16 common Facebook Marketplace scams to watch out for

What is a Facebook Marketplace scam?

A Facebook Marketplace scam is financial internet fraud that involves buyers or sellers stealing money, goods, or personal information through the use of deception. It combines the typical elements of social media and e-commerce scams. Criminals use spoofed Facebook accounts, stolen banking information, and false addresses to trick their targets into scam trades.

Common Facebook Marketplace scams

Social media online scams come in different shapes and sizes, from attempts to get a desired item for free to stealing financial information. Unlike Instagram scams, where users can use more anonymous display names, Facebook Marketplace display the full names of buyers and sellers. To bypass this, scammers often create fake Facebook accounts.

Some online shopping scams are initiated only by sellers or buyers. Fake payment confirmations, for example, are a buyer-led scam, while no-show scams are more likely to be committed by sellers. However, scams built on social engineering can be initiated by either party. Some users scam people both as the seller and the buyer. For instance, they trick other sellers out of items and relist them themselves to then steal money from buyers. Whether you plan to only buy, only sell, or do both, you should learn to recognize the red flags.

1. Fake buyer scams

Fake buyer scams involve criminals pretending to be interested in an item despite having no intention of actually paying for it. They use fake and stolen accounts to contact sellers. In some cases, fake buyers might ask for discounts or try to bargain — for instance, to have two items sold to them for a price of one. Once the item is delivered, they contest the payment with their bank or claim that the item wasn’t delivered in the promised condition.

2. Fake seller scams

Fake sellers are focused on stealing the buyers’ money or gaining access to their personal information. The same person may run several seller accounts to maximize profit and use stolen or AI-generated images for their fake listings. They often urge the buyers to use payment systems outside Marketplace.

Once the scammer sells something and receives the payment, they block the buyer and don’t deliver the item. Sellers can also send buyers phishing payment links, which can expose their financial information, like their full name, home address, and card details, to criminals.

3. Payment system scams

Facebook Marketplace accepts credit, debit, and PayPal payments. However, some users might agree on alternative payment methods, like cash, Zelle, or Venmo. Making payments outside  Marketplace can be risky because the platform can’t monitor or flag suspicious transactions.

Facebook Marketplace PayPal scams are usually used to steal funds from buyers. Sellers claim they can’t connect their PayPal account to Facebook for security reasons or technical issues, and send the buyer a PayPal name to transfer the funds. Once the transaction is complete, the seller blocks the user without delivering the item.

Zelle is another scammer favorite. Zelle transactions are instant, and it’s nearly impossible to contest them. This method also grants scammers access to their target’s email address, which they need to transfer the money. With Zelle scams running rampant on Facebook Marketplace and other e-commerce websites, Zelle was sued by the New York attorney general in August 2025 for failing to protect its clients sufficiently.

Venmo scams work similarly to Zelle scams, forcing the target to expose their sensitive information to the fake buyer. The buyer asks for the seller’s regular Venmo email address. The seller then has to create a Venmo Business account, to which the buyer will transfer money. Once it’s set up, the seller receives a phishing email asking for a refund. In reality, the buyer never sent the money, and the refund email lets them receive money from the seller. With how common Facebook Marketplace Venmo scams are, it’s advised to only pay using officially supported methods.

4. Fake payment confirmation scams

Fake payment confirmation scams are usually executed by buyers who send the seller a fake screenshot showing they’ve made the payment for the item. They claim the bank is taking a while to update the status, but the payment was nonetheless made. Believing this information, the seller gives the item to the buyer. However, they never receive payment. Instead, the deal ends with the buyer receiving an item they never paid for.

5. Overpayment scams

Overpayment scams are a way to steal money from sellers. Once the buyer and seller agree on a trade, the buyer sends forged proof of transaction — usually a screenshot — showing that they “accidentally” overpaid for the item. They ask the seller to return the difference. However, the buyer either didn’t transfer any money to the seller, or they plan to contest the transaction with the bank, on top of receiving the seller’s refund.

6. Shipping scams

Facebook Marketplace shipping scams are typical of fraudulent sellers. They refuse to meet the buyer in person and suggest using an alternative delivery system, like postal services. They send the buyer a tracking number and either deliver an empty package or a different item, or they don’t send anything at all.

Shipping scammers often use phishing tracking links. The buyer receives a message with a tracking link, which asks them to confirm delivery information or pay for the service. However, the website is used to steal the buyer’s personal data and doesn’t provide any real tracking information.

7. Car scams

Facebook Marketplace car scams are a way for sellers to steal large sums of money. To lure more buyers into the scheme, new and used cars are offered for unusually low prices. Sellers can use deceptive pictures, disguising critical flaws, showing the car prior to any damage it took, using stock photos, or stealing images from other, legitimate sellers.

