Quick answer
Three rules stop almost every Marketplace scam. Never share a code sent to your phone, whatever reason the buyer gives. Sellers: only hand over an item once you see the money in your own bank app or payment account, never because of an SMS, email or screenshot. Buyers: don’t pay deposits or “delivery fees” to strangers; see the item and pay when you collect it. If someone pushes you to move to WhatsApp, rush, or pay by gift card, crypto or wire, walk away.
Does this match what you see?
- A buyer says they need to “verify you’re a real seller” and asks you to send back a code that just arrived by text.
- You get an email or SMS saying the buyer has paid, but the money isn’t in your account yet.
- A buyer “accidentally” pays too much and asks you to send the difference back.
- A seller asks for a deposit or delivery fee before you’ve seen the item, often saying many people want it.
- Someone sends a link to “receive your payment”, “confirm your listing” or track a delivery.
- The other person wants to move the chat to WhatsApp, Telegram, email or a phone call straight away.
- The price is far below what the item normally sells for, and the seller can’t show it in person.
iPhone & iPadAndroidComputer (browser)
These scams work the same way in the Facebook app and on facebook.com, and in every country. Payment methods differ: in Nigeria most deals are cash or bank transfer, elsewhere payment apps are common. The rules below apply to all of them.
Why this happens: the possible causes
Each scam below has one giveaway. If you spot it, you can stop before anything is lost.
| Scam | How it usually starts | The giveaway |
|---|---|---|
| Verification-code trick | “Before I pay I need to confirm you’re real. I’ve sent a code to your phone.” | They ask you to send them the code. Fix 1 |
| Fake payment alert or email | “I’ve paid, check your SMS or email.” | The money isn’t in your own bank app or account. Fix 2 |
| Overpayment, refund the difference | “I sent too much by mistake, please send back the extra.” | Any request to refund an overpayment. Fix 3 |
| Deposit or delivery-fee scam | “Pay a small deposit to hold it” or “pay the courier fee first”. | Paying before you’ve seen the item. Fix 4 |
| Payment or login link | “Click here to receive your money” or “confirm your Marketplace account”. | A link to a site that isn’t facebook.com or your real bank. Fix 6 |
| Off-platform move | “Message me on WhatsApp, it’s easier.” | Pushing you away from Facebook early. Fix 5 |
| Too-good-to-be-true listing | A phone or car far below the usual price, with excuses not to meet. | No way to see the actual item. Fix 7 |
- Codes are valuable to scammersCheck this first
The FTC describes scammers posing as buyers on sites like Facebook Marketplace who ask for a Google Voice verification code. With it they can set up a number linked to yours and use it to scam others. The same trick works with WhatsApp and Facebook login codes, which can help someone take over your accounts.
- Fake proof of payment is cheap to makeCheck this first
Emails that copy payment services, edited screenshots and fake bank credit alerts all look real at a glance. Consumer Affairs Victoria warns about fake payment-service emails with a login link. Nigerian fact-checkers Dubawa have documented fake credit alerts sent from personal numbers.
- Moving off Facebook removes the trailPossible
The FTC warns about sellers who push buyers away from a marketplace’s own system. On Facebook Marketplace most local deals are paid in person anyway, so the real warning sign is being pushed off Facebook early, before you’ve met. Once you move to another app, Facebook can’t see the conversation, and reporting the person is harder.
- Urgency stops you thinkingPossible
“Someone else is coming in an hour”, “pay now or lose it”, “I’m travelling, my driver will collect”. Meta notes that scammers often create a false sense of urgency.
If you’re selling: the four scripts to know
Almost every scam aimed at sellers is one of these. None of them involves the buyer simply turning up, checking the item and paying.
| What the buyer says | What’s really happening | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| “I need to verify you’re real. Send me the code I just sent you.” | They want a code that opens one of your accounts or links a number to yours. | Refuse. Fix 1 |
| “I’ve paid. Check your email or SMS.” | The email or alert is fake. No money has arrived. | Check your bank app yourself. Fix 2 |
| “I paid too much, send the rest back.” | There usually was no real payment, so the “refund” comes out of your own money. | Refuse. Fix 3 |
| “Click this link to receive your money.” | A fake page that takes your banking or Facebook login. | Don’t click. Fix 6 |
If you’re buying: warning signs in a listing or seller
- The price is far below normal, especially for phones, laptops, cars, game consoles and rentals.
- You’re asked to pay before you see the item: a deposit, a “holding fee”, delivery or customs charges.
