What to Know About Facebook Marketplace Scams
Scams on Marketplace can happen to both buyers and sellers. Facebook Marketplace has almost everything you could want to buy and sell. These scams come in many different forms and it’s important to recognize them when using Marketplace.
As a buyer, you may see:
Sense of Urgency Scams:
Scammers pressuring people into making decisions quickly before they have time to consider the risks. Marketplace scammers may pose as eager buyers or sellers claiming that they need a fast response or immediate payment.
Fake giveaway:
Fake giveaway scams that trick users into thinking they won a free item, prize, or exclusive deal on Marketplace. Fake giveaway scams on Facebook Marketplace usually involve high-value items being sold for a cheap or low price. Scams like this usually want people to act fast before the offer is gone.
Car Scams:
Beware of posts selling cars as there are multiple methods scammers use to steal your money and/or information.
1.Deposit Scam: the seller asks that you send them a deposit fee before seeing the car.
2.Stolen Vehicles: criminals steal cars and try to sell them quickly on Marketplace.
3.Phantom Car Listings: the care listed does not actually exist.
4.Title-Washing: the seller will lie about the vehicle’s condition, hiding information about the vehicle’s past (flood-damage, salvaged vehicles, accident history).
As a seller, you may see:
Overpayment:
A buyer intentionally overpaying for an item and asking for the excess amount to be returned to them. After the seller returns the excess money, the buyer then cancels the original payment, leaving the seller short of the excess money they sent to the scammer.
Wire Transfer:
Scammers may ask you to pay via wire transfer with no intention of delivering the product being purchased. They do this knowing it will be difficult for people to recover their money. Wire transfers are very hard to get back if not impossible once they are sent. When purchasing things through the marketplace it’s best to use payments that can be traced or stopped if needed.
Tips and Tricks:
•Avoid high-pressure buyers and sellers.
•Stick to communication on Facebook Messenger.
•Update your privacy settings.
•Use secure payment options.
•Meet in a secure public location.
•Never give out any personal information.
•Trust your gut, if something seems off it probably is.
If you believe you have fallen victim to a scam, please contact our Client Contact Center at (608) 838-3141.
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