Facebook Marketplace

Posted 30th Jul 2023

Is Facebook Marketplace almost completely full of scammers? I've bought 2 things on separate occasions and both were scams (a phone and a Switch). Thankfully I was protected by my credit card. There's also no way to tell Facebook about it. Seems like a total scammers paradise.

30 Comments

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30th Jul
Try looking for a car on marketplace, it's practically impossible with all the scam listings.

Would seem like a very easy task for ai to recognize number plates...
30th Jul
I've been on the look out for a Mini Cooper S as a project, and the amount of cars that are clearly a scam is a disgrace. I too cannot understand why FB can't pick up on them.
30th Jul
If someone on facebook asks you to pay via bank transfer, paypal or any other way apart from cash on collection or delivery don't do it. It is 99% a scam.

I thought everyone knew that. Cash only or cash only.
Author
30th Jul
Unfortunately I didn't know as I had never used it.
30th Jul
CASH ONLY.
30th Jul
then there's always a risk of fake cash
Author
30th Jul
Although I got my money back, using 2 friends we managed to get his exact address, full postcode everything of one of them. My 2 friends pretended to be interested in his scam but via exotic stories both of them got the same postcode and house number, even got his mobile. I have prepared a report for Crewe police as that's where he lives but I would love to surprise him with a hammer (edited)
30th Jul
Do you really think they will be interested in your report?
They're not interested in their own reports
30th Jul
Not all but just like any online marketplace, there will be chancers.

Always deal in cash, whether you're selling or buying, never bank transfers or PayPal. I've sold consoles, phones and TVs on Facebook and all sold just fine via cash on collection. (edited)
30th Jul
and i've been scammed with fake cash so i insist on bank transfer but only when the buyer is in front of me
30th Jul
I’ve used marketplace for years. But it’s cash only and no ridiculously low offers never had a problem.
30th Jul
I've heard of plenty of people getting ripped off for non existent holiday caravan bookings and scam packages of driving lesson courses.The internet is a really easy place to be robbed sadly.
30th Jul
It’s getting worse, two recent incidents (from last week) , one involving my neighbour and other my BIL

- neighbour sold his bike, agreed for dropping off, not a doggy location but not lot of traffic either, parked on a residential street. When he was getting bike out of car boot, buyer put took out a knife, took the bike and his office bag which had laptop, he had his son with him while this happened. Luckily no one was harmed. But they were quite shaken up.

- BIL got some switch games, not low ball offers which are too good to be true price, but only £4-£5 cheaper that eBay pre-owned. Paid £65 for games and games never turned up.

I still buy/sell on FB, but stick to cash only for both. (edited)
30th Jul
In what way were you scammed?
Author
30th Jul
Paid for goods but goods never turned up. Paid via PayPal but as PayPal uses my credit card they told me to go there first and it was fine.
30th Jul
Nope not really had any trouble, i do try to keep my dealings on it relatively small if possible though. Have got many a good deal on it & some great freebies! (edited)
31st Jul
My son got scammed for a PS5 game, went to collect it, told me that the place looked as dodgy as hell but as he really wanted the game he went ahead, the disk he got looks perfect but the PS5 didn’t recognise it at all.