Social Media Marketplace Scams
Last updated September 18, 2026
The short answer
You're buying or selling something on Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, Craigslist, or a similar platform. The other person is acting strangely. They want to pay in an unusual way, insist on shipping instead of meeting, or their offer seems too good. Marketplace scams target both buyers and sellers.
Marketplace scams work differently depending on whether you're the buyer or the seller:
How it works
- 1
Buyer scam: The item doesn't exist
A listing shows a great deal on a popular item. The seller insists on payment through Zelle, Cash App, or Venmo before you see the item. After you pay, they block you.
- 2
Buyer scam: The item isn't what was shown
You buy something based on the listing photos, but what arrives is broken, counterfeit, or completely different. The seller refuses to respond.
- 3
Seller scam: Fake payment tricks
A "buyer" sends you a fake payment confirmation email (not from the real app), or they send a check for more than the price and ask you to refund the difference. The check bounces.
- 4
Seller scam: The overpayment trick
A buyer "accidentally" sends you more than the asking price through a fake payment method. They ask you to send back the difference via a real payment method. You lose the "refund" when their original payment is reversed or bounces.
Warning signs
- They insist on paying/receiving payment outside the platform's built-in system
- The price is way below what the item is worth
- They refuse to meet in person for a local transaction
- A "buyer" sends a check for more than the asking price
- A "buyer" sends you a payment screenshot or email confirmation instead of using the actual platform
- The seller's profile is brand new with no history
- They create unusual urgency, like "I have someone else interested, decide now"
What it looks like
"I'll Zelle you, just send me your email"
You're selling furniture on Facebook Marketplace. A buyer says they'll pay via Zelle. You receive an email that looks like it's from Zelle saying the payment was sent. But the email is fake, and no money was actually transferred. The buyer picks up the furniture before you realize.
Overpayment for a used car
You're selling your car on Craigslist for $5,000. A buyer sends a cashier's check for $7,500 and says their "agent" will pick up the car. They ask you to wire the $2,500 difference. The check bounces days later.
Shipping scam on OfferUp
You buy a gaming console on OfferUp for a great price. The seller says they'll ship it and sends a tracking number. The tracking number is for a small envelope shipped to a different address in your city. The seller claims it was "delivered" and OfferUp won't refund you.
What to do
- Meet in person at a public, well-lit location for local transactions. Many police stations have safe exchange zones.
- Use the platform's built-in payment system when possible.
- If a check was sent, wait until it fully clears (not just "available," which can take weeks) before releasing the item.
- Don't refund any "overpayments."
- Report the scammer's profile to the marketplace platform.
- If you lost money, report to the FTC and local police.
Who gets targeted
Anyone who buys or sells on Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, Craigslist, or similar platforms. Both buyers and sellers are targets. The scams are more common in areas with active online marketplaces.
Using marketplaces is normal and usually fine. A few precautions, like meeting in public and using in-app payments, protect you from most scams.
By the numbers
- $2.1 billion lost to scams that started on social media in 2025
- FTC, 2026
- Investment scams took $1.1 billion of that, more than half
- FTC, 2026
- Facebook Marketplace has over 1 billion monthly users
- Meta
Companies used in social media marketplace scams
These are the brands scammers hide behind in this scam. Each guide covers what that company will never ask you for, and how to report it to them directly.