18 Facebook Marketplace Scams and How To Avoid Becoming a Victim

The best way to access Facebook Marketplace safely is with an identity theft protection service. Facebook Marketplace, with 1.2 billion monthly buyers, is arguably one of the largest online resale commerce sites in the world. However, the amount of traffic is also a huge draw for online criminals. Facebook Marketplace scammers pose as both fake sellers and fake buyers to steal your identity. 

So how can you tap into the benefits of Facebook Marketplace without being scammed? 

We'll show you how to protect yourself on Facebook Marketplace, offer recommendations for an identity theft protection service, and share other protective tools you can use.

18 most common Facebook Marketplace scams

Due to the nature of the platform, scammers target both buyers and sellers. These include scams to steal your products or services, get you to pay for fraudulent products or services, or even identity theft. 

Read on to identify the most common Facebook Marketplace scams and avoid becoming a victim.

Scams targeting buyers

1. Fake giveaways

Have you received a message telling you about the new Macbook you just won? Maybe a link to a “survey” that will get you a gift card to a store you love? These are ways to gather your personal information or gain access to your device to install malware. 

Be cautious of anything that directs you outside of the Facebook platform. Using antivirus software with phishing protection adds another layer of protection against these scams. 

2. Bait-and-switch items

Fraudsters will advertise what you’re looking for at a great price. When you inquire about the product, it’s suddenly “unavailable,” but a higher-priced replacement is offered.

Similar to bait-and-switch items, non-delivery scams involve a seller who lists an item that they aren’t planning on actually shipping to buyers.

Instead of switching the item for something more expensive or lower quality at the last minute (as with bait-and-switch), non-delivery scams attempt to take payment without sending the item out. This allows the perpetrator to engage multiple buyers with a single item or sometimes no item to sell at all.

If the listing is local, a good way to avoid this type of Marketplace scam is to ask to pay for the item in person in a convenient public place. If the seller refuses, there is a good chance they are trying to dupe you.

If the item needs to be shipped, scammers often only accept non-secure or unusual payment methods such as wire transfers and gift cards — or have you pay by other means outside of Facebook Marketplace. 

Avoid using non-conventional means to purchase items on the Marketplace, and if you need to pay online, pay within Facebook Marketplace so Facebook has recourse to help you if fraud occurs.

3. Asking to be paid in gift cards

A common scam used by fraudsters is requesting payment in gift cards. They do this because gift card transactions — unlike those with debit or credit cards — are quite difficult to trace.

Once you send payment, there is no way for the bank or card company to get that money back for you. There is no good reason for anyone to require payment by gift card, so the best way to avoid this scam is to never engage with listings that demand this type of payment.

4. Counterfeit items

Some sellers obscure the authenticity of an item in an attempt to sell you a cheap counterfeit. These listings usually look like a good deal for the buyer, so it's always best to do some research on the item to find any signs of authenticity and see how much it commonly sells for.

You can try to get the seller to send a new video of the item to show any proof of authenticity if possible. For example, designer bags come with a certificate of authenticity. Jewelry has model numbers and engravings or the company name stamped. Niche jewelry designers like Lionette stamp all their pieces with their company names.

Otherwise, always check the seller’s profile for reviews that might warn you about fraudulent activity. If the price seems too good to be true, there’s a good chance it is a counterfeit.

5. Faulty products

Faulty product scams come in two variations. The first is a fraudulent vendor who knowingly sells a malfunctioning product and then disappears after they receive payment.

The second is a fraudulent buyer who claims that the item they received is faulty and requests a refund. Instead of returning the so-called faulty item, the buyer holds onto it and insists that the product is in the mail, pressing the seller for an urgent refund with no intention of ever returning the product.

6. Rental scams

Rental scams involve fake listings for apartments, properties, boats, or power tools that ask shoppers for upfront payments or deposits. In the case of living spaces, some of these listings ask customers to fill out fake lease agreements or applications with the hope of attaining valuable personal information like social security numbers. Once the victim has submitted a deposit and/or application, the scammer disappears.

Facebook Marketplace isn’t the best platform for rental equipment or properties because of the rampant scams. Stick with rental companies with a good reputation and a proven track record of good service.

Otherwise, beware of properties listed suspiciously below market value. Never submit payments or fill out any paperwork before confirming the legitimacy of the landlord and the property, boat, or equipment they are renting out. This means inspecting the property, boat, or equipment in person to verify that it exists and that it is in the right condition.

If the seller will only accept payment methods that are untraceable — such as advance cash payments — this is a huge red flag that they are a scammer.

7. Car deposit/advance payment scams

Scammers use high-demand items like vehicles to persuade buyers to submit advance payments or deposits to reserve the item. The seller commonly creates a false sense of urgency, claiming that they have multiple offers or that the item will sell quickly. Deposit and advance payment scams are also used with rental equipment, properties, valuable items, or collectibles.

Most, if not all, of these scams request untraceable payment methods, such as cash advance payments and gift cards, to try to close the deal outside of Facebook Marketplace and eliminate any connection to the seller. The scammer's end goal is to collect the victim’s deposit or advance payment and disappear.

