” amount. Later, the check bounces or the payment is reversed.
Red Flags:
- Buyer insists on overpaying.
- Pressure to return excess funds quickly.
Detection Difficulty: Easy. No real buyer has a reason to overpay and demand a refund. Decline all such offers.
2. Phishing Links or “Verification” Requests, or fake payments
Overview: The scammer asks the seller to verify their identity or phone number using a code or link. These links may install malware or lead to phishing sites that steal login credentials.
Also, if you share your phone number or email address, they could send you a fake payment text or email. This fake “deposit” is by a fake “e-transfer” and they want you to log in to a site to receive it. The log in page is a scam.
Red Flags:
- Requests to “verify” your account via third-party links.
- Asking for confirmation codes sent to your phone.
Detection Difficulty: Moderate. Legitimate buyers won’t ask for verification codes. Do not click external links or share codes.
3. Fake Buyer “Out of Town” Offers
Overview: The buyer claims they’re out of town but will have a “mover” or “shipping agent” pick up the item. They ask the seller to pay for shipping upfront and promise reimbursement.
Red Flags:
- Offers to “handle” pickup and logistics.
- Requests for your email or personal information for “shipping arrangements.”
Detection Difficulty: Moderate. Shipping scams often come with real-looking emails. Never pay shipping costs on the buyer’s behalf.
4. Stolen Credit Card or Reversed Payment Scam
Overview: A buyer pays with a stolen credit card via PayPal or Facebook Pay. Days later, the payment is reversed, and the seller is left without the item or the funds.
Red Flags:
- Buyer insists on immediate shipping or delivery.
- Payment appears legitimate but account is new or unverified.
Detection Difficulty: Hard. The transaction may initially appear valid. Always wait for full payment clearance before handing over high-value goods.
5. Fake Escrow or Payment Protection Services
Overview: Scammers pose as buyers and suggest using a third-party “escrow” service to ensure trust. These services are often fake websites designed to look real. Once the item is sent, the seller never receives payment.
Red Flags:
- Buyer proposes their own “secure” escrow service.
- Website URL doesn’t match reputable payment processors.
Detection Difficulty: Very Hard. These scams often feature convincing branding and fake customer support. Always use official payment methods endorsed by Facebook or recognized services like PayPal Goods & Services.
Conclusion
Facebook Marketplace can be a valuable tool for both buyers and sellers, but it’s also a fertile ground for fraud. Scams targeting buyers tend to prey on desire for low prices and urgency, while scams aimed at sellers often exploit trust and eagerness to complete a sale. Knowing how to recognize these patterns is key.
For buyers, avoid deals that require upfront payment, you should always use secure platforms, and insist on meeting in public or using Facebook’s built-in checkout. Try a reverse-image search of the items you’re interested to see if the same photo shows up elsewhere.
For sellers, don’t ship before receiving cleared payment, avoid over-payment offers, and never click suspicious links or share verification codes. Better yet, only sell to local buyers when you can meet in person. Maybe even meet at a local police station.
Within the Facebook Marketplace messaging interface, click on the buyer’s profile icon to view their real Facebook profile to help determine if it could be a fake profile. Also, if the name sounds made up, exercise extreme caution. You may even begin to see a pattern of the types of names of the people who respond, especially if they respond very quickly after you posted the item for sale.
This is more advanced but if a seller shares an address with you, search the web for that address and the name of the buyer to see if any matching results are found. It could still be a fake profile from someone who did the leg work to set up a matching profile (at least by name) that matches an existing address but that takes a bit of effort on the scammers part.
Ultimately, the best defense is a healthy skepticism and due diligence. If a deal feels off, it probably is. And when in doubt, report the user to Facebook and walk away.
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