Facebook Marketplace scams: spot a fake seller

The scams that hit buyers

• Deposit to hold it. A great price, lots of interest, and a request for a deposit before you can see it. The item doesn’t exist.
• Shipping only. The seller is “out of town” and will ship if you pay first, outside Facebook’s checkout.
• Rental listings. A home for rent well below market, an owner who can’t show it, and a deposit by app or wire.
• Too-cheap electronics, tickets and pets. Popular items at a big discount are the classic bait.

The scams that hit sellers

• The code request. A “buyer” says they want to verify you’re real and asks for a code sent to your phone. It’s used to open an account in your name.
• Fake payment emails. A message that looks like it’s from a payment app says the money is waiting once you pay a fee or ship.
• Overpayment. They “accidentally” send too much and ask for the difference back. The original payment is later reversed.
• Courier pickup. They’ll send their own driver and a prepaid label, after you click a link to “confirm”.

The common thread: a reason to move off Facebook, send money first, or share a code or link.

How to tell if a Marketplace seller is legit

1. Tap their name and look at the profile: when they joined Facebook, their ratings and what else they’ve listed.
2. Be wary of brand-new profiles, profiles with no friends or posts, and sellers listing many expensive items at once.
3. Ask for a specific photo of the item, such as next to today’s newspaper or with your name on paper.
4. Search their profile photo to see whether it belongs to someone else.
5. Insist on seeing the item in person before any money changes hands.

How to buy and sell safely

• Meet in a busy public place in daylight. Many police stations have a safe exchange spot.
• Bring someone with you for big items, and tell a friend where you’re going.
• Pay or get paid in person, and count cash or confirm the transfer before you hand anything over.
• Keep the conversation on Messenger, so there’s a record Facebook can see.
• Never share a verification code, and never pay a deposit to a stranger.

What to do if you were scammed

1. Report the listing and the profile from the listing’s menu, and block them.
2. If you paid by card or a payment app, contact them right away and ask about a dispute.
3. Keep screenshots of the listing, profile and messages.
4. In the US, report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov and, for losses, at ic3.gov. File a police report for larger amounts.