You may know that online scams can be a nightmare if you are an active internet user. According to the FBIs Internet Crime Report 2022, 800,944 complaints of cybercrime were reported to the FBI by the public in the previous year. These cyber crimes can be harmful to you and the confidential data linked to your account and system.
Similarly, on social media platforms with billions of registered users, frauds or scams are common and can harm buyers and sellers. Today, we will discuss a specific networking site, Facebook.
Facebook has risen these years and now has its separate marketplace. Different buyers from around the corner have set up their online shops on the platform, which has led to several Facebook marketplace scams.
Let's know some of the reasons of which you can be aware:
#1 Fake Rental Property:
You might have noticed some exciting property deals available on the Facebook marketplace at cheaper rates. If you look interested, the seller demands you to pay them some early deposit, which can be a scam! So, before you even believe in buying the property, make sure it's genuine.
#2 Phone Number Requests:
Suppose a buyer shows interest in buying some of your products and requests your contact number. The scammer could have possibly registered for a Google voice number. It will send a verification code, and once you share the OTP with the scammer, they may get access to your confidential data. Hence, never share your phone number or OTP with anyone.
#3 Too Good Deal:
You may have seen some Facebook ads which offer unique products at a good deal and affordable price. But do you know they are a part of Facebook scams? Even if you still believe it's true, ask the seller to send multiple images and live videos of the products, which can help you learn about their loyalty.
#4 Fake Giveaways:
Everyone loves giveaways and free offers. But trusting too much over these can lead you to step into a big mess. The scammers prefer to advertise their products on social media and host fake giveaways to grab engagement on their websites. They can even try to access your personal information by bribing you to participate in their giveaway contest.
#05 Insurance Fee:
For the product you genuinely buy from the Facebook marketplace, you may get a mail to pay any additional shipping charges or insurance fees. Once you enter your bank details, you get the OTP that transfers all your money into their account, i.e., a cybercrime.
But, the question here is,
How To Avoid Facebook Marketplace Scams?
Research A Bit:
Make sure you commence proper research before tapping on any of the links you see on Facebook Marketplace. It will help you rank out any suspicious activities which can scam you in the future.
No Overpayments:
Even if you buy products via Facebook Marketplace, take action immediately if the seller asks for an overpayment. Believe us, you will save yourself from stepping into risky and harmful situations.
Don't Go Alone:
There can be situations when the seller or buyer might ask you to meet alone. In such cases, don't dare to go for a meetup without guidance. Instead, take precautions by asking while going to meet some stranger whom you can’t trust.
No Personal Info:
Never share your personal information with any buyer as it may lead you to get scammed. So, if any buyer asks you to provide information about your address, bank accounts, and credit card details, become alert about it.
Payments:
The payment process you choose should be safe and genuine. For example, using gift cards to pay Facebook marketplace can be a bad idea. You can use Facebook Pay to trade goods and services via the Facebook marketplace.
You can also watch: PowerAdSpy: Best Facebook Ads Spy Tool
The Verdict:
So we hope the readers understand how Facebook marketplace scams can harm genuine buyers and sellers. We even mentioned some intriguing tips to be safe too!
