Since its launch in 2016, Facebook Marketplace has become a go-to destination for snagging deals on everything from furniture to designer bags. Its ease of use and low fees have made the platform appealing to a wide audience, but its popularity has also made it a prime habitat for scammers.
With no easily available customer support, buyers and sellers are left to navigate transactions on their own and might be more susceptible to fraudulent schemes. In this guide, we’ll explore the most common Facebook Marketplace scams and learn the key red flags to watch for to avoid falling victim to fraudsters.
Key Takeaways:
- If you are buying or selling items on Facebook Marketplace, beware of scams.
- Scammers often use fake profiles, pushy tactics, and deals that look too good to be true to reel their target in.
- By staying alert, keeping communication and payments on-platform, and reporting suspicious profiles, you not only protect yourself but also help create a safer experience for others.
- Other platforms, like eBay or Poshmark, may have more protections in place, so diversifying your sales channels may be a wise tactic.
What is a Facebook Marketplace Scam?
A Facebook Marketplace scam is any dishonest scheme designed to deceive buyers or sellers — whether by stealing money, goods, or personal information.
As a seller, you might run into buyers who send fake payment confirmations, claim there’s a problem with the item just to get a refund, or attach malicious links to get access to your personal information. Buyers aren’t safe either — they can get scammed by fake listings, counterfeit goods, or sellers who vanish with money.
Common Facebook Marketplace Scams to Watch For
Falling victim to a scam may result in exposing your personal info, losing money, and wasting a ton of time dealing with the mess. So, let’s see what kinds of scams there are and how to avoid them.
Gift Card Payment Scam
How it works: In this scheme, instead of using well-known payment methods, scammers ask you to pay them with a gift card, which might look rather innocent. They may even offer a discount for paying this way. But once you send the gift card code, they disappear, leaving you with no money and no item.
How to avoid it: Avoid using irretrievable ways of payment. If someone insists on paying with gift cards, it’s probably a sign that their intentions are far from being pure.
Wire Transfer Scams
How it works: Sometimes scam sellers would request payment via wire transfer — a type of transfer that allows to quickly send money from one bank account to another. Once the money is sent, there’s no way to recover it, and the scammer vanishes. Scam buyers use wire transfer schemes too — for instance, they may send you a fake wire transfer confirmation to get you to ship an item without ever paying you.
How to avoid it: Whether you’re selling or buying on Marketplace, don’t agree to payments off-platform. Wire money only to people you know well.
Rental Scams
How it works: Scam actors create fake rental listings at unreasonably low prices, often using photos of real property they find on the web. They may then collect personal information using fake application forms, or pressure prospective renters into paying an application fee or deposit before showing the property in person.
How to avoid it: Don’t make any payments before seeing the property in person. And even then, research the property, landlord, and agent (if applicable) before paying a deposit.
Fake or Stolen Items
How it works: Not all listings on Facebook Marketplace are real. If you come across something valuable listed at a ridiculously low price, this item might be counterfeit, stolen, broken, or even non-existent. While Facebook’s protection may secure you against some of these cases, it only works if you check out through Marketplace.
How to avoid it: Be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true. Do a reverse image search of the listing photos to see if they’ve been stolen from another site. If buying designer clothes or electronics, ask to see proof of authenticity or test the item before paying.
Phishing Scams
How it works: The most common Facebook Marketplace phishing scheme involves scammers pretending to be representatives of Facebook and claiming that there’s an issue with your account or transaction. Their messages usually contain malicious links that take you to fake websites designed to steal your Facebook credentials. If you try to log in on those websites, you’ll hand your details directly to scammers, who may then use your account to scam others.
How to avoid it: Don’t click links sent by strangers and never enter your login details outside of the official websites and apps. Consider activating two-factor authentication.
Fake Giveaway Scam
How it works: Winning a giveaway on a marketplace may sound unexpected, especially if you don’t remember taking part in one. Bad actors using this kind of scheme usually ask you to fill out a form to claim your free prize. Or, you may be asked to pay a small shipping fee to receive it. However, once you pay the fee or fill out the form, the scammer disappears along with the prize.
