Facebook Marketplace continues to be the go-to destination for finding some of the greatest deals in your local area. However, this convenience comes at a price.
Surveys have found that around 62% of Facebook users encountered scams on the platform, highlighting how common fraud has become on Facebook Marketplace. Social media scams continue to grow rapidly, with consumers reporting $2.1 billion in losses in 2025 alone, according to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission. Attackers can pose as either potential buyers or sellers when carrying out their scams.
To make matters worse, in 2026, AI-generated images and videos are making scam listings harder to spot, especially if you don’t know the signs to look out for. Keep reading this guide to learn what a Facebook Marketplace scam looks like and how you can avoid it in favor of your next great find.
What is a Facebook Marketplace scam?
A Facebook Marketplace scam is an online threat in which scammers try to trick buyers or sellers into making payments, clicking on malicious links, or handing over personal information that they can use to commit fraud or identity theft.
How do Facebook Marketplace scams work?
Scammers respond to Facebook Marketplace ads or put items up for sale on the platform and then wait for victims. They use many different ruses and scripted methods to try to trick you into making payments or handing over sensitive details. Fortunately, if you know what to look for, you can avoid being duped.
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Common types of Facebook Marketplace scams
Scammers have devised dozens of different types of clever scams to trick unsuspecting sellers or buyers out of their hard-earned money. The following are some of the most common Facebook Marketplace scams.
1. Facebook Marketplace Zelle scams
In some instances, scammers combine multiple techniques to trick you. Some on Zelle, a payment service that connects directly to your bank account, will pretend to be buyers on Facebook Marketplace. They’ll often send you a screenshot showing that the payment was made, then request a partial refund because they claim to have sent in the wrong amount. However, the screenshot is likely a fake, and as soon as you send the refund, you’ll never see your money again.
A newer twist on Zelle scams on Facebook Marketplace targets sellers of big-ticket items. After long negotiations and agreeing to pay, the “buyer” sends a fake email designed to look like it’s from Zelle, claiming that the seller must upgrade their account or pay a fee to complete the transaction. The scammer then pretends to “send” the extra money to cover the fee, then demands you refund them.
2. Facebook Marketplace Venmo scams
Venmo is another popular payment app that is used to send money from person to person. Scammers often prefer Venmo because users don’t have the same purchase protections as other platforms. If you send money via Venmo, you can’t get it back if you discover that it’s a scam.
3. Facebook Marketplace Cash App scam
Cash App is another handy payment app used by scammers to urge you to pay up front for something (which they never sent) or refund an overpayment. The problem is if you send money to a stranger, you may never see it again.
4. Gift card payment scams
Many bad actors request payment for items in the form of gift cards. This may sound ridiculous, but many people fall for this scheme. Chances are, the item you think you are buying doesn’t even exist. Never pay for anything with gift cards.
5. Overpayment scam
Similar to the Zelle scam listed above, a very common Facebook Marketplace scam is when someone claims to have accidentally paid you more than your asking price and then demands a refund. Even if they show you a screenshot verifying that they paid the amount, be sure to check your bank account. These things are easily faked. If you never received the money in the first place, your “refund” is actually just a straight payment made to the scammer.
6. Google Voice / phone code scam
In this scam, the attackers trick you into handing over your 2-factor authentication codes so they can hijack your phone number with Google Voice. A scammer pretending to be a buyer or seller on Facebook Marketplace will ask for your phone number to continue negotiating the sale. They’ll then try to register a Google Voice account using your phone number, which triggers Google to text you a verification code.
The scammer will then ask you to send them the code. And if you do, they’ll have a Google Voice account connected to your phone number under their control. They can then use it to impersonate you or commit various acts of fraud and online crime.
7. Facebook Marketplace shipping scams
Some fraudsters and scammers will go so far as to produce fake shipping documents and tracking numbers. At first glance, it might look like they actually sent your item, so you feel safe paying the fee. However, you’ll soon find out that they never actually shipped anything, if the item even existed in the first place.
Another common scam is the switch-and-return con. After a buyer receives their order, they’ll try to “return” it, but will instead ship a broken, counterfeit, or completely different version, demanding a full refund. You can protect yourself from similar scams by taking pictures from all angles of any item before you ship it, including serial numbers. For more valuable items, invest in tracked shipping with the appropriate insurance policy.
8. Phishing scams
Phishing scams are a widespread problem. In relation to Facebook Marketplace, a scammer may email you asking you to click a link to pay for an item or enter shipping information. The danger is that the link may laced with malware or could take you to a fraudulent website where you enter data that the scammer then steals.
9. Facebook Marketplace AI and chatbot scams
Newer, more sophisticated scams on Facebook Marketplace in 2026 use AI-powered chatbots to seem more convincing. With the help of AI, the scammer can send DMs posing as chatbots, like “Facebook Marketplace Assistant” or “Marketplace AI,” and claim you’ve violated Meta’s guidelines and push you to click a malicious link.
Others use AI to generate product images and lifelike profiles that appear genuine at first glance. If you’re ever in doubt, ask the seller to send a custom photo of the item with the date written on a piece of paper, as most AI models won’t be able to recreate this accurately. Also, look for any discrepancies between the photos you have of the item to determine if any of the details are different.
