As Facebook Marketplace continues to grow in popularity, so do the instances of scams on the platform. It’s important to be vigilant and protect yourself from falling victim to these scams, which can range from fake or defective items being sold to bait and switch schemes and payment scams. Here are some tips on how to spot and avoid Facebook Marketplace scams:

1. Check the seller’s profile. If there is no profile picture, image banner, or past Marketplace listings, the seller may be fake and trying to scam you.
2. Be wary of low prices on high-ticket items. If a seller is offering a brand new high-end Android phone for a fraction of the retail price, it’s likely a scam.
3. Only use trusted payment methods like PayPal or Facebook Checkout to complete your purchase. If a seller asks you to pay through Venmo, CashApp, or cryptocurrency, it’s a red flag.
4. Stick to the Facebook Marketplace/Messenger for communication with the seller. If a seller asks you to move to another messaging app, refuse and avoid the scammer.
5. Meet the seller in person to examine the product before paying. If the seller refuses to meet in person or asks for a small payment upfront, be cautious.
6. If you are selling something, be wary of buyers who overpay or send a check for more than the agreed upon price. This is a common scam in which the buyer asks you to refund the excess amount through a third party service, and the check eventually bounces.
7. Never ship the product before payment. Scammers will try to trick you into sending the item before they pay, and you will be left holding the bag.

If you do happen to get scammed on Marketplace, be sure to take advantage of Facebooks Purchase Protection policy to possibly obtain a refund.  Purchase protection covers the following:

1.  You never receive the item.
2. The product is damaged or differs substantially in the description.
3. The seller fails to abide by Facebook’s refund policy.

Finally, make sure you report the offending scammer to Facebook: From the listing page on Marketplace, hover your cursor over the seller’s profile picture and select report.

By following these tips, you can protect yourself from falling victim to a Facebook Marketplace scam. Remember to always be cautious and do your research before committing to a purchase or sale on the platform.

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