How to avoid it: Always check the official organizer’s web pages to verify giveaways. Don’t make any upfront payments or share your personal info in correspondence with strangers.
QR Code Scam
How it works: If someone asks you to scan a QR code on Facebook, claiming it’s part of a payment or verification process, it’s a sign you’re being scammed. By scanning the code, you may end up entering your credit card details on a phishing website or downloading malicious software onto your device.
How to avoid it: Delete any QR codes you receive from unknown sellers or buyers and report those who send them to Facebook. Only make and accept payments through well-known methods that don’t require QR codes.
Verification Code Scam
How it works: In this popular Facebook Marketplace scam, scammers would try to access your account and ask you to tell them a verification code you receive in an SMS. They may pose as buyers or sellers and say this is part of a verification process and is necessary for completing the sale. However, if you give them that code, they will likely gain access to your account and may use it to steal your identity, hack your other accounts, or scam your contacts.
How to avoid it: Never share your verification codes, especially if you don’t remember requesting them. Enable two-factor authentication where possible.
Google Voice Scam
How it works: A scam buyer contacts a seller on FB Marketplace and asks the seller to provide their phone number to verify that they’re a real person. Then the scam buyer sends a Google Voice verification code to that phone number. If the seller provides the code, the scammer can use it to link their Google Voice number to the seller’s real phone number. After that, they’ll be able to engage in all sorts of illegal activity without being traced back to them.
How to avoid it: Don’t share your Google Voice verification codes with anyone. It’s not a legitimate means of proving you’re a real person.
Zelle Scam
How it works: Zelle is a popular money transfer app that allows instant payments. Zelle scams can be used by fraudsters posing as both sellers and buyers. As a seller, you may be tricked into shipping your item to scammers based on a fake Zelle confirmation. As a buyer, you may end up making an instant, irreversible payment and never hear from the seller again.
How to avoid it: Use onsite Facebook checkout or PayPal (Goods & Services) and only send Zelle payments to people you know and trust.
Facebook Marketplace Shipping Scams (For Sellers)
How it works: A scammer contacts a seller and expresses interest in an item, insisting on paying through Venmo, Zelle, or any other off-platform method. They will then send a fake proof of payment and ask the seller to ship the item as soon as possible. By the time the seller realizes there was no payment, it might be too late and the item would be lost.
How to avoid it: Don’t ship items until you can confirm the payment in your account. Use Facebook’s built-in shipping and payment options, or secure payment methods, such as PayPal (Goods & Services).
Facebook Marketplace Shipping Scams (For Buyers)
How it works: If you’re a buyer shopping on Facebook Marketplace, you should beware of shipping scams too. One popular scheme is when scam sellers ask you to pay via Zelle, Venmo, wire transfer, or another payment method that doesn’t come with a buyer’s protection. To prevent suspicion, they may give you a fake USPS tracking number, or a real one with a label created but no parcel sent. By the time you notice the parcel doesn’t move, the scammers will be gone and so will your money.
How to avoid it: Use the “Buy now” button to place orders on Facebook Marketplace, as this is the only way to get buyer protection from Facebook. Also, make sure to check seller reviews.
Chargeback Scam
How it works: First, a scammer buys something from you. Then, after receiving the item, they file a dispute with their bank, claiming that the item was defective or never arrived. As a result, in addition to losing the sale amount and the item itself, you may also be charged a chargeback fee.
How to avoid it: Make photo and video proof of the item and its condition before shipping it. Always use tracking and keep the shipping receipts for proof of shipment. Keep payments and communications on-platform so you can easily provide screenshots in case of disputes.
Prepaid Shipping Label Scam
How it works: A scammer posing as a buyer asks you to send them the item using their own prepaid shipping label. All you have to do is print it and attach it to the package. If you agree, you’ll have no control over the shipment and no way to track it, so the buyer may claim the package never arrived, tricking you into refunding them.
How to avoid it: Use shipping labels provided by Facebook or trusted third-party services like PirateShip.