- The seller can’t meet and has a story about why: abroad, deployed, travelling, “my agent will deliver”.
- The payment method is unusual: gift cards, crypto, wire transfers, or an account in a different name from the seller.
- The profile is brand new or has no real activity, or the photos appear elsewhere online.
- You’re pushed to decide fast: “someone else is paying in an hour”.
Rentals deserve extra care: never pay a deposit for a room or apartment you haven’t viewed, and check that the person showing it is really the owner or an authorised agent.
Try these 60-second checks first
- Is anyone asking you to send a code from your phone? Stop. It’s a scam.
- Selling? Open your bank app or payment account yourself and check the money is really there. An SMS, email or screenshot isn’t proof.
- Buying? Has the seller asked for money before you’ve seen the item? Don’t pay it.
- Has the other person asked to move to WhatsApp, Telegram or email before agreeing anything? Be cautious.
- Is there a link to click to get paid, confirm your account or track a parcel? Don’t open it.
How to fix it, step by step
Work through these in order. They start with the quickest, safest checks and only move to steps that sign you out or remove data later.
Fix 1: Never send anyone a code from your phone
This is the most common trick aimed at sellers. A code that arrives by text can unlock your Facebook, WhatsApp, email or a Google Voice number linked to your phone. A genuine buyer has no reason to ask for one.
- If a buyer says they need to “verify” you, refuse politely and keep the deal to the item, the price and where to meet.
- Don’t forward, read out or screenshot any code, even if the message looks like it came from Facebook or Google.
- If codes keep arriving that you didn’t request, someone may be trying to get into one of your accounts. Change that account’s password and turn on two-factor authentication. See login codes you didn’t request.
- Report and block the buyer (Fix 8).
Did it work? No code has left your phone, and the buyer is reported and blocked.
Fix 2: Sellers: confirm the money yourself before you hand anything over
Payment emails, SMS alerts and screenshots can all be faked. The FTC’s advice is simple: make sure you’ve been paid before you ship. Consumer Affairs Victoria adds: log in to your payment account directly and check the money has cleared.
- Open your bank app or payment account yourself. Don’t use a link from the buyer or from an email.
- Check the available balance or transaction list shows the money. A pending payment or a message saying “transfer successful” isn’t the same.
- In Nigeria and anywhere bank-transfer alerts are common: don’t rely on an SMS alert alone. Dubawa notes fake alerts often come from personal phone numbers or arrive outside your bank’s usual message thread. Check your balance in the app.
- For cash, count it in good light before handing over the item. Meet somewhere you can check notes properly.
- If the buyer insists the money is “on its way” and pressures you to release the item now, keep the item until it arrives.
Never give your card number, PIN or online banking details to a buyer, even if they say they need them to “send” you money. To receive a bank transfer you only need to share your account details (account number and bank name).
Did it work? You saw the payment in your own bank app or account before the item left your hands.
Fix 3: Refuse any “I paid too much, send me the difference” request
In an overpayment scam, the “extra” money usually never existed, and often neither did the original payment. The FTC calls a request to refund extra money a big red flag. If you send the difference, you lose it, and often the item too.
- Don’t refund anything until you’ve confirmed in your own bank app or account that the full amount has really arrived and cleared.
- Don’t send any money back yourself, even if a payment looks cleared: transfers and card payments can be reversed later. If you want to cancel, ask your bank or payment provider to return the payment for you.
- If the buyer pushes, threatens or gets upset, that confirms it. End the conversation and report them.
Did it work? You haven’t sent any money to a buyer.
Fix 4: Buyers: see the item first, pay when you collect it
Deposit and delivery-fee scams only work if you pay before you have the item. The FTC warns that sellers asking for wire transfers, gift cards or cryptocurrency are how scammers ask to be paid.
- Don’t pay a deposit to “hold” an item, however many other buyers the seller says are waiting.
- Don’t pay a delivery, courier or customs fee to a seller you haven’t met, especially to an account in a different name.
- Arrange to see the item in person. Check it works (switch phones on, check the IMEI is not blocked where you can, test drive cars) before you pay.
- Pay when you have the item in your hands, by a method you can trace.
- If a seller refuses to meet or to show the item on a live video call, walk away.
Facebook has no way to pull back cash or a bank transfer you sent yourself. Your bank or payment provider is the place to ask if something goes wrong, which is why paying on collection matters.
Did it work? You paid only after seeing and checking the item.
