Facebook Marketplace Scams and How to Avoid Them.

Facebook Marketplace is a great way to buy and sell items locally, but it can also be a hotbed for scams. Unfortunately, there are people out there who will try to take advantage of others by selling fake or defective items, or by trying to steal money from unsuspecting buyers. In this blog post, we will discuss tips that will help you avoid Facebook Marketplace scams.

How do you avoid Facebook scams?

What is the easiest way to detect a Facebook Marketplace scam? The company Facebook/Meta currently has over 1 billion global users. In doing so, it becomes the biggest consumer/consumer market in a way that allows individuals to buy online from and share Facebook content seamlessly. It has overtaken Craigslist for a few reasons. It can be used easily as most people already have Facebook accounts. It lets the user search local sellers’ listings, simplifying the collection process and increasing the availability of items. Since users have access to a seller’s profile they feel safer in their online presence.

Facebook is an ideal place for people to shop for and sell anything from vintage clothing to vintage motorcycles and furniture. You can easily find a wide array of goods in the vicinity of your location. Classified advertisements from newspapers as a whole or blurbs offering for-sale products posted on Craigslist have migrated into the Facebook Marketplace. Facebook is the world’s biggest online marketplace and its ad campaign has more than 503 million monthly users.

Common Facebook Marketplace Scams

– Fake or Defective Items:

Some scammers will try to sell fake or defective items on Marketplace. They may advertise a product as being new or in good condition, but when you receive it, you realize that it is used or damaged. If you are meeting in person, always inspect an item thoroughly before purchasing. If possible, try to meet the seller in person so that you can see the item for yourself. If you are purchasing via the mail system, make sure to inspect the item thoroughly as soon as you receive it.

– Scams Involving Shipping:

There have been some reports of scammers asking buyers to pay for shipping costs upfront outside of the Facebook checkout, but then never sending the item. If you are asked to pay for shipping, it is best to use the Facebook checkout method to ensure that you are protected with the buyer protection that Facebook offers when purchasing on Facebook.

– Money Transfer Scams:

In this type of scam, a buyer will send a payment to the seller through a money transfer service such as Western Union or PayPal. The problem is that these types of trusted payment methods are not always reversible, so if the item never arrives, the buyer has no recourse. If possible, always use a credit card when purchasing items on Facebook Marketplace, so that you can dispute the charges if necessary.

If you’re thinking about buying or selling on Facebook Marketplace, here are a few things to keep in mind in order to avoid becoming a victim of fraud:

Buyer Beware

-Be cautious of anyone who contacts you or asks to contact you outside of the Marketplace app

This goes for buyers and sellers. Scammers will often try to lure victims away from the safety of the platform in order to avoid detection. Do not buy or sell items from people who encourage you to contact them off the online platforms.

There have been too many reports of people being scammed out of their money. They are doing what we call a phishing scheme by luring you away and then encouraging you to send them money and then the platform you met them on becomes unable to help you since you did not finish on the same platform.

-Beware of anyone who is selling an item for an unusually low price.

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Not much more to say on that… Of course, there are good deals out there. Especially on this platform, but buyer beware.

-When doing a local transaction, Be cautious of sellers/buyers who refuse to meet in person.

-Meet in a public place

When you meet up with a buyer to sell an item, always do it in a public place. Don’t invite them to your home, and don’t go to theirs. If possible, meet during the day in a busy area, or a public parking lot that is well lit. Even though it is very normal now to do contactless transactions, just be careful of where you go and bring someone with you if possible.

-accept electronic payments safely. It is a lot more common now to take electronic payments in person or contactless payments. Make sure you have received the payment before releasing the item and do not use a screenshot of their screen showing they have sent it. Keep your money safe and keep the honest, honest. It is a new scam to show you a fake send receipt that something has been sent, but if you do not have the money verified by your system, then don’t release the product. *Keep in mind with our new Covid-19 world and being post-pandemic, it is very common now to send money via apps like Venmo, PayPal, or Cashapp and it can be very safe. Just make sure you are dealing with legitimate users who are credible sellers before you send your hard-earned money.

-Do your research

Before buying an expensive item, do some research to make sure you’re not being scammed. For example, if you’re looking to buy a car, check the Kelly Blue Book value to see if the price is in line with what it’s worth. If you’re looking at a piece of jewelry, research the style and materials to see if it’s authentic. There are many ways to research items these days with a simple Google search.

