You can buy and sell just about anything on Facebook Marketplace (as long as it is legal to buy and sell). You can get fast results and can often get good stuff cheap from your local area. It’s an easy way to do business with other folks, one to one.
That’s also what makes it attractive to scammers.
There are more Facebook Marketplace scams than we have space to get into here, but we’ll highlight a few of the most common ones and some ways to avoid them.
Here are Five Fast Facts on Facebook Marketplace scams:
- 🔍 It’s Not Real - Some scams are simply based on fake listings that aren’t real. They just want you to put in your payment information and then they disappear. To avoid this, verify the seller’s identity, and make sure you meet in person to inspect the product before paying for it. If they’re Nigerian royalty, just say no.
- 🚫 It’s Not Legit - Some listings are for broken, damaged, or counterfeit products. Especially if you’re buying a high dollar item like a fancy bag for your lady, make sure you examine it carefully first and can be assured that the item is in good condition and legitimate.
- 🗨️ It’s Just An Excuse - A lot of Marketplace scams are simply a thinly disguised cover to steal your payment or identity information. NEVER provide things like logins or passwords, financial details, or personally identifying information about yourself. Use Facebook’s secure payment system or another trustworthy third party system, or meet in person and give them cash. Cash is king, after all.
- 📱 It’s A Gateway - Some scams are simply trying to get you to provide personal details so they can steal your identity. In one scam, the scammer will send a “confirmation code” to have YOU verify YOUR identity. Once you give them this, you’ve confirmed your phone number and maybe some other details, and they can then use that to triangulate into doing some real damage or even pretend to be you.
- 🤔 The Ultimate Trump Card - The best advice for staying safe on Facebook Marketplace is to trust your gut instinct. If something seems off, it likely is. If there are attempts to get you to give them more information than you think is necessary, it’s probably sketchy and you should avoid it. If a deal seems too good to be true, it definitely is!
🔥Bottom line: The sad reality is that there will always be people out there who are trying to steal your money or info. Slow down, think things through, and get a second opinion if you’re unsure. Facebook Marketplace is a great place to do business…as long as you stay safe and smart about it.
What’s your best advice about staying safe on Facebook Marketplace?
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