Fix 5: Keep the conversation on Facebook until the deal is done
Scammers often want to move you to WhatsApp, Telegram, email or phone calls early. Consumer Affairs Victoria lists a buyer who wants to deal outside the platform as a warning sign. Keeping the chat in Marketplace keeps a record and lets you report the person.
- Agree the price, meeting place and time in Marketplace messages.
- Only share your phone number when you’re ready to meet, and never share codes that arrive on it.
- If the other person refuses to continue on Facebook, treat it as a warning sign.
Did it work? The whole conversation is in your Marketplace messages, so you can report it if needed.
Fix 6: Don’t click payment, “verification” or delivery links
Links that promise to release your money or confirm your account usually lead to fake login or bank pages that steal your password, card or codes. The FTC describes buyers sending links to sites masquerading as a payment service.
- Don’t open links sent by buyers or sellers. Type the address of your bank or payment service yourself.
- Remember: Meta says Facebook will never ask for your password in an email, and its emails only come from its own domains, such as facebookmail.com and metamail.com. See how to check an email is really from Facebook.
- If a message says your Marketplace account will be disabled unless you “verify”, ignore the link. Open Facebook yourself and check your notifications and Profile status.
- If you already typed your password into a link, change it straight away and log out of other devices. See Facebook hacked.
Did it work? You haven’t entered a password, card or code on a page someone sent you.
Fix 7: Check the seller and the listing before you commit
Scam listings often reuse photos from elsewhere, use brand-new profiles and price items well below normal. The FTC suggests looking for pictures of the actual item.
- Tap the seller’s name and look at their profile: how long it has existed, whether it has a real history, and any Marketplace ratings, if shown.
- Compare the price with similar items. A price far below everyone else’s is the classic hook.
- Ask for a new photo of the item with something specific in it, such as a piece of paper with today’s date, or a short live video call.
- Be wary of stories that explain why you can’t meet: abroad, in the army, travelling, “my driver will deliver”.
Did it work? The seller has a real history, the photos show the actual item, and they’re willing to meet.
Fix 8: Report the person or listing, then block them
Reporting helps Facebook remove scam accounts before they reach someone else. Blocking stops them contacting you again.
- First, screenshot the listing, the person’s profile and the conversation. Blocking can hide the chat.
- Open the listing or the conversation and use the Report option (usually behind the ⋯ or the person’s name). Choose the option about scams or fraud.
- You can also report the person’s profile from their profile page.
- Block the person so they can’t message you again.
- For more help, open ☰ Menu > Help and support > Scam Protection Center in the Facebook app.
Report menus are worded slightly differently between versions. Look for “Report”, then the option about scams, fraud or a suspicious seller.
Did it work? The person is reported and blocked, and you kept screenshots of the conversation.
Meeting in person safely
- Meet in a busy public place during the day. Some police stations and shopping centres have safe-exchange spots.
- Bring someone with you, and tell a friend where you’re going and who you’re meeting.
- For expensive items, avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Use a bank transfer you can confirm on the spot in your own bank app.
- Don’t invite strangers to your home or go to theirs for small sales. For large items like furniture, have someone with you.
- Trust your instincts. If the plan changes at the last minute to somewhere less public, cancel.
Already shared a code, paid, or sent the item? Do this now
These scams work on careful, ordinary people. Acting quickly limits the damage.
- Stop all contact with the scammer and don’t send anything else, whatever they promise or threaten.
- If you shared a code: work out what it was for. For Facebook, change your password and log out of other devices (Facebook hacked). For WhatsApp, re-register WhatsApp on your phone with your number and turn on two-step verification. For a Google Voice code, the FTC points to Google’s steps for reclaiming your number.
- If you sent money: contact your bank immediately through its official app or phone number, and ask whether the payment can be stopped or recalled. The sooner you call, the better your chance.
- If you were “paid” with a fake transfer or alert: confirm with your bank that nothing arrived, and don’t release anything else to that buyer.
- If you paid by card or a payment app: ask your card company or the payment service about a dispute or chargeback.
- Keep evidence: screenshots of the listing, the profile, the conversation, phone numbers and payment receipts.
- Report it: report the profile and listing on Facebook (Fix 8), then report the fraud to the authorities below.
Where to report fraud
- Nigeria: your bank first, then the police. The EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) also handles financial fraud.
- United States: the FTC’s ReportFraud.ftc.gov (external site, opens in a new tab).
- United Kingdom: Action Fraud (external site, opens in a new tab).
- Canada: the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (external site, opens in a new tab).
