Scammed on Facebook? What you can do right now
Quick answer
If you got scammed on Facebook, act in this order: contact the bank or app you paid with, secure your account if it was hacked, then report the scam to Facebook and to the FTC (US) or Action Fraud (UK). The sooner you ask, the better the chance of getting money back.
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How it works
Scams on Facebook come through ads, Marketplace listings, messages from strangers and messages from friends whose accounts were taken over. The common thread is a reason to pay quickly or give up something sensitive.
The FTC says scammers ask you to pay in ways that are hard to trace, so your money might already be gone, but it is always worth asking the company you used whether the payment can be reversed.
What you do depends on what you handed over: money, personal information, or access to your account or computer.
Red flags
- A seller or friend who wants payment by Zelle, a payment app, wire, gift card or crypto
- A message from a friend that asks for money or a code
- A deal far below the normal price
- Pressure to pay or decide quickly
- A request to move the chat to another app
Example message
Hi, I'm interested in your item and can pay today. I just need you to confirm your details first so I can send the deposit. Open [link] to verify.
What to do
- 1
If you paid by bank transfer or Zelle
Contact your bank or credit union immediately and ask them to reverse the payment and refund your money.
- 2
If you paid with a payment app
Report it to the app (such as Venmo, Cash App or PayPal) straight away and ask for a reversal.
- 3
If you paid by card
Call the number on the back of your card, say it was fraud and ask about disputing the charge.
- 4
If your Facebook account was hacked
Go to the Facebook recovery page from a device you've used to log in before and follow its steps. Facebook says to do it that way.
- 5
If you shared personal details
Change the passwords involved and follow the steps at IdentityTheft.gov. Our guide on what to do after a data breach covers it.
- 6
Report it
Report the profile or listing to Facebook, then report the scam. In the US that is the FTC. In the UK it is Action Fraud.
Report it
Check if your details are exposed with Serus
Scammers find your number and address on data brokers and people-search sites. Serus removes them.
Why you got it
Scammers on Facebook often start from a real profile: your name, town, workplace and friends are public enough to make a message feel familiar. Contact details from people-search sites and data breaches fill in the rest. Serus finds the data brokers and people-search sites that list your name, address and phone number and sends the removal requests, and it alerts you when your details show up in a breach, so fewer scammers can reach you.
More Facebook scams
Frequently asked
Can I get my money back after a Facebook scam?
Sometimes. The FTC says it is always worth asking the company you paid with whether the payment can be reversed, and asking quickly helps.
Who do I report a Facebook scam to?
Report it to Facebook, then to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov in the US or to Action Fraud in the UK.
My Facebook account was hacked after I clicked a link. What first?
Use Facebook's recovery page from a device you've logged in on before, then change the passwords for any account that used the same one.
Is Facebook itself a scam?
No. Scammers use it. The scams are run by other people who pose as sellers, buyers or friends.
Sources
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