10. Car scams
Vehicle listings draw scammers in because the prices are usually high. Car-related Marketplace scams range from “deposit to hold” a car you haven’t even seen in person, unlicensed car dealers posing as private sellers, title washing (salvaged or flood-damaged cars re-registered in states with looser restrictions), and VIN swapping, where a buyer is basically buying a stolen vehicle.
11. QR code scam
In this scenario, the scamming “buyer” sends you a QR code, claiming that you need to scan it to receive your payment. In reality, this QR code is used to pay money, not receive it. A legitimate Marketplace transaction doesn’t require any QR codes. And even if they don’t take your money, they could redirect you to a malicious website.
12. Fake rental scams
Facebook Marketplace is one of the top sources of rental scams in the US. The scammers often steal property photos and descriptions from listings sites like Zillow and repost them on Facebook. They’ll often demand big deposits or the first month’s rent before you’ve even seen the place in person, and if you’ve used a payment method like Cash App or a wire transfer, there’s no way to reverse the charge.
How can you spot a Facebook Marketplace scam?
Thankfully, scammers use many of the same worn-out tactics to trick victims, meaning you can identify most of these scams and stay safe.
Some of the more common red flags on FB Marketplace are:
- Asking questions about products that are clearly answered in the ad itself
- A sense of urgency to buy the product without looking at it
- Offering to pay full price
- Pushing you to mark the product as sold
- Offering payment through Zelle, Venmo, PayPal, or Cash App
- Asking for payment with pre-paid debit cards
- Phishing links that take you to fake websites
- Asking for passwords, PIN codes, or other sensitive information
- Not paying for the product
- A product that doesn’t appear to exist
- Poor English or odd grammar
- Claiming that the item has already been shipped, so you must pay for it
- A price that is too good to be true
If you’re ever unsure, you can use Moonlock’s Scam Detector to scan for the telltale signs of a scam, try it free for 7 days.
Simply copy and paste the content of a message into the Scam Detector to receive a report on how likely the message is to be connected with a scam, along with recommendations on how to proceed.
What to do if you’ve been scammed on Facebook Marketplace
After falling for an online scam, the most important thing is to act fast. And Facebook Marketplace is no exception. If you’re quick, you might be able to recover funds or prevent identity and data theft.
Here’s what you do:
- Screenshot everything: That means the product listing, the user’s profile, and all messages immediately. Scammers often delete everything once they succeed.
- Dispute the charge: Contact your bank or payment app and cancel or dispute the payment.
- Report the listing: This is so Facebook will take the listing down.
- File a report: Contact local authorities or file a report with the FTC.
- Change your passwords: Change your account passwords and enable 2FA where possible.
- Run a malware scan: If you clicked on a link sent by the scammer during a Marketplace interaction, malware could have been installed on your device without your knowledge. Use Moonlock to run a Deep Scan to check whether your Mac got infected with malware during the transaction.
How to report a Facebook Marketplace scam
The best way to report a Facebook Marketplace scam is to report the user. Here’s how to do it:
- Open Facebook.
- Visit the profile of the person who is scamming you.
- Click the 3-dot menu on the cover photo.
- Select Report.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to report the person as a scammer.
The company will take it from there and investigate the intruder.
How to shop safely and avoid Facebook Marketplace scams
When shopping on any online marketplace, you must use common sense. Use the tips below to stay safe.
Use scam detection tools
Depending on the severity of a scam, the repercussions can follow you for a long time. Your best defense is to detect a scam before it ever happens. Try Moonlock free for 7 days to help you identify suspicious product listings or DMs.
Simply copy and paste the content of a message or listing into the Scam Detector tool and click “Check.” Moonlock will assess the likelihood that the message is malicious and give you a guide on what to do next.
Never pay strangers
Never make online payments to strangers. Your best bet is to buy in person so you can view the item and physically pick it up. If you make any payment before you receive the item, you open yourself up to a potential scam.
Never give out personal info
Do not give out personal information to anyone. If they ask for potentially sensitive data, take that as a red flag. Protect your passwords, login credentials, bank data, and payment information at all costs.
Turn on 2FA
Turn on 2-factor authentication on all your accounts to help ensure that no one can access them without your permission.
Reverse image search
If the same product photos appear on other sites, or in different listings by different buyers, the posting is likely a scam. Also, pay attention to dates, as images might be stolen from much older posts and listings.
Don’t pay with crypto or a wire transfer
Stick to payment methods that offer buyer protection, like PayPal or Apple Pay. If it turns out to be a scam, you can dispute the charge and have your money refunded.
Vet the profiles you engage with
Real Facebook profiles often have years’ worth of posts and online activity. Scammer accounts, meanwhile, are often less than 6 months old.
Check the join date, friend count, and listing history of the user. Also, try to see if they have other social media accounts linked, like a TikTok profile or a Twitter (X) account.
Your best bet for shopping safely online is to use common sense, stay on the lookout for scams, and be wary of anything that seems too good to be true. Above all else, do everything you can to safeguard your information. By following these guidelines, you can shop safely and protect yourself from Facebook Marketplace scams.
This is an independent publication, and it has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Meta Platforms, Inc. Facebook and Facebook Marketplace are trademarks of Meta Platforms, Inc.