When purchasing a car on Facebook Marketplace, ask for the vehicle identification number (VIN) and check sites like CARFAX or AutoCheck for the vehicle. Verify the name of the seller and make sure they have a history.

Scams targeting sellers

8. Lost package claims

A lot of people will purchase something knowing there are protections in place to keep them from losing money on a scam. They’ll collect the item, then claim they never received it. Paying to have the package tracked and signed for upon receipt may be a little more expensive, but it’ll keep you from losing out on the entire sale.

9. Overpayment scams

It’s rare that an honest buyer will accidentally overpay a seller, so avoiding these kinds of scams is fairly straightforward. The key is to simply never accept an overpayment. If someone tries to overpay you, decline the payment and ask them to submit the correct amount. If they press the issue for any reason, just move on from the sale.

Regarding refunds, always check that the payment has cleared before refunding someone.

10. Using stolen credit cards to pay

Buyers that use stolen credit cards are under a time crunch to complete transactions as quickly as possible before the card is reported stolen or the bank identifies suspicious activity. Thus, it’s common for these buyers to appear pushy and even offer more than an item’s asking price just to complete the transaction. 

These criminals insist on closing the deal outside of Facebook’s checkout using payment apps like Venmo and Cash App or wire transfers knowing that these transactions are unprotected by Facebook.

11. Receiving a prepaid shipping label

If a buyer tries to supply you with a prepaid shipping label, they are almost certainly trying to scam you. The most common excuse they’ll use is that they have a preferred shipping method. Never accept prepaid shipping labels from buyers, and always get a tracking number whenever you ship something so you can follow and verify the item’s delivery.

12. QR code scams

Since Facebook Marketplace provides users with a safe and legitimate way to pay for goods, it’s never necessary for QR codes to become part of a transaction. You can always assume that any buyer (or seller) trying to get you to scan a QR code is trying to scam you. 

Avoid taking partial payments to hold items for buyers, as some scammers will pretend to pay the difference to you through a fake QR code that is meant to steal your information or fool you into paying them money.

13. Immediate interest

Did you list your $200 shoes five minutes ago and now someone is contacting you telling you to email them so they can buy your shoes? That’s almost guaranteed to be a scam. The scammer will frequently ask you to contact them via email instead of communicating through the site.

If someone is immediately interested, communicate only through Facebook Messenger. If they provide a contact method outside of Messenger, you can report and block them.

Scams targeting both

14. Fake Facebook accounts

A fake Facebook account allows scammers to create listings, receive payments, and then disappear without fulfilling their side of the bargain. Look out for fairly new accounts with no profile picture, very few friends, and no Marketplace activity. More often than not, these accounts are fake, and you're not chatting with a real person.

15. Sending an item before payment is received

Sending an item before receiving payment puts all of the risk on the seller. If the buyer wants to test or view the product before buying, offer alternatives such as meeting in a safe and public place or having a video chat.

If the buyer reacts suspiciously or refuses, they are likely trying to scam you.

16. Asking for your phone number

A hacker can get into your account with your name and phone number by rerouting two-factor authentication (2FA) to themselves, as is the case in a Google Voice scam. It’s best to stay within Messenger for all transactions and not offer up any private information. Also, use a password manager to create, store, and manage complex passwords so it's harder for hackers to gain access to your online accounts. 

Another version of this scam involves fraudulent buyers who first feign interest in a seller’s listing. They eventually ask for the seller’s phone number for a made-up reason, such as to discuss the deal further.

Once they have the seller’s number, they can use it to set up a Google Voice number. Google Voice then sends the seller a 2FA code for verification.

The buyer proceeds to trick the seller into giving them the code, allowing the buyer to use the newly created Google Voice account to commit further fraud.

17. Asking you to provide verification codes to prove your identity

The key to avoiding this kind of scam is to never give out your phone number or email address and always use the Facebook Messenger app to communicate with potential buyers or sellers.

Furthermore, never reveal verification codes that are sent to your phone or email address to anyone. These codes can be used to set up accounts under your number or email address and allow scammers to commit further fraud.

18. Requiring you to click a link to fill out more information

Scammers often try to trick users into clicking links that contain malware or lead a victim to a malicious website in order to steal their personal information.

These links are created to appear disarming, and scammers will try to make it seem necessary to click the link to proceed with a transaction. It's common for these kinds of phishing scams to offer some kind of giveaway or provide a “necessary” form to be filled out.

How common are Facebook Marketplace scams?

To get a handle on the things that raise eyebrows among real users, our research team surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults about their experiences with Facebook Marketplace.

Of interest, 63% of Facebook users report shopping on Marketplace. Of those, more than 1 in 8 (14%) report being scammed, while nearly 8 in 10 (79%) report seeing scams on the platform.

While it isn’t always easy to know if something is or isn’t a scam, there are certain signs that can impact how legitimate a potential buyer thinks a Facebook Marketplace listing is.

