How to Spot Facebook Marketplace Scams

by Patrick J. Kiger for AARP

While Facebook Marketplace is a good place to find just about anything you might be looking to buy, the site’s popularity also attracts criminals who use a variety of scams to steal shoppers’ money, including peddling wares they never actually send.

Sellers, too, are often inundated by messages from scammers, some of whom may be trying to get their personal information, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) recently warned. It noted that criminals have been asking sellers for their phone numbers so that they can text them a verification code — part of a process they can use to commit identity theft.

Facebook Marketplace’s size and familiar brand name may lull some shoppers into complacency, says Amy Nofziger, director of victim support for the AARP Fraud Watch Network. “But people need to understand that just because it’s on a big platform like Facebook, that doesn’t mean that anyone is vetting the sellers,” she cautions. “You have to go into it with eyes wide open.”

Buyers:

• Research before you buy.
• Beware of bargains that seem too good to be true.
• Avoid communicating with buyers privately outside of Facebook and Messenger.
• Be wary of sellers who want you to use a difficult-to-trace payment method.
• Watch out for fake email notifications.

Sellers:

• Avoid communicating with buyers privately outside of Facebook and Messenger.
• Be on the lookout for fake buyers.
• Watch out for pressure tactics.
• Be wary of buyers who want to pay with a personal check.

Buyers and sellers:

• Be cautious when you go to meet someone to do a transaction.
• Report scams.

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