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Facebook Marketplace is an amazing place to find great deals on everything from furniture to electronics. But with amazing bargains come potential pitfalls. Unfortunately, scammers lurk online. They’re waiting to exploit unsuspecting buyers and sellers. Do you know what are the common scams in Facebook Marketplace? But, why should you know that? It’s simple! If you already acknowledge these scams, they will help you stay safe from being scammed.
The data shows that more than one billion shoppers visit it every month and 51.2% of social media consumers use it to make their most recent purchase on Facebook Marketplace.
In this article, we will look at the most common Facebook Marketplace scams, ways to prevent and more.
A Facebook Marketplace scam refers to any deceptive or fraudulent activity conducted on Facebook’s online marketplace platform, with the intent to deceive users and exploit them financially or otherwise.
A recent survey revealed that one in six participants (i.e. 17%) were scammed on Facebook Marketplace. Of course, much of what is offered on this platform is legitimate. However, with any other platform, it also attracts many scammers.
The most common scams often occur on Facebook. Scammers are looking for ways to steal your money or personal information. When it comes to payments. There are several tricks they use to try and take advantage of you.
Now I’m going to share the top payment scams on Facebook so that you can stay away from them.
Don’t fall into this trap. Fraudsters trick buyers into purchasing gift cards as payment. Afterward, they just disappear into thin air without delivering the goods.
A scammer may steal your friends or family members’ Venmo accounts and they will text you and ask you to borrow money. Once you borrow them any money means you are being scammed.
Also, it can happen with goods or any service. They may exploit Venmo transactions on Facebook Marketplace. It often results in non-delivery or counterfeit items. Below are some common Venmo scams.
It is quite similar to Venmo scams. There are some common ways scammers may fall you into the trap and you are being scammed for many reasons. For example, Jane listed her old smartphone for $200 on Facebook Marketplace. A buyer, Alex, contacted her and insisted on paying via Cash App.
Once Jane provided her Cash App details, Alex sent a screenshot showing the payment was made. Based on the payment screenshot, Jane shipped the phone. However, after checking her Cash App account, Jane realized she never received the payment. Alex had used a fake screenshot to deceive her.
In most cases, the buyer claims they have sent a payment. But, the seller never receives the money. They use fake email notifications to make it look like the payment is pending or completed. For example, David was selling his bicycle for $150. A buyer named Jordan offered to pay via Zelle.
Soon after, David received an email that appeared to be from Zelle, stating that the payment was pending and that he needed to provide a tracking number to complete the transaction. David shipped the bicycle and sent the tracking number, only to discover that the email was fake and that Jordan had never sent any money.
It is another common scam on Facebook Marketplace. In most cases, the scammer sends a check or claims to have transferred more money than the agreed price. After they ask the seller to refund the excess amount.
The initial payment turns out to be fake or reversed. To understand it well. For example, you’re Lisa, and you’re trying to sell a used couch for $300. On the other hand, a buyer named Collin sent a check for $1,000. He is claiming that he made a mistake.
And, asked you to wire back the $700 difference. You deposited the check and sent John $700. A few days later, your bank informed you that the check was fraudulent and withdrew the entire $1,000 from her account, leaving you out $700. It means you’re being scammed. So, you need to be informed about this kinda scam.
In this kind of scam, fraudsters will convince you to accept payment through wire services like Western Union or MoneyGram. But it can happen and you fall into scammed? Here is an example for you.
Just think of a minute you listed your gaming console for $250. A buyer named Lea claimed to be from another state. She offered to pay through a wire transfer and have the console shipped. After you received the transfer confirmation, you shipped the console. Later, you found out the transfer confirmation was fake, and Lea was untraceable.
This scam includes buyers using fake money to pay for items on Facebook Marketplace. In this way, the scammer agrees to meet the seller in person. Afterward, they want to pay for the item with counterfeit cash. When the time the seller realizes the money is fake. The scammer has already taken the item and disappeared. This type of counterfeit bill can be hard to detect immediately. In particular, during quick transactions.
Deceptive sellers use clever tactics to trick you into paying for something that’s far from what it seems – broken, non-existent, or completely misrepresented. While it might be the perfect find, there’s a chance it could be a scammer’s trap.
Let’s take a look at some of the most common Facebook Marketplace scams related to products and inventory:
This type of scam includes luring buyers with attractive listings. They switch the item for something of lesser value or different from what was advertised. How does the scammer set this type of trap in Facebook Marketplace? A scammer posts a listing for a high-demand item at a great price.
When a buyer expresses interest, the scammer claims that the original item is no longer available. Also, they offer a substitute that is often of lower quality or higher price. In this case, the buyer, feeling pressured or still hopeful, might agree to the switch and end up with a product that does not match their expectations.
It is one of the most common scams that often happen in the marketplace. And a lot of people are encountering this type of scam. Shipping scams are all about convincing the seller to ship the item before the payment is confirmed. Sometimes they use a fake courier service. But, how do they do that?
A scammer agrees to buy an item and suggests using a courier service they claim is reliable. The next step is to send a fake payment confirmation or claim the money is pending. They say the payment will be released once the item is shipped. The seller, believing the transaction is legitimate, ships the item. Once the scammer receives the item they just disappear without paying.
It includes fraudulent listings for vehicles that either do not exist or have significant undisclosed issues. This way a scammer lists a car at an attractive price. When a buyer contacts them, they often request a deposit to “hold” the car or cover shipping costs.
When the buyer sends the money, the car never arrives. Just because it doesn’t exist. Sometimes, it arrives with undisclosed problems. In other cases, the scammer might sell a stolen vehicle with fake documents.
