Facebook Marketplace scams: spot and avoid them in 2024

Facebook Marketplace is a popular platform for purchasing second-hand items at prices that are often much lower than new ones. However, it is also a playground for scammers. Here are some essential tips to protect yourself when buying or selling on Facebook Marketplace.

Signs of a Facebook Marketplace Scam

There are several ways to identify a scam on Facebook, here they are:

Unusual payment methods

One of the first red flags to look out for is the payment methods offered, some of which are very often used by scammers to extract money from their victims. We can cite for example:

• PCS coupons (tobacco shops, supermarkets, etc.),
• PaySafeCard,
• Cryptocurrency,
• Money order,
• Western Union
• MoneyGram…

That said, these platforms are not frauds in themselves, they are only used very frequently by scammers to bypass verification processes more traditional and secure payment methods.

Payments via links

Payment links are URLs sent by buyers or sellers to complete a transaction. On Facebook Marketplace, these links may appear legitimate but are often used by scammers. Here's why they could be a sign of a scam:

• Fake payment sites: The links may redirect to fraudulent sites that imitate legitimate payment platforms to steal your credit card information.
• Phishing: Scammers use these links to collect personal and financial information, asking you to enter sensitive details.
• Diverted payment: Even if the link appears to lead to a secure platform, it can be modified to direct funds to the scammer's account.
• Falsified proof of payment: Scammers send fake payment links to make it appear that payment has been made, when in reality no money has been transferred.

⚠️ Be absolutely careful to never click on unsolicited payment links and always use secure payment methods directly via official platforms.

Advance payments

“Payment advances” “reservation” “deposit” or even “payment in advance” whatever you want to call them, are methods frequently used by scammers on Facebook Marketplace.
In this type of scam, The scammer asks the victim to pay part or all of the price of the item before delivery, often by inventing convincing reasons like delivery charges, booking costs or good faith guarantees.
Once the advance is paid, the scammer usually disappears without delivering the item. Requests for advance payments are often associated with offers that are too good to be true or items at unusually low prices, which should alert you as a buyer.

Fake payment confirmation emails received

Payment confirmation emails are messages sent by scammers to make it appear that a payment has been made for a purchase. These emails often imitate official notifications from payment services like PayPal, but contain falsified details. Here's why they're a sign of a scam:

1. Fake sender: Emails often come from addresses that resemble those of payment services, but with slight differences.
2. Emergency or pressure: Emails may insist that you quickly send the subject line or click on a link.
3. Suspicious links: Links in these emails lead to phishing sites designed to steal your information.
4. Errors or inconsistencies: Emails often contain grammatical errors or inconsistencies that are not found in official communications.

Overpayments 

Overpayments are a common scam technique. Here's how it works:

1. The scammer pays more than the requested amount for an item.
2. He then asks the seller to refund the difference.
3. The seller refunds this difference, believing that the initial payment is legitimate.

The problem arises when the scammer's initial payment is fraudulent (for example, via a forged check or a disputed transaction). Once the bank discovers the fraud, it cancels the payment, leaving the seller without the money from the original payment and without the amount refunded.

Overpayments are a sign of a scam because they play on the seller's trust and apparent urgency to resolve the situation. Legitimate buyers generally do not pay more than the agreed price.

Check seller profile and listing

Account age and activity

An authentic profile will have several years of existence and normal activity. Scammers often create recent or inactive accounts to hide their intentions.

⚠️ Scammers often use hacked user accounts, so this advice does not apply in all cases.

For a Facebook page, make sure they are “verified”

The seller's other announcements

Scammers often post multiple listings with similar prices. Be suspicious if you spot this kind of behavior. You can also check the seller's other listings to see if they seem credible to you.

Check images

• Use reverse image search to check if the photos are not used elsewhere on the internet,
• Copy URL to Google Images you will be able to see if the author of the account used a photo taken from the Internet.

These are good ways to verify the veracity of a Facebook profile or ad.

Is the ad realistic?

Genuine listings usually have detailed descriptions and realistic prices. An ad lacking details or offering prices that are too low is suspicious.

What payment method should you prefer on Facebook Marketplace?

We previously discussed the payment methods to avoid on Facebook Marketplace, now here are the ones you should favor:

PayPal

PayPal is one of the most secure and popular payment methods on Facebook Marketplace. To use PayPal provides buyer and seller protection, which considerably reduces the risk of scam.
PayPal also offers features such as refunds in the event of a dispute or non-receipt of the item.

By hand in cash

Paying in person with cash is a traditional but very secure method. By meeting the buyer or seller in person, you can check the item before handing over the money.

⚠️ However, be sure to choose a public and safe place to carry out the transaction, such as a café or shopping center.

Secure bank transfer

Bank transfer can be secure if done through your bank's official channels. Before finalizing the transaction, make sure that the funds are actually credited to your account. Most banks offer verification systems and notifications for each transaction, which makes it possible to monitor the transfer of funds in real time.

Credit card

Paying with a credit card can be a secure option, because credit card issuers generally offer fraud protections. If a transaction turns out to be a scam, you can dispute the charge with your card issuer and potentially get a refund (this will depend on your bank).

Frequently asked questions about Facebook Marketplace scams