Scammers can provide false vehicle history information and fraudulent technical details, hide incident reports, or lie about how they got the vehicle. They use fake escrow services to claim the funds and refuse to refund the buyer if they spot the deception. Car scams can also be used to steal the buyer’s personal information, which they must provide for ownership to be transferred.

8. Non-delivery and no-show scams

Buyers and sellers often agree on an in-person pickup location to complete the trade. If the seller plans to steal the buyer’s money, they request a card payment before the meeting. However, once they receive payment, they never come to the pickup spot, and they block the buyer.

Non-delivery scams usually require the buyer to pay an additional shipping fee for an item. The buyer might receive a fraudulent link imitating the real shipping service. The seller then keeps the money for the item and uses the phishing link to access the buyer’s payment card details.

9. Gift card payment scams 

One of the most glaring red flags is a request to pay using a gift card. A seller requests that the user buy a specific gift card at the value of the item on sale. The buyer shares the gift card number and activation code. Once the seller receives this information, they block the buyer. Scammers use gift cards to buy digital items they want for themselves, resell the cards below the market value, or buy new items they can use for future false Marketplace listings.

10. Deposit scams

Facebook Marketplace deposit scams occur when the seller asks the buyer to leave a deposit to reserve an item. When the seller receives the deposit, they block the buyer and keep the money. Alternatively, buyers can use deposit scams to trick the seller into giving away the item. They leave the deposit and, once the seller agrees to send the item, cancel the transaction and keep the purchase without paying.

11. Wire transfer scams

Wire transfer scams are a way to get around Marketplace’s supported payment methods and keep stolen money in their accounts without the risk of it getting refunded. The seller requests that the buyer make a wire transfer for the purchase. They then use a stolen or compromised account to obtain the funds. Since wire transfers are usually irreversible, the buyer can’t contest them.

12. Fake, stolen, or faulty item scam

Scammers often post too-good-to-be-true listings on Marketplace, convincing interested users into accepting lucrative deals that turn out to be a fluke. The items don’t match the photos or quality descriptions, contain faults or exhibit significant wear and tear, and otherwise don’t meet the buyers’ expectations.

Some listings — particularly more valuable items like electronics and cars — are for illegally acquired items. This can cause issues for the buyer. For instance, if they unknowingly buy a stolen phone, the device might be blocked using its IMEI number, and they might face legal repercussions for the theft as the current owner.

13. Rental and apartment scams

Facebook Marketplace rental and apartment scams are often combined with deposit scams. The buyer or renter pays a deposit to the person who created the listing with the intention of moving in on an agreed date. They may even sign a purchase or renting agreement, exposing their personally identifiable information. Instead, the scammers use it for identity fraud, which might even impact the victim’s future opportunities to buy or rent property.

14. Subscription or membership scams

These Marketplace scams incite buyers to sign up for a subscription-based service and are used to target multiple users at once. The victims usually need to set up an automated periodic transaction. However, throughout this subscription, they either don’t receive the product or service they signed up for, or it doesn’t match the description.

Scammers make it difficult for their victims to cancel their subscriptions and refuse to refund them. They may insist that members pay via wire transfer or another method outside Marketplace. They may also set up a phishing payment website to collect credit card information of all “members” who sign up for the fake subscription.

15. Job scams

Facebook Marketplace job scams are used to obtain personally identifiable information. Scammers place false or misleading job advertisements on the platform that require applicants to provide their personal details, including their full name, address, and Social Security number. Criminals can then use this information to impersonate their target, use their Social Security number for identity theft, or place it on the dark web.

16. Social engineering scams

Facebook scams usually cover different types of phishing attacks, and  Marketplace isn’t spared. Social engineering scams are often used with different scams that we’ve already covered, especially when they require entering payment information on external websites.

Marketplace sellers can promote giveaways and competitions to buyers using the Free Stuff category. They enroll users in the giveaways by requiring them to sign up on phishing sites using identifiable information. They may also use QR codes that users scan to learn more about a product or buy it outside the platform, unwittingly downloading malware onto their device.

How to spot Facebook Marketplace scams

Facebook Marketplace scams can be tricky to detect. Scammers tend to frequently update their account information or use decoy accounts altogether to avoid being caught, delete their ads and comments if someone accuses them of scamming, or block their accusers to lower their chances of being exposed. However, you can keep an eye out for red flags in communication while browsing Marketplace for legitimate goods.