This type of scam includes selling items that are either counterfeit or stolen. Do you know how a scammer set a trap for this? They list high-demand items like electronics, designer goods, or tickets at attractive prices.
Once any customer purchases these items. They turn out to be fake, or worse, they are stolen goods. If your purchased items are stolen, you could face legal issues when authorities track the stolen property.
This type of scam includes fake listings for properties available for rent. For example, scammers post appealing rental listings at below-market prices to attract renters. When someone expresses interest.
They ask for a security deposit or first month’s rent to secure the property. To make it credible they might send fake lease agreements and keys that don’t work. Once the payment is made, the just will disappear. In most cases, the victim finds out the property either doesn’t exist or isn’t available for rent.
It is another recognized method of scamming in Facebook Marketplace. Usually, scammers sell defective or damaged items while claiming they are in good condition. But how do they victimize?
They create a sell post item and describe it as being in excellent or working condition. When a buyer purchases it and takes it home. They discover the item is broken, damaged, or non-functional. When the victim’s attempts to contact the seller are often futile. They can’t because the scammer either provides false contact information or blocks the buyer.
Have you ever received a call from your “bank” about suspicious activity, only to find out later it was a scam? Or maybe you’ve clicked on a link in an email promising a “dream job” that turned out to be a phishing attempt.
These are just a few examples of social engineering scams. Keep reading to learn about common Facebook Marketplace scams on social engineering:
In this case, scammers use deceptive emails or messages to trick users into providing sensitive information such as login credentials or financial details.
Fraudsters lure users with fake giveaways or contests on Facebook Marketplace, aiming to collect personal information or defraud participants.
You may face this type of Facebook Marketplace scam. Scammers convince users to provide verification codes, often claiming it’s for security purposes, then use the codes to hijack accounts or perform fraudulent activities.
Fraudulent sellers may provide QR codes that lead to malicious websites or scams, exploiting users’ trust in QR technology for nefarious purposes.
In this way, scammers express exaggerated interest in purchasing items on Facebook Marketplace. They often rush buyers into hasty transactions or use high-pressure tactics to manipulate them into making impulsive decisions.
These are the most common Facebook Marketplace Scams. Apart from these also we can see some other scams. Such as:
Scammers request items upfront without intending to pay. After that, they leave sellers at a loss and without compensation for their goods
It is another common scam that often happens. In most cases, dishonest sellers list electronic devices as functional on Facebook Marketplace. Only for buyers to discover upon receipt that the items are damaged or non-functional.
Fraudsters request payments through peer-to-peer payment apps outside of Facebook Marketplace. They often use fake accounts or deceptive tactics to trick users out of their money without delivering the promised goods.
Some scammers may attempt to move communications off the official platform. They try to make it harder for users to report suspicious activity increasing the risk of fraudulent transactions.
A cunning tactic hackers are increasingly using involves hijacking Facebook accounts. Once they’re in, they impersonate the rightful owner and send direct messages to friends and family. They ask for the money on behalf of you. They create fake stories and images to prove that you had an accident or any other troubles.
Undeniably, sellers on Facebook Marketplace have become prime targets for a variety of scams. Reports indicate a significant rise in incidents targeting those looking to sell goods on the platform. In 2022, the FTC warned that scammers often pretend to be buyers and trick real sellers on websites like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist.
In certain instances, scammers might demand to use a payment app to purchase items. and They then send the seller a phony payment notification. They hope that the seller won’t catch on to the deceit until after they’ve dispatched the goods.
Facebook Marketplace has become a popular platform for buying and selling items. However, it comes with the risk of scams. If you’re able to recognize the red flags. It can help you avoid falling victim to fraud.
Let’s take a closer look at the red flags of Facebook marketplace scams:
Being aware of these warning signs can help you stay safe on Facebook Marketplace. You should always prioritize your safety and trust your instincts. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. So, you need to stay cautious and protect yourself from scams!
You may be wondering how to get rid of Facebook Marketplace scams. Don’t you? You can prevent scams on Facebook Marketplace if you follow these precautions.
If you’re wondering what Facebook does to keep us safe from scams, let’s find out what they’re doing behind the scenes to protect us.
If you are a victim of a scam on Facebook Marketplace, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to report the buyer or seller and the listing to Facebook.
Once you follow these steps, you can report scams on Facebook Marketplace and help protect yourself and others from falling victim to fraudulent activity. So, don’t hesitate to report any suspicious behavior you encounter.
When you report for Facebook Marketplace scam, authorities safeguard your personal data and financial accounts. Here’s what you should do next:
More and more people are turning to Facebook Marketplace for their online shopping to get products at discounted prices and falling victim to Facebook Marketplace Scams. Not satisfied with this, they also look for other ways to profit from the wide world which Facebook has diversified through its different functionalities.
Therefore, it is necessary to adopt good security practices, pay attention to signs that an offer may be a scam, and inform yourself about the methodologies that cybercriminals use to carry out their attacks. This way, you will avoid buying yourself a problem.
Furthermore, always double-check the necessary information to eliminate all reasonable doubt and, if needed, report suspicious activities to ensure the safety of other users. Be proactive and alert – this might be the secret formula to prevent Facebook Marketplace scams.
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Rubayate Yasmin is an experienced content marketing expert. For the last 3 years, she has been working directly with customer engagement for REVE Chat. She has moved to content marketing with her enriched knowledge to create high-quality content in customer service, engagement, communication, and more. She aims to help businesses create excellent customer experiences.
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