Beware of New Scam Targeting Items on Facebook Marketplace

Thursday, June 30th, 2022 -- 10:01 AM

Watch out when selling big-ticket items on Facebook Marketplace.

Scammers have a new trick up their sleeves. According to BBB Scam Tracker reports, be wary of phony buyers who “need” you to upgrade your Zelle or another digital wallet app to accept money from them.

So, how does this scam work? You list a big-ticket item worth several hundred dollars on Facebook Marketplace. You are quickly contacted by a buyer who wants to pay using a peer-to-peer payment app.

Recent BBB Scam Tracker reports reference Zelle, but this scam could also work with CashApp, Venmo (a BBB Accredited Business), or another similar service. Shortly after receiving the payment, you get an email, supposedly from Zelle.

Allegedly, the buyer paid via a Zelle “business account.” Now, you also need to upgrade your account to business status to accept the transfer. To do so, the buyer will need to send you another $300.

They are happy to do you a favor, if you promise to refund them. If you refund the scammer, you’ll quickly realize that they never sent you any money in the first place. You’ll be out a few hundred dollars, and the scammer will disappear.

How to avoid scams when selling online:

• Don’t trust anyone willing to overpay you;
• Check email addresses carefully;
• Get to know payment app policies before you use them;
• Report scams to Facebook Marketplace.

Read the BBB Tip: Selling used items online and the BBB Scam Alert on overpayment scams for more ways to stay safe when selling items online.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.