Facebook Marketplace has become a popular platform for buying and selling goods online. It allows users to easily connect with others in their local community to exchange items. However, as with many online marketplaces, Facebook Marketplace is not immune to scams. Scammers use the platform to take advantage of unsuspecting buyers and sellers. If you’ve been the victim of a scam on Facebook Marketplace, there are steps you can take to try to resolve the situation.
Recognize the signs of a Facebook Marketplace scam
The first thing to do is learn to recognize the common signs of a scam on Facebook Marketplace so you can try to avoid them in the future:
- The seller insists on only communicating outside of Facebook Messenger
- The item is priced well below market value with no reasonable explanation
- The seller requests unusual payment methods like gift cards or bank transfers
- The listing photos appear too good to be true or are generic stock photos
- The seller refuses to meet in person or allow pickup of the item
- The seller has a brand new or blank Facebook profile
If you notice any of these red flags, it’s best to not proceed with the transaction. A legitimate seller should not have issues using Facebook Messenger, meeting in a public place, or accepting standard payment methods.
Report the scam to Facebook
If you’ve sent money to a scammer on Facebook Marketplace, the first thing you should do is report the fraudulent listing and account to Facebook. Here are the steps:
- Open the listing and click the three dots in the top right corner
- Select “Report this listing”
- Choose “Prohibited item or service” as the reason
- Explain this is a fraudulent listing designed to scam buyers
- Open the seller’s Facebook profile and click the three dots at the top
- Select “Find support or report profile”
- Choose “Pretending to be someone”
- Explain this person creates fake listings to defraud buyers
Reporting the scam to Facebook will not necessarily get your money back, but it can help prevent the scammer from victimizing others. The more people who report fake listings and accounts, the more likely Facebook will be to notice and take action against the scams.
File a complaint with the FTC
Another important step is to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. The FTC works to educate consumers about scams and can help pursue law enforcement actions against fraudulent businesses. Here’s how to file a report:
- Go to FTC.gov and click “Report Fraud”
- Click “Online Shopping”
- Select “Social Media & Tech” as the platform
- Fill in the details about the Facebook Marketplace scam
- Include the seller’s profile information and screenshots as evidence
- Submit the report and attach any additional evidence
The more details you can provide, the better. Filing an official complaint creates a paper trail of the scam and can help identify larger networks of online criminals. Make sure to save screenshots, account names, listing details, and any messages as evidence.
File a complaint with IC3
The FBI recommends filing an online scam report with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). This inter-agency task force includes the FBI, National White Collar Crime Center, and Bureau of Justice Assistance.
To file a complaint with IC3:
- Go to IC3.gov and click “File a Complaint”
- Register an account
- Select “Internet Sales Fraud” under crime type
- Enter details about the Facebook scam under “Description of Incident”
- Include any available information on the scammer
- Attach supporting documentation as evidence
- Submit the complaint and print a copy for your records
IC3 analyzes complaint data to identify criminal networks and trends. Your report can help law enforcement investigate and prosecute cybercrimes like those happening on Facebook Marketplace.
Contact your bank or payment provider
If you paid for an item on Facebook Marketplace using a credit card, debit card, PayPal, Venmo or another service, contact the provider immediately. Report that you have been the victim of fraud and ask if they can reverse the charges and get your money back.
Many payment providers have buyer protection policies that may cover you in cases of fraud. The sooner you contact them, the better chance you have. Make sure to provide any evidence, like screenshots of the listing or transaction records.
If you paid by credit card, you can request a chargeback. This asks your credit card company to reverse the charge because merchandise was not received as promised. Most credit card companies have a timeframe during which chargebacks can happen, usually between 30-90 days from purchase.
Contact your bank for wire transfers
If you were scammed into making a wire transfer from your bank account, contact your bank right away. Ask if they can request the receiving bank to return the wired funds.
This process is difficult since wire transfers are designed to be unrecoverable. But it doesn’t hurt to ask. The sooner you act, the better. Provide your bank with details of the scam and the account number where you sent funds.
Your bank may not be able to get the money back but reporting fraudulent activity at least alerts them to potential cyber threats targeting customers.
Report gift card scams
Gift cards are a common payment method demanded by Facebook Marketplace scammers. Unfortunately, if you bought gift cards and gave the scammer the codes, it is nearly impossible to get that money back.
You should still file a police report about the scam. Also report the gift card abuse to the retailer associated with them. Provide the gift card numbers used so they can attempt to deactivate them and alert other stores.
In the future, remember to never purchase gift cards for online transactions with strangers. Gift cards should only be given to family, friends, and trusted recipients that you actually know.
Consult a lawyer
For very large fraud cases, you may need to get a lawyer involved. An attorney can help draft formal complaints, contact authorities, and assist with both civil and criminal legal action.
Lawyers can send the scammer or Facebook formal demand letters. If the amount lost was substantial, they may be able to take the case to court in an attempt to recover funds.
Keep in mind hiring a lawyer can be expensive. But for high dollar scams, it may be worth pursuing legal action, especially if it helps prevent future victimization by the same criminal.
How to find the scammer
Trying to locate the real identity of a Facebook Marketplace scammer is difficult but not impossible. Here are some tips:
- Look up the scammer’s profile and see if you can identify them from photos or personal information
- Use reverse image search on profile pictures to see if they are stolen from somewhere else online
- Search Facebook for similar profiles that may be connected accounts
- Look up the listed phone number or email on sites like TruePeopleSearch
- Hire a private investigator to track down leads through public records
If you find real identifying details, provide them when filing complaints to help build a case. But be cautious contacting scammers directly, as this rarely leads to resolving the situation.
