Scammers Are Ruining Facebook Marketplace
I tried to sell a futon on Facebook Marketplace and nearly all I got were scammers.
This year, I decided to get rid of my Amazon starter couch and buy a real one. So I listed the generic, velvet-green futon on Facebook Marketplace, thinking some college students or recent New York transplants would happily scoop it up at a discounted price.
Since September, I have received many inquiries about this couch — nearly all from people who are likely scammers. They respond to the listing and offer me full price in Facebook Messenger from the jump (maybe my first clue, a real Facebook Marketplace veteran knows to haggle). Then, they ask some basic questions that are already in the item’s description: Where are you located? What’s the condition? Once I’ve repeated myself and given the cross streets closest to my home, there comes another refrain: The buyer either says they must pay now, so that I would take the item off the listing, or so that their husband/brother/son/mover, you name it, can come pick up the futon later that day.
Because it seems no real person would offer to send payment over Zelle before ever seeing that the futon is real, I didn’t accept any of these offers. If I did, it’s likely these people would have sent a phishing link — either as a text to my phone number or in an email — disguised as communication from Zelle, looking to drain me of more money than the couch is worth. For now, I’m stuck with this futon, folded up in the corner of my tiny apartment. So far I’ve been unable to use Facebook Marketplace for its intended purpose: buying and selling useful things among my neighbors.
What happened to me is just one example of the many ways experts say people are getting scammed on Facebook Marketplace. Some scams come from what looks like a seller listing big-ticket items that don’t exist, like a car, and asking for prepaid debit cards purporting to be for eBay and Amazon payments as down payments before vanishing. Peer-to-peer online shopping has always been a buyer-beware endeavor, but sellers themselves are being scammed too. A freelance writer from Australia recounted her own embarrassing story in The Guardian just last month, when she lost $1,000 while trying to sell a pair of boots after plugging sensitive information into a phishing link sent by a scammer.
Facebook is far from the only place scams happen — they’re common across many online selling platforms. But as its Marketplace has soared in popularity since its debut in 2016, scammers have sought to exploit the tool, experts say. Marketplace’s design supplied a layer of transparency and trust for person-to-person transactions; rather than interacting anonymously through a Craigslist ad, people were using profiles that typically included full names and photos. And with an existing Facebook profile, users could upload photos, write descriptions, and seamlessly post a listing with just a few clicks. By 2021, Facebook Marketplace had 1 billion monthly users, growing as ecommerce flourished during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Now, bad actors are relying on that built-in trust to manipulate people out of far more money than their second-hand items may be worth. The scams have become a common feature of the app, and Meta, the $800 billion parent company of Facebook, hasn’t been able to shut them down.
Facebook Marketplace has become a breeding ground for scammers, preying on unsuspecting users who are just trying to buy or sell items. The platform, which was designed to facilitate local commerce and foster trust, has been infiltrated by deceitful individuals looking to exploit the system for their personal gain. As a global phenomenon, this issue affects users worldwide, tarnishing the reputation of Facebook Marketplace and undermining its potential as a safe and reliable platform for online transactions.
From fake listings for non-existent high-value items to phishing scams disguised as legitimate payment methods, scammers are employing various tactics to con both buyers and sellers. The allure of Facebook Marketplace lies in its user-friendly interface and the transparency offered through personal profiles and direct communication. However, this very transparency has now become a tool for scammers, who manipulate unsuspecting users into sharing sensitive information or making payments before even verifying the existence of the advertised product.
The scale of these scams is alarming, with countless individuals falling victim to financial losses and personal information breaches. Despite efforts from Meta, the parent company of Facebook, to combat fraudulent activity, scammers continue to exploit the platform. The consequences extend beyond monetary loss, as users lose trust in Facebook Marketplace and become hesitant to engage in online transactions.
Experts highlight the need for increased vigilance among users to protect themselves from these scams. It is crucial to conduct thorough research on potential buyers or sellers, verify their identities, and exercise caution when sharing personal information or making transactions. Additionally, reporting suspicious activity to Facebook can aid in identifying and removing scammers from the platform.
As Facebook Marketplace remains a popular avenue for buying and selling second-hand goods, it is essential for users to remain aware of the risks and take necessary precautions. By prioritizing safety and actively reporting fraudulent activity, individuals can contribute to creating a more secure environment within Facebook Marketplace.
The prevalence of scammers on Facebook Marketplace serves as a stark reminder that online transactions come with inherent risks. As the platform continues to evolve, it is imperative for Meta to invest in robust security measures and implement stricter verification processes to restore trust and protect its users from falling victim to scams. Only then can Facebook Marketplace fulfill its purpose as a convenient and reliable platform for local commerce.
