How to Spot a Facebook Marketplace Scam

Caleb Foster

Jan 14

3 min read

Updated: 3 hours ago

We all think we’re too smart to get scammed. But on Facebook Marketplace scams are everywhere, and unless you know what to look for, one will slip by eventually.

The time I almost got scammed

I got a notification for a big outdoor patio couch set for $250. I figured I could split it into two sets and sell each for about $400. Great deal, but I’ve picked up stuff like that before, so I didn’t think twice.

I messaged: “Hey, I can come right now, I’ve got cash. Can I get the address?” She sent one. I said I’d be there in 30–40 minutes and started driving.

The photos showed a nice backyard in what looked like a wealthy neighborhood. Two minutes out, there was no such neighborhood. Just run-down houses with bars on the windows. I knocked anyway. Nobody. As I was leaving, a voice came through the Ring doorbell: “Dude, you got scammed. There’s been like six other people here for the same set. Whatever money you gave them is gone.”

I hadn’t given them any money, so all I lost was an hour. But the signs were there. I just didn’t check.

Check the seller’s profile

Scammers use dummy accounts. Tap their profile and look for:

A profile created in the last couple of years. If you’re on Facebook, you’ve been on Facebook. A brand-new account is a big red flag.
No reviews as a seller. Not a guarantee, but most real people have a few.
Nothing ever marked “Sold.” Active listings don’t count. If nothing’s ever sold, be on alert.

Look closely at the listing

A great deal that’s been up for days. Real great deals are gone in minutes or hours. If it’s been sitting, something’s wrong with it or it isn’t real.
Low-quality photos or screenshots. Scammers don’t have the item, so the photos come from somewhere else. That includes photos that look professionally staged.
Scenery that doesn’t match your area. Palm trees when you live in the Midwest, mountains when you live at the beach, or a yard that doesn’t match the street view of the address they send you.

Pay attention to the messages

“Google Translate” English. Plenty of real sellers don’t speak English first, but a lot of scammers send stiff, unnatural messages instead of just asking what language you speak.
They ask you to email them or click a link. Any request for your email or a “verification” link is a scam. Every time.
They’re suddenly out of town. That’s almost always the setup for asking for money up front.

Watch the payment request

They ask for a deposit or gift cards. If they ask for money to “hold” it, even a small amount, it’s probably a scam.
They won’t take cash. If you offer cash and they refuse, they’re getting ready to ask you to pay ahead.
They want Zelle or Apple Pay before you pick up. Those payments can’t be reversed. There’s no legit reason to pay in full before you see the item.

How to buy safely

The safest way is in person, with cash. If you want to pay with Venmo or Zelle, fine, just don’t pay before you see it.

If you’re the one who can’t pick up right away and you offer a deposit to hold it, that’s generally okay after you’ve done the other checks. Lots of real sellers accept a deposit. The red flag is when the seller asks for it.

And if you’re flipping cars, the scams get more creative. Rolled-back miles and cleared codes are common. Use How to Flip Used Cars: The Inspection Checklist.

Bottom line

Check the profile, check the photos, watch the messages, and never pay before you see it. Do that and you won’t get burned. Then get back to finding real deals with the tips in Three Ways to Find Deals.