14 Facebook Marketplace Scams to Watch Out For
Chris Furtick, Vice President for Client Solutions at Fortalice Solutions recently provided research and expertise to the following article published in Reader's Digest
Buyer beware: Scammers have set up shop on Facebook. Here's how to avoid falling victim to some common Facebook Marketplace scams
“Unlike eBay or Amazon, Facebook Marketplace shoppers have a lot more direct interaction and conversation with sellers,” says Paul Bischoff, a privacy advocate at Comparitech, a cybersecurity company. “That creates opportunities for scammers to trick victims into a number of scams with less oversight.”
Buyers can also be victims of Google voice scams. “In a recent twist, we are hearing that scammers are now posing as sellers on Facebook Marketplace and asking potential buyers to verify they are legitimate by providing a Google Voice verification code,” says Mona Terry, chief victims officer at the Identity Theft Resource Center.
How to identify it: If someone contacts you on Facebook Marketplace and asks for personal information like your phone number, you should view them with suspicion, says Daniel Clemens, founder and CEO of Shadow Dragon, a cybersecurity solutions developer. A request to send a verification code from Google Voice should be an even bigger warning sign to cut off contact with someone.
Insurance-fee scams
How this scam works: For items being sent by mail, fraudsters will request that buyers pay for shipping insurance on top of the item and shipping costs. Sometimes, the scammer will even send a fake invoice as proof, Terry says. But once the money is paid, the scammer disappears.
How to identify it: Legitimate sellers on Facebook Marketplace will not request any additional payment beyond the cost of the item and possible shipping fees. If someone asks you to send money for unexpected charges, cancel the transaction immediately.
Facebook Marketplace Zelle scams
How this scam works: Like the car deposit and advance-payment scams, Zelle scams use the popular digital payment service to steal your money. Scammers target sellers by paying through Zelle and either sending more money than the item's price or sending a spoofing email that looks like it's from Zelle. On the flip side, a phony seller might ask a buyer to pay them for an item using Zelle, then take off with the money without sending the product.
How to identify it: Think twice before agreeing to pay or accept payment from users on Facebook Marketplace through Zelle. “Scammers are aware that Zelle offers instant funds transfer, and the charges authorized by a user are not protected should a transaction go south,” says Chris Furtick, director of security engineering at Fortalice Solutions, which provides cybersecurity services. Stick to more secure payment systems like PayPal or Facebook Checkout instead.
How to avoid getting scammed on Facebook Marketplace
Finally, Facebook offers an online guide for buying and selling on Facebook Marketplace safely and responsibly. It covers many of the best practices that buyers and sellers should consider to protect themselves online, including meeting in person, watching out for counterfeit products and using secure payment methods. Make sure to check out these other Facebook scams to steer clear of.
What to do if you think you've been scammed
To report a seller on Facebook Marketplace, click the Marketplace icon in the left-hand corner of your computer screen, click the listing from the seller you want to report and then click on the name of the seller. From there, click the three-dot icon and select Report Seller; then follow the on-screen instructions.