Most Facebook Marketplace scams follow the same pattern: the other person tries to move you off Facebook and Messenger, rushes you, or asks for something that isn't the item, like a verification code, an upfront deposit or a refund of an overpayment. If any of that happens, Meta's advice is to stop talking to them and report the buyer, seller or listing as a scam from the Options menu.
The detail most people miss is about protection. Purchase Protection only covers eligible items bought with checkout on Facebook. Cash on collection, bank transfers and other person-to-person payments aren't covered, and Meta says it doesn't refund person-to-person or off-site transactions. So the way you pay decides whether you have any comeback at all.
The scams Meta's Help Center describes
Meta's article on Marketplace scams groups them into a few families. Here they are side by side, with the sign that gives each one away.
| Scam | How it works | The giveaway |
|---|---|---|
| Payment screenshot | A buyer sends a screenshot of a payment and asks you to post the item | A screenshot isn't a payment. Check your own account |
| Overpayment | A buyer says they paid too much and asks you to refund the difference | You're refunding funds that never arrived |
| Paying more than the asking price | A buyer offers extra, often saying it's for movers or a courier | Meta lists third-party movers as a common cover story |
| Refund without paying | Someone asks for a refund before any payment has landed | Nothing in your account matches the claim |
| Gift card payment | The other side asks to be paid with gift cards | Meta lists gift card requests as a payment scam |
| Fake payment-app emails | An email that looks like it's from a payment app asks you to upgrade or pay a fee before you can accept a payment | Real payments show up in the app itself |
| Verification code | A buyer asks you to read back a code sent to your phone or email | That code can take over your accounts |
| Off-platform link | A seller sends a link to another site to complete the deal | The site collects card or bank details |
Meta also flags people who want to talk on WhatsApp, by phone, text or email early in the conversation. Its reason is simple: chats that leave Facebook and Messenger are much harder for Meta to check for scams. Requests to deal with a relative of the seller rather than the account owner are on the same list.
Red flags when you're buying
- A price that's far below what the item is worth. Meta says scammers use underpriced listings to lure buyers into paying for faulty or fake goods.
- A deposit for something expensive you haven't seen. Meta's example is apartments and cars: confirm the item exists, and who owns it, in person or on a video call before you send anything. For a car, that means seeing the ownership documents.
- Payment before you get the item. Meta's line is blunt: never pay for an item in advance.
- A tracking number you haven't checked. Look it up on the courier's own website and confirm the address is right.
- A thin seller profile. A seller's profile shows ratings and reviews, friends you share, their other listings and their Marketplace activity. Read it before you agree a deal.
Red flags when you're selling
Sellers are targeted as often as buyers. The common moves are a fake payment screenshot, an overpayment followed by a refund request, and a buyer asking for the code that's just been texted to you. That last one is phishing, and Meta's own example is a Google Voice code.
The fix for all three is the same. Don't hand over the item, and don't refund anything, until you've opened your own payment account and seen the funds there. Meta's Help Center says to always check your account to confirm payments, and to use trusted payment services.
How to report a Marketplace scam
You can report a buyer, a seller or a listing. On a computer, the steps from Meta's Help Center are:
- Open Marketplace from the left menu of your Feed.
- To report a seller, go to Buying, open the listing, click the seller's name, then Options and Report.
- To report a buyer, go to Selling, then Seller dashboard, open the listing and the message, then More options and Report.
- To report a listing, open it, click Options below the title, then Report Listing.
- Choose Scam and follow the on-screen steps.
If you'd rather report the person than a single deal, the routes are in my guide on reporting someone on Facebook Marketplace, and once you've reported them it's worth blocking them on Marketplace so they can't message you again.
Where Purchase Protection helps, and where it doesn't
Meta's Help Center is consistent on this across several articles. Eligible purchases made with checkout on Facebook are covered by Purchase Protection. Items exchanged in person using cash or other person-to-person methods aren't. Meta's Meta Pay page adds that local pickups and sending funds to someone in Messenger don't qualify either.
| How you pay | Covered by Purchase Protection? |
|---|---|
| Checkout on Facebook, shipped item (eligible purchases) | Yes |
| Cash on collection | No |
| Bank transfer or other person-to-person app | No |
| Sending funds in Messenger | No |
| Paying on another website the seller links you to | No |
That's why the off-platform link is such a common trick. It moves you out of the one route that carries protection. If a seller insists on a payment app instead, read up on that app's own scam patterns first, for example how Zelle scams work.
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Meeting in person
Meta's responsible buying and selling guide covers meeting in person, reviewing the seller's profile, using online payment methods, keeping the conversation on Facebook, protecting your privacy, checking the price is fair, watching for gift card scams, verifying the item before paying or sending a deposit, avoiding recalled and counterfeit goods, and taking extra care with cars. When you do meet, inspect the item closely before you pay so you know it's real, in the condition described and working.
My advice
Treat three things as an automatic no: a request for a code, a request to pay before you've seen the item, and a request to finish the deal anywhere other than Facebook or Messenger. Most of the scams in Meta's own list need one of those three to work. Keep the chat in Messenger, pay through checkout where you can, and walk away from anyone who's in a hurry. A real buyer will wait while you check your account.
Frequently asked questions
Does Facebook refund you if you're scammed on Marketplace?
Only in limited cases. Eligible purchases made with checkout on Facebook are covered by Purchase Protection. Meta says it doesn't refund person-to-person or off-site transactions, and cash or local pickup deals aren't covered.
Why does a buyer want my verification code?
It's a phishing scam. Meta's Help Center lists requests for codes sent to your phone or email, such as a Google Voice code, as a common Marketplace trick. Never share one.
Is it a scam if a buyer wants to talk on WhatsApp?
It's a warning sign. Meta advises against moving a Marketplace conversation to WhatsApp, phone, text or email, especially early on, because chats off Facebook and Messenger are harder to check for scams.
How do I report a scam on Facebook Marketplace?
Open the listing, click Options and choose Report Listing, then Scam. To report a person, open their name from the listing or your Seller dashboard, choose Report and select Scam.
Can a buyer really overpay by accident?
Meta lists accidental overpayment followed by a refund request as a common payment scam. Check your own account before you send anything back.
