Marketplace Safety
Facebook Marketplace Scams
Facebook Marketplace is one of the biggest scam hotspots online. Whether you're buying or selling, the same handful of scripts repeat every day. This guide walks through each one so you can spot them before money or items leave your hands.
What is this scam?
Facebook Marketplace scams target both sides of a transaction. Sellers face fake buyers who 'overpay', send screenshot proofs, or arrange suspicious couriers. Buyers face fake listings, deposit scams, and sellers who vanish after payment. Most messages follow a predictable script. Once you've seen the patterns — the polite urgency, the offer to ship, the 'my brother will collect for me' line — they're easy to identify and shut down.
Common warning signs
- Buyer offers more than asking price to 'cover shipping'
- Wants to send a courier or 'family member' to collect
- Pays via Zelle, PayPal Friends & Family, or 'business upgrade' fee
- Sends a fake PayPal email claiming funds are 'on hold' until you ship
- Asks for your address, email and phone before agreeing on price
- Buyer or seller refuses video call or in-person meeting
- Listing price is 30–60% below normal market value
- Seller asks for a deposit to 'hold' the item
Realistic scam examples
'My brother will collect it' scam
Hi, I really want this for my partner's birthday but I'm working away. My brother can collect tomorrow and I'll Bank Transfer the full amount tonight + £20 extra for holding it. Can you send your sort code, account number and full name? Thanks so much 🙏
Fake PayPal 'pending' email
From: service@paypal-secure-alerts.com Subject: Payment received — action required You have received £240.00 GBP from Daniel R. Funds will be released to your account once you upload proof of postage and tracking number at the secure link below. [Confirm Shipment]
Fake courier scam
Payment sent via Zelle Business — please confirm by replying to the DHL email you'll receive. They'll need £35 upfront to release the funds, just send it back to me once it clears in your account.
How to stay safe
- Cash on collection or instant verified bank transfer only — no exceptions for high-value items.
- Never accept a 'courier' the buyer arranges. Real buyers collect or use their own account with a known service.
- Ignore screenshot 'proofs of payment'. Open your real banking app to confirm funds have cleared.
- Never pay a 'release fee' to receive money. PayPal, Zelle and banks never ask for that.
- Treat below-market listings as scams until proven otherwise. Reverse-image-search the photos.
- If unsure about a message, paste it into ScamSentinel for an instant AI analysis.
Not sure if a message is a scam?
Paste it into our free AI scam checker for an instant analysis.
Frequently asked questions
What is the 'my brother will collect it' scam?
A scammer claims they can't collect themselves and will send a relative or courier. They then pay too much, send a fake confirmation, and ask you to refund the difference — or harvest your bank details under the guise of paying you.
Are PayPal emails on Marketplace ever real?
Real PayPal emails come from @paypal.com and never ask you to ship before money is in your account. Any email asking you to upload tracking to 'release funds' is a scam — PayPal does not work that way.
Is a deposit on Facebook Marketplace ever safe?
Almost never. If you can't see the item in person, treat any request for a deposit as a scam. Sellers who insist usually disappear once the deposit is sent.
What should I do if I've been scammed on Marketplace?
Report the buyer or seller in Facebook, contact your bank's fraud team immediately, and file a report with Action Fraud (UK) or the FTC (US). Save all messages and screenshots.