How to Spot and Avoid Facebook Marketplace Scams

Facebook Marketplace Scams: What You Need to Know Before It Costs You Money

Facebook Marketplace has become a popular place to buy and sell everything from furniture to vehicles. Unfortunately, it has also become a hotspot for increasingly sophisticated scams. At SIASS, we are seeing a growing number of cases where people are being misled, financially harmed, and left with little recourse.

This article highlights some of the most common Facebook Marketplace scams currently circulating, how to recognise them, and what you can do to protect yourself.

Common Facebook Marketplace Scams to Watch Out For

1. The “Free or Very Cheap Furniture” Scam

A common example involves users searching Facebook Marketplace for items such as sofas or beds. The listing appears highly attractive – often FREE or priced far below market value.

How the scam works:

• You message the seller.

• They respond that the item is “no longer available”.

• They then suggest you visit another website where “similar items are available”.

• A link is provided.

Do not click the link.

These websites are frequently linked to:

• Fake online shops

• Payment card harvesting

• Malware or data theft

Once clicked, victims may lose money, personal data, or access to their accounts.

2. “You Just Missed It” – Cheap Pool Tables & Big Ticket Items

Another increasingly common scam involves high-quality items such as pool tables, gym equipment, or tools listed at implausibly low prices (often under £100).

Typical warning signs:

• Identical or near-identical listings from different sellers

• The same wording, punctuation, and even emoji use

• Reused images across multiple accounts

When contacted, the seller claims:

“You just missed out on this one, but here’s where I got mine from originally.”

Again, a link is sent.

Do not click the link.

Many of these scams are part of coordinated networks designed to funnel users to fraudulent websites.

3. Private Vehicle Sales That Aren’t Private at All

Vehicle scams are among the most damaging, particularly for younger or first-time buyers.

A recent case involved a 19-year-old new driver who purchased a 2012 Nissan Micra advertised as a private family sale. The vehicle appeared legitimate and reasonably priced.

What went wrong:

• The car had a poor-quality respray that blistered after a car wash

• Incorrect fluid had been added to the automatic gearbox

• The gearbox later failed completely

The fault was only discovered after failure, leaving the buyer without a vehicle and without the savings to replace it.

In many of these cases:

• Sellers are part of a network posing as previous owners

• Multiple people may corroborate the “private sale” story

• Vehicles are moved quickly to avoid detection

If it looks too good to be true, it usually is.

Red Flags to Look Out For

Across many scam reports (including those documented on Reddit’s scam awareness forums), the same patterns appear repeatedly:

• Sellers with very recent Facebook accounts

• Identical wording across multiple listings

• Reused images or stock photos

• Emoji-heavy descriptions repeated word-for-word

• Pressure to move conversations off Facebook quickly

A useful step is to perform a reverse image search on the seller’s profile picture. In many cases, the image turns out to be:

• A stock photo

• An unrelated person

• An image taken from an open-source website

This is often a strong indicator the seller is not genuine.

Why Aren’t These Scams Being Stopped?

The sheer volume of Facebook Marketplace scams suggests that more proactive investigations by police and consumer protection bodies are warranted. However, at present, enforcement appears slow and inconsistent.

This leaves many victims feeling unsupported and out of pocket.

How SIASS Can Help

SIASS specialises in covert surveillance and investigation services. We have undertaken:

• Test purchases on behalf of clients

• Evidence gathering for suspected online fraud

• Investigations into organised scam networks

• Documentation suitable for legal or regulatory use

For individuals, businesses, or organisations that require evidence rather than suspicion, professional investigation can provide clarity and accountability.

Final Advice: Buyer Beware

• Never click unsolicited links from Marketplace sellers

• Be sceptical of prices far below market value

• Verify seller history and images

• Walk away if anything feels rushed or inconsistent

Your instincts are often your best defence.

If you believe you have encountered a Facebook Marketplace scam, or require professional assistance in investigating suspected fraud, SIASS is available to advise discreetly and professionally.