Top 15 Facebook Marketplace Scams in 2026

Seller asks for a deposit or partial payment before meeting in person. Once you send the money, they vanish. Legitimate sellers don't need deposits for local pickup items.

Buyer sends a fake Zelle, Venmo, or bank transfer confirmation screenshot. The money never actually arrives. Always verify payment in your actual bank app — not from a screenshot.

Listing shows brand-name products (Nike, Apple, designer bags) at suspiciously low prices. Items are counterfeit knockoffs or stolen merchandise.

Buyer 'accidentally' sends more than the asking price and asks you to refund the difference. The original payment is fraudulent and gets reversed — you lose the item AND the 'refund.'

Seller insists on shipping but doesn't actually ship anything, or ships an empty box. They provide a fake tracking number that shows 'delivered' to a different address in your zip code.

Listing shows a high-quality item but you receive a lower-quality version. Common with electronics (listing a PS5 but delivering a PS4), furniture (different model than pictured), or clothing (different size/color).

Scammer lists a property for rent that they don't own. They copy photos from real estate listings, offer below-market rent, and ask for deposit + first month via wire transfer.

Buyer claims they need to send via Zelle 'business account' which requires you to pay a $50-$200 upgrade fee. They send a fake Zelle email requesting the fee. Zelle doesn't work this way.

Too-good-to-be-true car listings. Seller claims to be military/deployed and can't meet in person. Asks for payment through eBay Motors 'buyer protection' (fake) or wire transfer.

Buyer asks you to 'verify you're real' by sharing a code sent to your phone. That code is actually a Google Voice verification — they use it to create a Google Voice account linked to your phone number.

Seller posts working electronics (phones, laptops, game consoles) but delivers items that are broken, water-damaged, or have hidden defects. Common with phones that have iCloud locks.

Scammer sells items they've stolen. You unknowingly buy stolen property, which can be confiscated by police with no refund. Serial numbers are often filed off.

Seller asks for payment in gift cards (Apple, Google Play, Amazon). Gift cards are untraceable — once you share the code, the money is gone instantly.

Buyer or seller sends a link to 'verify your identity,' 'confirm the listing,' or 'view secure payment.' The link leads to a fake Facebook login page designed to steal your credentials.

Buyer creates urgency with a sad story — dying family member, house fire, deployed soldier. They use emotional manipulation to pressure you into skipping safety precautions or accepting odd payment methods.