• Unusually low prices. Scammers list their items for far lower prices compared to others.
• Suspicious profiles. Buyer or seller profiles contain little to no personal information, have no profile picture, or are newly registered on the platform.
• Requests to pay outside Marketplace. Scammers convince their targets to perform transactions using methods unauthorized by Marketplace.
• Pressure to buy or sell quickly. Sellers pressure buyers into purchasing the item quickly, saying it may be reserved for another person if they don’t act quickly. Likewise, buyers will urge sellers to send the item to them ASAP.
• Overpayment and refund requests. Buyers “accidentally” overpay for an item, ask the seller to return the surplus, demand a refund for an unsatisfactory item, or contest the charge with their bank.
• Vague return policies. Sellers have murky return policies or do not support item returns whatsoever.
• Suspicious product photos. Product photos are taken from stock images or other listings, are blurry, don’t display the item in full, or are AI generated.
• Lack of delivery confirmation. If the seller uses parcel services, they will refuse to provide a tracking number or updates on the shipping status.
• Involvement of “friends and family.” Buyers or sellers refuse to meet in person, saying a friend or a family member will deliver or pick up the item. They might also use banking details in another person’s name to pay or receive money.
• Third-party links. Scammers will use phishing websites for purchase confirmations or subscription signup forms, which store the victims’ payment card details, Social Security numbers, and other information they provide.

How to avoid Facebook Marketplace scams

With new items appearing on Marketplace every minute, it can be hard to tell which offers are real and which are false. Keep a few handy tricks in mind as you sift through the bottomless catalogue of new and used goods.

• Review item details. Read the title and description, look at the photos, and see if the seller has described its quality, level of wear and tear, or pickup options. Items without any description may be suspicious.
• Look at the seller’s profile. Check how old their account is, review their post history (if available), and look for signs of a stolen or newly created scam account as described above. Watch out for very recent or empty accounts.
• Read the reviews. See how other users have rated the seller. Check the sold items list. If the account is new but has a lot of sales already, they may be using sockpuppet accounts to “sell” the items to themselves and boost their review rating.
• Compare prices. Check the item’s market value and compare how much other sellers on Marketplace ask for it. Significantly lower prices might point to a scam.
• Use secure payment methods. Only pay for the item using Marketplace’s officially supported payment system. Do not use external payment methods. If the purchase falls through on Marketplace, Facebook can provide you with direct support.
• Don’t pay before you get the product. If you agree to meet the seller in person and plan to pay in cash, only do so once you’ve seen the item and evaluated its quality. Don’t pay without first confirming what you’re actually getting in return.
• Only meet in secure public locations. Don’t reveal your home address or meet the other party at their house. It’s safest to agree on a third space, like a café or a mall, for the pickup.
• Don’t share your personal information. Don’t give them your personal phone number or contact details. Keep your Venmo, Zelle, PayPal, or other payment information private.
• Use Facebook Messenger for communication. Don’t communicate via email or text messages outside of Facebook. Using Messenger helps ensure secure communication and lets you report scams more easily to the platform.
• Don’t succumb to pressure. Don’t agree to buy or sell an item if the scammer is pressuring you to. Take your time to analyze the listing and think before you commit.
• Block and report. If the communication becomes threatening or if you spot any other red flags, block the account and report it to Facebook for suspicious activity.

What to do if you've been scammed on Facebook Marketplace

It might seem like a few dollars lost over a small knick-knack, but becoming a victim of a Facebook Marketplace scam can pose a serious threat to your financial and personal security. Your first order of business should be protecting your financial accounts from potential fraudulent activity and alerting the authorities about the crime.

• Contest the charge with your bank. Contact your bank or third-party service provider and request that your payment be cancelled. Keep in mind that in some instances, you might not be able to retrieve the money. However, submitting the request can be useful evidence against the scammer.
• Report the scam account to Facebook. Even if the scammer deactivates their account, it’s not deleted immediately, and Facebook can ban them from creating or using other scam accounts in the future.
• Screenshot everything. The scammer will probably block your account after the fraudulent transaction is complete. Screenshot their messages and account information, and save the profile’s web address. If you’ve already been blocked, ask a friend to help gather screenshots of the scam account.
• Restrict your profile access and visibility. Limit how much personal data you share with other users. This makes it harder to use your personal information for identity fraud.
• Inform other users. If the Marketplace listing was connected to a Facebook group or if the scammer claims to be local, inform the community about fraud.
• Disconnect profiles connected to your Facebook account. Although this step is not mandatory, consider unlinking services like Instagram from your Facebook account. This can prevent cybercriminals from finding you on other social media platforms and harassing or spamming you.

How to report a Facebook Marketplace scam

You can report buyers, sellers, and individual listings right on Marketplace.

To report a seller:

1. Go to Facebook Marketplace and select the listing.
2. Scroll to “Seller information” and select “Seller details.”
3. Click the three dots on the right of the “View profile” button and select “Report.”
4. Choose “Scam” as the reason for reporting and submit the report.

To report a buyer as a seller:

1. Go to Facebook Marketplace and select “Selling.”
2. Select “Your account” and go to the seller dashboard.
3. Select the listing that the scam buyer bought.
4. Open the messages between you and the buyer.
5. Select the pointing-down arrow and click “Report.”
6. Select “Scam” as the reason for the report and submit it.

To report a specific listing:

1. Open the listing you want to report.
2. Under the listing name and price, select the three dots to open more options.
3. Select “Report listing.”
4. Select “Scam” as the reason for the report and submit it.

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