When presented with a list of potentially suspect behavior, the biggest red flag among respondents was sellers that ask for a specific form of payment (such as gift cards) to be used to complete a transaction, something that 92% of people said makes them more likely to think a post is a scam.

A similar portion of people (88%) said that suspicious photos in a listing (such as only including photos from a manufacturer’s website and no original pictures) make them more likely to think a post is a scam.

What to do if you’re scammed on Facebook Marketplace

Even if you’re diligent and careful, it’s still possible to be scammed. If you find yourself on the other end of a fraudulent transaction, there are steps you can take to mitigate the damage. Start by contacting your bank, filing a report with local law enforcement, and reporting the scam itself on Facebook.

How to report a buyer scam

1. Open the item listing on your screen.
2. Next to the buyer’s name, click see more.
3. Click the ellipsis (the three dots).
4. Click report buyer.
5. Click scam, then follow the on-screen instructions to file the report.

How to report a seller scam

1. Go to the listing you think is fraudulent.
2. Click the name of the seller.
3. Click the ellipsis (the three dots).
4. Click report seller.
5. Click scam, then follow the on-screen instructions to file the report.

After you file a report

After you report the scammer to Facebook Marketplace, it's a good time to take action to further protect your personal data and bank accounts. 

1. Review your credit reports: You can check your credit reports for free at least once a year. Look for any unfamiliar information that could be a sign of identity theft.
2. Double-check your bank statements: Make sure scammers didn't use your credit or debit card to make fraudulent charges. If you do see a suspicious transaction, contact your bank.
3. Sign up for identity theft protection: Even if scammers don't act right away, that doesn't mean your info wasn't compromised. An ID theft protection service helps you monitor your identity, credit reports, and bank accounts over the long term so you can quickly spot any issues and take immediate action. Some services even monitor your social media accounts as well — a perfect choice if you're worried your Facebook account was hacked. Learn more about how ID theft services work in our identity theft protection guide. 

The 3 best identity theft protection services

Is Facebook Marketplace safe?

While there are a lot of good things on Marketplace there are still scammers on the app, so you should make sure you're safe. Meta, Facebook’s parent company, knows it attracts scammers along with legitimate Facebook users, which is why it has so much information available on safety. Verified badges on profiles are one way this online marketplace is battling fraud. Another is the shopping safety guide that outlines best practices. There you can find information about responsible commerce, scams, purchase protection, and how ratings work.

Facebook Marketplace can be a safe and effective way to find goods or services you’ve been looking for in other markets. For people on a budget moving to a new city, it’s a way to furnish an entire apartment without breaking the bank. Furniture flippers and vintage collectors are also huge fans of the platform.

Ready to start buying and selling? The first step is reading through the responsibility guide. Follow this up with the purchase protections or seller protections pages for a sound foundation. This will help you spot new scams and prevent you from becoming a victim.

How to identify Facebook Marketplace scams

To keep yourself safe from scams, you should approach all Facebook Marketplace transactions with skepticism. To know if someone is scamming you on Facebook:

• New profiles: Be on the lookout for brand-new profiles with few or no profile pictures, as these are signs of dummy accounts commonly used to scam people.
• Deals that are too good to be true: Proceed cautiously with deals that seem too good to be true and buyers or sellers who pressure you to act quickly on a transaction.
• Asking for personal info: Beware of people who ask for personal information from you, such as your phone number, and never click any links sent to you, as these can contain malware.
• Fake listing images: Scrutinize listing images as scammers will use stock photos or images they took off the internet to list an item that either doesn’t exist or is in poor condition.
• Overpayment or odd payment methods: Strict requests for strange payment methods — such as by gift card — and buyers who insist on overpaying or do so “accidentally” are red flags.

If you ever see any of these signs — or something else that seems suspicious — consider moving on.

How to avoid Facebook Marketplace scams

While getting scammed is always possible, there are plenty of ways to keep yourself safe while using Facebook Marketplace. The following reminders can act like a checklist for every transaction:

• Regularly review your bank and credit card statements.
• Avoid anything that seems too good to be true.
• Check the seller’s badges and reviews.
• Communicate strictly on Facebook Messenger.
• Use two-factor authentication with your Facebook page.
• Use a trusted payment method that protects you like cash, PayPal, or Facebook Checkout.
• Double-check the other person’s identity.
• Meet in a populated, well-lit space.
• Bring everything you need to make sure you’re getting a working product.
• Update your privacy settings.

FAQs

Bottom line

Staying safe on social media might require a few extra steps, but they’re well worth it. A great start is to stay within the community's guidelines by only communicating through Messenger. Accepting or paying only with cash, PayPal, or Facebook Checkout can also protect you. Additionally, checking the length and validity of a seller or buyer’s account goes a long way.

With preparation and vigilance, you can effectively use a far-reaching tool like Facebook Marketplace without worrying about being scammed. 

We also recommend bundling antivirus software with an identity theft protection service for maximum protection. 

By staying diligent, you can enjoy the commerce and convenience of the resale platform while also knowing your information is safe.