Got scammed on Facebook Marketplace? What you can do right now
Quick answer
Act fast. How you paid decides your options: call your bank or card issuer for a card payment, contact the payment app, and file a claim if you used Facebook checkout. Report it to the FTC and Facebook. Anyone offering to recover your money for a fee is running a second scam.
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How it works
Marketplace scams usually involve a seller who takes payment and never sends the item, or a buyer who pays with a fake or reversed payment. Scammers like methods that are hard to undo: wire transfers, gift cards, cryptocurrency, cash-reload cards and payment apps.
What's recoverable depends on how you paid. Facebook's Purchase Protection only covers purchases made through its checkout. It doesn't cover local pickups, Messenger payments or other off-platform transactions.
After the first scam, a second one often follows. People who contact you offering to recover your money for an upfront fee are, according to the FTC, running a refund and recovery scam.
Red flags
- A price far below what the item usually sells for
- A seller who wants to leave Facebook checkout and pay by app, wire or gift card
- No chance to see the item in person
- A buyer who pays too much and asks for a refund of the difference
- A profile that's new, with few photos or friends
- A stranger offering to recover your lost money for a fee
Example message
The item is still available. I'm travelling so can't meet, but I can ship it today if you send the payment by [payment app] first. Send the screenshot and I'll give you the tracking number.
What to do
- 1
Contact the company you paid with
Card: call your bank or card issuer and dispute the charge. Payment app: report it in the app and ask for a reversal. Gift card: contact the card company straight away with the numbers and receipt. The sooner you act, the better.
- 2
If you used Facebook checkout, file a claim
Contact the seller first, then escalate to Facebook if it isn't resolved. Facebook's help pages list tight deadlines, around 7 days after delivery for most claims, so don't wait.
- 3
Stop contact and save everything
Keep the listing, messages, receipts and payment details. Then stop replying to the other person.
- 4
Report it
Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, your state attorney general and Facebook's reporting tools.
- 5
Ignore offers to get your money back for a fee
Real recovery doesn't start with an upfront fee. The FTC calls these refund and recovery scams.
- 6
If you shared personal details
Change any passwords you gave out and consider a credit freeze. Our guide on what to do after a data breach lists the steps.
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 rarely guess. Names, phone numbers, email addresses and home addresses are sold by data brokers, listed on people-search sites such as Spokeo, and leaked in breaches, which is how a message can reach you with your name already on it. Serus finds the brokers that list you and removes your listings, and alerts you when your details turn up in a breach, so fewer scammers can build a convincing message about you. If you've already shared details, our guide on what to do after a data breach covers the next steps.
More Facebook scams
Frequently asked
Can I get my money back after a Marketplace scam?
Sometimes. It depends on how you paid. A card dispute or Facebook checkout claim gives you the best chance. Wire transfers, gift cards, crypto and cash-reload cards are usually hard to reverse.
Does Facebook Purchase Protection cover every purchase?
No. Facebook says it covers purchases made through its checkout, not local pickups, Messenger payments or other off-platform transactions.
Someone says they can recover my money. Should I pay them?
No. The FTC warns that people who ask for an upfront fee to get your money back are running a refund and recovery scam.
Where do I report it?
Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, your state attorney general and Facebook.
Sources
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