- Australia: Scamwatch (external site, opens in a new tab).
- Elsewhere: your national police or consumer-protection fraud reporting service.
Example scam messages (not genuine Facebook messages)
These are typical scripts, written in our own words. The details change, but the shape stays the same.
Before I pay, I need to make sure you’re real. I’ve sent you a code, please send it back.- What it usually means
- The verification-code trick. The code opens one of your accounts or links a number to yours.
- What to do
- Don’t send it. Report and block. Fix 1
Payment done. Check your email for confirmation from the payment company.- What it usually means
- A fake payment email, usually with a link to a fake login page.
- What to do
- Check your account yourself. Fix 2
I sent extra by mistake, please refund the balance to this account.- What it usually means
- The overpayment scam. Usually no real money was sent.
- What to do
- Refuse. Fix 3
Many people want this. Send a deposit now and I’ll keep it for you.- What it usually means
- A deposit scam. The item may not exist.
- What to do
- Don’t pay before you see the item. Fix 4
Your Marketplace account will be disabled. Verify your details here.- What it usually means
- Phishing, copying a Facebook warning.
- What to do
- Don’t click. Check inside the Facebook app. Fix 6
How to know it worked
- You haven’t sent a code, password, PIN or card number to anyone.
- Every sale was paid in full, checked in your own bank app or account, before the item changed hands.
- Every purchase was paid only after you saw and checked the item.
- Anyone suspicious has been reported and blocked, and you have screenshots.
Still not working? Your next steps
- If you lost money, keep following up with your bank and file a report with the police or your national fraud service.
- If someone got into your Facebook account, follow hacked account recovery.
- If your own listing was removed or your Marketplace access was limited after a report, see listing not showing or removed and Marketplace not showing.
Official help routes
SocialAppFix can’t see or change your account. For account decisions, recovery and appeals, only the platform’s own tools can help. These links go to the official sites.
Frequently asked questions
Why would a buyer want a code from my phone?
Because the code unlocks something tied to your number: your Facebook, WhatsApp or email, or a Google Voice number the scammer can then use to cheat other people. The FTC says never to share a verification code with anyone you didn’t contact first.
Is a screenshot or SMS alert proof that a buyer paid me?
No. Screenshots, emails and SMS alerts can all be faked. Only trust what you see when you open your own bank app or payment account.
Is it safe to give a buyer my phone number?
Sharing your number to arrange a meeting is usually fine, but be ready for codes to arrive afterwards. Never share them. If you prefer, keep everything in Marketplace messages until you meet.
Can Facebook get my money back?
Facebook has no way to pull back cash or a bank transfer you sent yourself. Contact your bank or payment provider straight away, and report the person on Facebook so they can’t target others.
What if I already sent the item and the payment was fake?
Contact your bank to confirm nothing arrived, keep all screenshots, report the buyer on Facebook, and report the fraud to the police or your national fraud service. Don’t send any more items or money if the buyer gets in touch again.
Someone says they’re from Meta and can restore my Marketplace for a fee. Is that real?
Treat it as a scam. We found no fee anywhere in Meta’s review process. Use the request review options inside Facebook, explained in Marketplace not showing, and see account recovery scams.
Did this solve your problem?
Your answer stays in your browser — nothing is sent or stored. The “tell us” link opens your own email app.
Out of date or didn’t work? Email us — never include passwords or codes.
Sources and how we checked this guide
We base steps on the platforms’ own help pages and the phone makers’ official guides. Menu names change often and can differ by device, app version and region. Where a platform page could not be independently read, we link it so you can check the current wording yourself.
- Google Voice scam: How this verification code scam works and how to avoid it (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Online sellers stung by scammers spoofing PayPal brand (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Looking for alternatives for your holiday shopping? (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Online selling scam (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Four bank credit alert schemes scammers have used to defraud victims (2020) (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Helping Older Adults Avoid Online Scams (Oct 2025) (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Check if an email is really from Facebook (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Scam Protection Center: Marketplace trust and safety (external site, opens in a new tab)
- ReportFraud.ftc.gov (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Action Fraud – report fraud and cyber crime (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Report fraud and cybercrime (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Report a scam (external site, opens in a new tab)
Last reviewed 21 October 2026 by the SocialAppFix editorial team against the sources above. Next scheduled review: 19 April 2027. How we write and review guides.
What changed
- 21 October 2026: First published.
SocialAppFix is an independent guide and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Meta or Facebook. We never ask for passwords, login codes or payment to fix an account.