Seller Beware

-Don’t post too much personal information

When you list an item for sale on Marketplace, only include the necessary details in your listing (e.g., item name, condition, price). Don’t include your full name, home address, email address, or phone number. Communicate with a potential buyer and complete your sale within Facebook Messenger–there’s no reason to give anyone your phone number

Never respond to a security prompt you didn’t first initiate the buyer does not need your security code to make sure you are real. If they ask for that, then they are not real, but phishing.

“The fraudsters have just pivoted. They’ve become more sophisticated.

-Don’t post fake listings

It’s against Facebook’s Community Standards to post fake listings, and if you do, your account could be suspended. If you see a listing that looks fake, please report the seller to Facebook.

-Be cautious of buyers who want to pay with a check or money order.

If a buyer wants to pay you with a check, be cautious. It’s common for scammers to send counterfeit checks. They are most likely NOT a legitimate buyer. Don’t ship the item until the check has cleared and the funds have been deposited into your account.

There have been too many reports of people being scammed out of their money by accepting checks as payment.

-Bring a friend

It’s always best to have someone with you when you’re meeting up with a stranger, especially if you’re selling something of value. Not only will this help keep you safe, but it will also deter potential scammers.

-If an item seems too good to be true, do some research

on it before you commit to buying it. There are many scams involving fake giveaways or counterfeit items being sold on Facebook Marketplace. Do your research on an item before committing to buying it, especially if it is being offered at a significantly lower price than usual.

-If you have any doubts about a seller, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and move on to someone else.

There are plenty of other sellers on Marketplace, so don’t waste your time with someone who makes you feel uneasy.

Why do scammers target Facebook Marketplace?

Since Facebook is such a familiar platform to use, people naturally have a sense of safety and security, which becomes a huge target for scammers to prey on the innocent and commit petty crimes.

Sellers can be scammed also!

Facebook Marketplace: A scammer’s paradise

Facebook Marketplace is Booming. There are plenty of Common Facebook Marketplace scams, and it is important to be aware of them!

-Many scammers are from out of state or even out of the country. They will try to get you to ship the item before they pay, or they will send you a fake check.

-Some scammers will pose as a buyer who is interested in an item, but when you meet up with them, they will try to rob you instead. This isn’t very common but can happen. Please always take someone with you, and or meet in a public place.

-Sellers will post listings for items. When the “buyer” messages the seller about the product, they will ask for your personal information/ verification that you are real or even try to make you feel guilty for not complying with their requests.

Google Voice scams

Facebook Marketplace buyers also use this platform to leverage fraud on other platforms. In the first instance, the scammer verbally accepts a purchase on the Facebook messenger app. After the user sends an incoming message via WhatsApp, they ask the seller to verify himself. It is a verification code or authentication that is sent by a fraudster via Google Voice. It allows sellers to register with their own phone numbers with your information to use in other scams. They may try to open a new account or open one in your name, try to use your credit, or do a myriad of other things. The best way to avoid this is not to use Google Voice for anything other than WhatsApp. Also, do not give people codes, your phone number or any other way to contact you other than the messenger app. They just do not need it!

How to report a Facebook Marketplace Scam?

The best way to report a Facebook marketplace scam is by following these instructions:

-Go to the listing that you think is a scam

-Click on the three dots in the top right corner of the post

-Select “Report Post”

-Choose the option that best describes why you’re reporting this post and click “Continue”

-Follow the prompts from there

These steps will help facebook investigate and take appropriate action. Remember, you can also report any suspicious activity to law enforcement. If you have been a victim of fraud, file a complaint with the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint. And also make sure to report to fb and block. them from your profile.

-If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. When in doubt, do some research on an item

before committing to buying it.

By following these simple tips, you can help protect yourself from becoming a victim of fraud on Facebook Marketplace. Remember, If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Be cautious of anyone who tries to take advantage of you.

And always report suspicious activity to Facebook so they can take appropriate action.

Have you ever been the victim of a scam on Facebook Marketplace? Share your story in the comments below!

Did this blog post help you? Share it with a friend who might find it useful, too! And don’t forget to subscribe to our Facebook Group @fbmarketplaceforsellersonly We would also invite you to join our email lis for weekly newsletters and more great content like this. :)”

We are sellers just like you on the platform and do not represent Marketplace but do provide a place for sellers to come and participate and enjoy learning the ever-changing selling platform.