How to Avoid Scams on Craigslist & Facebook Marketplace: A Complete Guide

Online classifieds have become the go-to way to buy and sell used items. From Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace to OfferUp and Nextdoor, millions of transactions happen every day. Unfortunately, scammers have kept pace. The FTC reports that online shopping fraud — including marketplace scams — costs consumers billions annually.

The Most Common Marketplace Scams

1. Advance Payment Fraud

The classic scam: a seller lists an item at an attractive price, asks for payment via Zelle, Venmo, or wire transfer, and vanishes after receiving the money.

2. Fake Escrow or Payment Sites

Scammers send links to convincing but fraudulent payment pages that steal your credit card or banking details. Always verify URLs carefully.

3. Overpayment Scam

A buyer sends you a check for more than the asking price, asks you to refund the difference, and the original check bounces days later.

4. Bait-and-Switch

The item in photos looks great, but when you meet in person, it's a different model, a knockoff, or has undisclosed damage.

Your Safety Checklist for Online Classifieds

• Use built-in payment systems: Facebook Pay, OfferUp shipping protection, etc.
• Check seller profiles: Look at ratings, account age, and transaction history
• Meet in public: Police station parking lots and bank lobbies are ideal
• Inspect before paying: Test electronics, verify serial numbers, check for damage
• Save all conversations: Screenshot iMessage, Messenger, or email exchanges
• Bring a friend: Never go alone to high-value transactions

Sharing Personal Information Safely

Marketplace transactions inevitably require sharing personal details — your phone number, address for pickup, or payment information. Sending these through Messenger or text means they live in chat history indefinitely.

With LOCK.PUB, you can create a password-protected, self-expiring memo to share sensitive details like your address or phone number. Once the buyer or seller reads it, the information doesn't linger in any chat log.

What to Do If You've Been Scammed

1. Document everything: Save screenshots of the listing, messages, and payment receipts
2. Report to the platform: File a fraud report on Facebook, Craigslist, or the relevant marketplace
3. Contact your bank: Dispute the charge or request a reversal
4. File a police report: Visit ic3.gov (FBI) or reportfraud.ftc.gov
5. Warn others: Leave reviews and flag the scammer's profile

FAQ

Q: Is Facebook Pay safe to use? A: Facebook Pay offers Purchase Protection for qualifying transactions, making it significantly safer than Zelle or Venmo for marketplace deals.

Q: Should I give my real phone number to buyers? A: Use a secondary number or communicate through the platform's messaging system. If you must share a number, use LOCK.PUB's expiring memo feature.

Q: Can I get my money back after a Zelle scam? A: Unfortunately, Zelle transactions are instant and difficult to reverse. Banks may help if you report fraud quickly.

Stay Safe, Share Smart

The best defense against marketplace scams is vigilance and smart information sharing. When you need to exchange sensitive details for a transaction, use LOCK.PUB to create password-protected, expiring links. Your personal information stays protected, even if the other party isn't who they claim to be.

Create a secure memo on LOCK.PUB →