Overpayment Scam
How it works: A buyer claims they have accidentally sent you a payment that exceeds the cost of the item. They’ll ask you to refund the excess amount, which might look like the right thing to do, but only if the initial payment was real, which usually isn’t the case in this scam. However, even if you did receive a real payment and you’d like to return the overage, keep in mind that the scam buyer may try to file a dispute with their bank after you ship out the item, resulting in the reversal of that payment plus a chargeback fee.
How to avoid it: Never accept overpayments. If someone "accidentally" sends too much money, insist on canceling the entire transaction and starting over with the correct amount.
Counterfeit Cash Scam
How it works: Scam as old as time, it’s still popular when selling locally. Fraudsters pay the seller in cash but hand them counterfeit banknotes. In most cases, the unsuspecting seller will only realize that the money is fake when they attempt to buy something with it.
How to avoid it: When receiving cash payments, make sure to check security features on banknotes, such as the watermark and security thread. If the item is expensive, consider meeting at a bank where cash can be verified on the spot. If you happen to accept a fake bill, inform the authorities immediately.
General Tips to Avoid Facebook Marketplace Scams as a Seller
As you can see, the list of Facebook Marketplace scams is quite long. Scammers will use every opportunity to rip you off, so knowing how to protect yourself is important:
- Accept Payments Through Secure Methods.
Scammers will often insist on payments outside the platform because those payment methods don’t offer any protection and are easier to tamper with. Use Facebook’s built-in checkout or Paypal (Goods & Services) for your safety. - Confirm Payment Before Shipping Items.
Always check with your bank or PayPal account if the payment is real, especially if the buyer sends you screenshot confirmations and is pressuring you to act fast. - Set Clear Terms for Returns, Refunds, or Meeting Arrangements. Having clear policies on returns, refunds, and meet-up locations helps prevent misunderstandings and protects you from manipulative buyers and fraudulent claims.
- Use Secure Communication Channels.
Facebook’s Messenger has everything buyers and sellers may need for easy negotiations. If someone insists on switching to other channels, they may be planning to scam you. - Expand Selling Efforts by Crosslisting Products.
Crosslisting your items on multiple selling platforms increases your chances of finding legitimate buyers. Other marketplaces may have better protections in place, so this will not only boost your sales but also help you avoid scammers. - Always Report Scammers.
Reporting attempted scams or suspicious profiles helps keep the platform safer for everyone.
Expand Your Reselling Efforts Safely Across Multiple Platforms with Vendoo
Selling on Facebook Marketplace can be a great way to reach buyers, but this is not the most protected platform out there. Despite Facebook’s continuous efforts to improve safety, Marketplace remains a welcoming place for bad actors of all kinds. Knowing the red flags and familiarizing yourself with the most common fraudulent schemes will help you avoid falling victim to Facebook scammers.
Another way to minimize risks and maximize your sales is to consider other selling platforms, such as Poshmark, eBay, or Mercari, which may have more advanced protection policies for both buyers and sellers. With Vendoo, you can easily crosslist your items to these and other marketplaces, expanding your reach and diversifying your sales channels for greater peace of mind.
Ready to experience all the benefits of crosslisting? Start for FREE today and maximize your reselling efforts safely!
FAQs
How Do You Know If A Buyer Is Scamming You?
The most common signs are they rush you to act immediately, ask for the information you normally don’t share with anyone, and insist on communicating, making payments, or shipping outside the platform. Grammar and spelling mistakes might also be indicative of scams.
Is It Safe to Give Someone My Address on Facebook Marketplace?
No, it’s not safe to give away your exact address. Many people prefer to provide the nearest intersection instead; however, arranging a meeting in a well-lit public place, such as a busy parking lot or a police station’s designated meet-up spot, is ideal.
What Is the Safest Way to Accept Payment on Facebook Marketplace?
The safest way to accept an electronic payment on Facebook Marketplace is through Facebook’s built-in checkout process. You can link your bank account or PayPal to receive payments from sales. For in-person transactions, cash remains the safest option.