Recover your Facebook account
Some Marketplace scams involve hijacking Facebook accounts. If the scammer gained access to your profile, they may change passwords, contact lists, and security settings.
To recover a hacked Facebook account:
- If possible, log in and revert any changed settings
- Use Facebook’s security tools to reset your password and enable two-factor authentication
- Go through your friend list and message contacts warning them your account was hacked
- Delete messages or posts made by the scammer while logged in as you
- Provide updated account information if any payment or login credentials were compromised
Make your Facebook page more secure by avoiding weak passwords, limiting shared personal details, and being cautious of suspicious links or login prompts.
Beware of “recovery” scams
Watch out for secondary scams when attempting to recover lost money from a Facebook Marketplace scam. Criminals often track victims online then contact them pretending to be able to recover stolen funds or missing items, for an upfront fee.
These “recovery” or “parcel tracking” scams are also fraudulent. Never pay someone claiming they can get your money back or intercept a fake shipment. Contact authorities instead to properly report original crimes.
How to avoid Facebook Marketplace scams
While no marketplace is completely immune to fraud, there are things you can do to avoid most Facebook Marketplace scams:
- Thoroughly verify seller profiles before transacting
- Never purchase items well below fair market value
- Insist on local, cash transactions for high value goods
- Don’t provide personal information or make payments outside Facebook
- Beware vague listings with generic descriptions or photos
- Search for images to check if they are copied from elsewhere online
- Ask to video chat with the seller to confirm their identity
- Use payment methods with purchase protection when required
- Trust your instincts – if something seems suspicious, walk away
With proper precautions, you can significantly reduce your risks when buying and selling on Facebook Marketplace. But if you do become the victim of a scam, act quickly to have the best chance of recovering lost money or shutting down fraudulent accounts.
What to do if someone is using your images or identity
Scammers may steal personal photos or details to create fake accounts or listings. Here’s what to do if your identity is used without authorization on Facebook Marketplace:
- Gather evidence of the fake listing or account
- Report the profile and content to Facebook for impersonation
- Send a cease and desist letter demanding removal of your details
- File complaints with the FTC, IC3, and local law enforcement
- Consult an attorney about additional legal action if needed
Protected personal characteristics like photos are covered by privacy laws. Using someone’s identity without consent can result in criminal penalties. Make sure to document unauthorized usage then forcefully petition for removal.
How to get scammed items off Facebook Marketplace
If you come across obvious scams or prohibited items for sale on Facebook Marketplace, here are ways to get them removed:
- Report the fraudulent listing by clicking the three dots then “Report”
- Encourage others who interacted with the seller to also report them
- Direct message details to the Facebook Business account with screenshots
- Submit complaints through the Facebook Help Center
- Contact local consumer protection agencies about enforcing Marketplace rules
Facebook does monitor user reports and marketplace content in order to crack down on scams. Persistently flag shady sellers or prohibited sales, and their accounts or listings should eventually be blocked.
Recover your money after a Facebook Marketplace scam
Here are the best ways to get money back after losing funds to a Facebook Marketplace scam:
- File chargebacks with your credit card company or bank if possible
- Report the fraud to payment providers like PayPal or Venmo
- Contact your bank to try reversing wire transfers or checks
- Consult an attorney about civil action to recover damages
- Submit insurance claims if your policy covers online fraud
Make sure to notify relevant institutions quickly about any scam transactions, as many have time limitations. Unfortunately, wire transfers or gift cards are almost impossible to recover. Be very cautious before sending these forms of payment to strangers.
Should you still use Facebook Marketplace?
Facebook Marketplace continues to grow in popularity for convenient local peer-to-peer sales. Despite risks, it still provides a useful platform when used properly.
Don’t let a bad experience deter you completely. Just become better informed about spotting and avoiding scams. Adopt smart practices like:
- Vetting seller profiles before transacting
- Insisting on local, public meetups for high value items
- Paying with protected methods when required
- Trusting your instincts if something seems suspicious
Millions of successful interactions happen daily on Facebook Marketplace. You can minimize chances of getting scammed by being an informed, cautious buyer and seller.
How to delete Facebook Marketplace account
If you want to delete your Facebook Marketplace account entirely, follow these steps:
- Go to the Facebook Marketplace page in the Facebook app or website
- Click “More” then “Settings”
- Toggle “Allow others to find me on Marketplace” to off
- Delete any existing listings you have created
- Go to Facebook Settings and click “Your Facebook Information”
- Select “Deactivation and Deletion”
- Click “Continue to Account Deletion”
- Enter password to permanently delete account and Marketplace access
Deleting your full Facebook profile is the only way to completely remove your presence from Facebook Marketplace. However, you can easily turn off Marketplace visibility without fully deactivating your account.
Conclusion
Getting scammed on Facebook Marketplace can be incredibly frustrating but there are actions you can take to gain recourse. Make sure to report fraudulent listings and accounts immediately to Facebook. File detailed complaints with the FTC, IC3, payment providers, and local law enforcement. Consult an attorney for legal options to recover damages in larger cases. And learn best practices to avoid being victimized by scams in the first place.
Stay vigilant when buying or selling on Facebook Marketplace. But also don’t let bad experiences prevent you from using it safely in the future. With proper precautions, you can benefit from Facebook’s large connected marketplace of buyers and sellers.