Facebook Marketplace has become an easy way to find second-hand furniture, electronics, vehicles, clothes and countless other goods, but that convenience has also made it a useful target for fraudsters. The problem is not simply that scams exist. Recent figures show that fraud connected to Meta's platforms is becoming an increasingly serious concern.
Lloyds Bank said around seven in 10 shopping scam cases reported by its customers started on Meta-owned platforms, while it estimated that consumers were losing about £66 million a year after falling victim to scams originating from Meta platforms.
The bank said that figure had risen from £27 million in 2023. The figures cover Meta's platforms generally, rather than Facebook Marketplace alone.
Facebook Marketplace can present additional risks because transactions often take place between strangers, with limited information about the person on the other side.
From fake listings and forged payment confirmations to bogus delivery charges, scammers use several tactics to exploit that trust. Knowing the most common tricks can help buyers and sellers avoid losing money.
Common Facebook Marketplace Scams To Watch For
One of the most common scams starts with a deal that looks unusually attractive. A seller may advertise a high-value item at a price far below what similar products normally cost, creating pressure for the buyer to act before somebody else takes it.
The National Cybersecurity Alliance lists unusually low prices, pressure to act quickly, suspicious profiles and requests to pay outside the platform among the warning signs shoppers should watch for.
An example recorded by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) involved supposedly cheap household appliances advertised through Facebook Marketplace. According to the BBB Scam Tracker report, the listings offered items such as refrigerators and washing machines, with delivery available for $50.
The supposed sellers asked victims to make payments through Zelle before receiving the goods. One reported victim lost $200. The BBB report described the accounts as new users with only one listing and no other activity, and the same pattern appeared across different cities.
That case illustrates two red flags appearing together: an attractive price and a request for payment before the buyer has seen the product. A Marketplace profile does not prove that a seller is legitimate, particularly when the account has little history.
Fake payment confirmations are another major problem, particularly for people selling goods. A scammer may send a screenshot or an email that appears to show that the buyer has paid. They may then arrange to collect the item immediately.
The money, however, may never reach the seller's account. Meta specifically warns Marketplace users about fake payment notifications and advises sellers to verify payments through their actual payment account rather than trusting a message or screenshot.
Overpayment scams work in a similar way. A supposed buyer may claim to have accidentally transferred too much money and ask the seller to return the difference. The seller sends the refund, only to discover that the original payment was fake or otherwise never successfully reached their account. Meta identifies overpayment requests as one of the scams users should be aware of.
Scammers can also invent delivery problems. In one BBB report from September 2025, a buyer was persuaded to pay $1,300 for a truck bed and shipping. The victim was later told that an additional $550 insurance payment was required, followed by a $1,199 'city permit fee'. The victim ultimately had no goods and reported being out of pocket.
The tactic is particularly effective because each new charge is presented as a temporary or refundable cost. A genuine transaction can suddenly turn into a series of unexpected payments, with the scammer continuing to invent reasons why another transfer is needed.
Another warning sign is a request to leave Facebook Messenger. The National Cybersecurity Alliance advises users to be wary when a buyer or seller wants to move the conversation elsewhere, particularly if this is combined with a request for payment or personal information. It also warns about suspicious links, fake payments and attempts to create urgency.
Users should also be cautious about requests for verification codes or links that supposedly confirm an account, payment or delivery. These can be attempts to steal login details or other sensitive information rather than complete a genuine Marketplace transaction.
The wider scale of online fraud shows why these tactics deserve attention. The US Federal Trade Commission said consumers reported losing more than $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024, a 25 per cent increase from the previous year. It also found that reported losses were highest for bank transfers or payments, at $2 billion, followed by cryptocurrency at $1.4 billion.
How To Buy And Sell More Safely
The first rule for buyers is simple: do not allow a bargain to create a sense of urgency. If somebody says several other people are waiting, demands an immediate deposit or claims the price will increase unless money is sent straight away, take a step back. The National Cybersecurity Alliance says pressure to act quickly is one of the common patterns associated with Marketplace scams.
For expensive goods, buyers should inspect the item before paying whenever possible. This is particularly important for phones, computers, vehicles and other products where a photograph cannot establish whether the item exists or is actually in the seller's possession.
Washington University in St Louis' Office of Information Security recommends confirming an item's existence and ownership before paying a deposit and advises users to stop communicating and report suspected scams.
Sellers need to apply the same level of caution. A payment is not confirmed because a buyer sends a screenshot saying 'paid'. It is confirmed when the money appears in the seller's own bank or payment account. Meta specifically advises users to check their account directly rather than relying on emails or screenshots.
Payment method matters too. The National Cybersecurity Alliance warns that payment apps can be risky when dealing with strangers because some transactions can be difficult to reverse. It recommends confirming payments directly in the relevant app and never sending money in advance.
Where a payment service offers buyer or seller protection, users should make sure they are actually using the protected purchase option rather than sending money as a personal transfer.
For local purchases, a public meeting place is preferable to handing over goods at a private address. Buyers should have enough time to inspect the item before completing the transaction, while sellers should not hand over an expensive product until the payment has been independently verified.
Profiles should also be checked before any money changes hands. A recently created account with almost no history is not automatically fraudulent, but it becomes more concerning when combined with an unusually low price, limited information, pressure to pay quickly or refusal to meet in person.
The National Cybersecurity Alliance specifically identifies profiles with little history or no reviews as a warning sign.
Most importantly, do not let the other person dictate the pace of the transaction. Scammers depend on people making decisions before they have time to check the details. If a seller refuses a reasonable request to inspect an item, or a buyer insists that a seller follow an unusual payment process, walking away is usually safer than trying to rescue the deal.
The same principle applies after a suspicious message arrives. Stop communicating, do not send further money or personal information and report the listing or account. The National Cybersecurity Alliance recommends contacting the bank or payment provider immediately if financial information has already been shared.
Facebook Marketplace can still be a useful place to buy and sell second-hand goods. The key is to treat every transaction with the same caution you would use when dealing with an unknown person offline.
A low price is not proof of a scam, and a friendly profile is not proof of a genuine seller. The combination of urgency, unusual payment requests, fake confirmations, suspicious links and reluctance to let you verify the goods is what should make you stop.
Lloyds' data suggests that Meta platforms account for a large share of the shopping scams reported by its customers, recognising those patterns is becoming increasingly important.
On Marketplace, taking a few extra minutes to check the seller, inspect the item and independently confirm the payment could be the difference between securing a bargain and handing money to a stranger who never intended to complete the sale.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What are common Facebook Marketplace scams?Common scams include advance payment tricks, fake payment confirmations, and requests to move conversations off Facebook.
- How can I verify a seller on Facebook Marketplace?Check their Facebook profile for activity, friends, and personal information. Be cautious with new accounts.
- What payment methods are safest on Facebook Marketplace?Cash for face-to-face exchanges and recognized online services with buyer/seller protections are safest.
- What should I do if a deal seems too good to be true?Walk away from the deal, as it is likely a scam. Always verify the item and seller before proceeding.
