Protect Yourself From Facebook Marketplace Scams

Are you a Facebook Marketplace shopper?

My wife and I have purchased furniture and cars off Facebook Marketplace. We’ve never had a problem, but it’s become a target for fraud. Here are some red flags to watch out for: Sellers offering too-good-to-be-true prices for expensive items. Or they refuse to meet in person or want you to pay with gift cards. Buyers or sellers want to converse outside of Facebook Messenger. They ask for your phone number and may not have a profile photo. Any of these situations should cause you to proceed with caution or stop communication immediately. 

Here are some other tips: Enable 2-factor authentication for Facebook to protect your devices from malware and viruses. Set up fraud alerts on your credit card and bank accounts. Pay in cash or with trusted payment methods. Checks can be faked. If using PayPal, don’t select “friends and family” payments or your protection will be negated. Check the seller’s profile for suspicious posts or long gaps in activity. Only communicate through Facebook Marketplace to easily track conversations. Meet in a public place. Bring a friend and thoroughly inspect what you’re purchasing. Beware of buyers who don’t need to see the product, and never ship before receiving payment. Also never send refunds to buyers who claim to have “accidentally” sent too much. Proverbs 12:20 says, “Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil.” So use Facebook Marketplace carefully. 

Now I hope you can join us at Crown’s 2023 Reunion. We plan to gather October 12-15 at Ridgecrest Conference Center near beautiful Asheville, North Carolina. For more details and registration, go to crown.org/reunion.