# Online Marketplace Scams: Sell Safely on Facebook and Craigslist

> Avoid overpayment, fake payment and fake-check scams when selling used items on Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp or Craigslist, and learn what to do if one succeeds.

Source: https://www.epifive.com/blog/marketplace-scams-facebook-offerup-craigslist-avoid · Published 2026-10-30 · EpiFive

## Key takeaways

- Never send money back to a buyer who says they overpaid, because the check or payment behind it is usually fake.
- Confirm payment in your own bank or payment app, not from a screenshot or an email that looks like a payment notice.
- A check can appear in your account before the bank discovers it is fake, and you are responsible for repaying the bank.
- Be wary of buyers who push you off the platform, rush you or send links asking for your card, bank or login details.
- Report scams to the platform and to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

The most common scams against people selling used items online involve a buyer who pays with something fake, such as a check, a screenshot or a payment link, and then asks you for money, goods or personal details. The rule that protects you is simple: you are only paid when the money is in your own bank or payment account, and you never send money back to a buyer who says they overpaid. This guide covers Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp and Craigslist sellers in the United States.

## Who this is for and what you will have at the end

This guide is for anyone selling or buying used items, such as furniture, electronics, cars or tools, through a local marketplace. At the end you will know the main scam patterns, how to check a payment properly, which payment methods carry the most risk, how to arrange a meet-up or shipment more safely, and what to do if a scam succeeds. It describes how to recognize scams so you can avoid them, and it does not explain how to run one.

The sources are the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Meta's Marketplace safety page. Each platform has its own rules, and OfferUp and Craigslist publish their own safety pages, which you should read for current details. The platform-specific advice below covers Facebook only. The general rules from the FTC apply to all three.

## The main scams aimed at sellers

### Overpayment and fake checks

The FTC describes this as a "fake check scam". A buyer sends a check for more than the price and asks you to return the difference. The FTC's alert on online car sellers describes a buyer who says they are not local and cannot see the car in person, sends a check as a deposit to "hold" the item, and then says they "accidentally" overpaid.

The reason it works, according to the FTC:

- Fake checks can look identical to real ones, even to bank staff, and some use real bank names or stolen account details.
- The funds may appear in your account after you deposit the check, but banks may take weeks to confirm it is fake.
- When it bounces, you owe the bank the repayment. The buyer and the money you sent are gone.

The FTC's advice for sellers:

- Do not accept a check for more than the selling price.
- Never send money to someone who says they overpaid you by check.
- Do not use money from a check to buy gift cards or money orders, buy cryptocurrency or wire money to anyone.
- Consider an escrow or online payment service when selling something valuable such as a car online.

The FTC's general rule on fake checks is to accept checks only from people you know and trust.

### Fake payment confirmations and refunds without payment

Meta's Marketplace safety page lists "fake refunds or overpayment" as a scam. Buyers may ask for a refund without having paid, and may send a screenshot as "proof". Meta's advice is to check your own payment app directly, even if a buyer sends a screenshot of a transaction. If you are unsure, contact your payment app's support directly.

In practice:

1. Open your bank or payment app yourself. Do not tap a link in a text or email that claims to confirm a payment.
2. Look for the payment in the transaction list, not only in a notification.
3. Hand over the item or ship it only after the money is in your account and shown as available.

### Pressure to move off the platform

Meta's page says requests to switch to phone or email early in a conversation can signal bad intent. It adds that this is most common in vehicle, rental and home goods listings. Staying in the platform's messaging gives you a record and lets the platform act on reports. If a buyer insists on moving to text, email or another chat app before they have even asked about the item, treat that as a warning sign, not proof of a scam.

### Phishing links

Meta warns that sellers may use outside links to get your card or bank details, and says you should never share these under any circumstance. A link that opens a page asking for a password, card number or bank login is a red flag. A genuine buyer does not need your card number or online banking password to pay you. If a message says you must "verify" your account to receive funds, do not follow it. Open the app or website yourself instead. The FTC's guidance on government and company impersonators makes the same point: do not click links in unexpected messages.

### Fake or defective items (when you are buying)

Meta lists listings priced far below market value, sellers who rush you, and sellers who are vague about an item's history as signs of a fake or defective item. If a price looks too good, assume there is a reason.

## Payment methods: what is safer, what is not

| Method | For the seller | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cash in person | Usually simplest | Meet in a safe place; check bills carefully |
| Payment app you control | Reasonable if you confirm it in your own app | Payments can be reversed or scammed with fake screenshots; check the app, not the screenshot |
| Check or cashier's check | High risk | Can be fake and may take weeks to be found out; the FTC says to accept checks only from people you know and trust |
| Wire transfer, gift cards, cryptocurrency | Treat as a red flag | The FTC lists requests for these as warning signs; they are hard to reverse |
| Escrow or online payment service | Consider for high-value items | The FTC suggests this for online car sales |

If a buyer wants to pay a different way from the one you offered, ask why. A legitimate buyer can usually pay by the method you chose.

## Selling safely, step by step

1. **Write a clear listing.** Describe the item honestly. You do not need to put your address, phone number or email in the listing.
2. **Keep messages in the platform.** Do not share your personal details until you have decided to go ahead.
3. **Agree on the price and payment method in writing** before the meeting. If the buyer's offer changes, stop and reconsider.
4. **Use a safe meeting place.** Meet in a public, well-lit place and bring a friend if the item is valuable. This is common safety advice and not specific to one platform.
5. **Confirm the payment yourself.** Look in your own account before handing over the item.
6. **Never agree to refund or send "the difference".** There is no legitimate reason for a buyer to ask you to pay someone else, such as a shipping agent or a "mover", out of their payment.
7. **For shipping, be careful.** Do not ship until payment has arrived and is available in your account. Keep proof of postage and tracking. Be wary of a buyer who says a courier or shipping agent will collect the item, and of any "shipping fee" you are asked to pay from the buyer's money.

## If you are buying

- Be wary of prices far below market, sellers who rush you or avoid questions about the item.
- Meet in person and inspect the item before paying where possible.
- Pay with a method that gives you some recourse. The FTC's guidance on what to do after a scam says credit card payments can be disputed with the issuer, and that you should call the number on the back of the card or use the issuer's website or app.
- Do not pay a "deposit" through gift cards, wire transfer or cryptocurrency to hold an item.

If a purchase on Facebook Marketplace goes wrong, Meta says to contact the seller first, and to contact Facebook support if the seller does not reply or resolve the issue within two business days.

## If you think you are being scammed

1. Stop communicating with the buyer or seller.
2. Do not send any more money, items or information.
3. Report the person or listing to the platform. On Facebook, Meta says you can report a buyer, a seller or a listing.
4. Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

## If you have already been scammed

Act quickly, since the FTC says the sooner you contact the company, the better your chance of recovering money. Based on the FTC's "What To Do if You Were Scammed" and fake-check guidance:

- **You deposited a fake check and sent money:** tell your bank immediately, and contact the service you used to send the money. For gift cards, contact the card's issuer and the store where you bought it. For a wire transfer, call the wire company right away to report fraud and ask for a reversal. For cryptocurrency, contact the company you used and ask to reverse the transaction.
- **You paid by bank transfer or a payment app:** contact your bank or credit union, or the payment app, right away and ask for a reversal.
- **You paid by credit or debit card:** call the number on the back of the card or use the issuer's website or app and ask for a refund.
- **You mailed a money order or cash:** contact the issuer to try to stop payment. For something mailed, the FTC lists the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 877-876-2455.
- **You gave personal or login information:** change the password, change it anywhere else you used it, and turn on two-factor authentication. If a Social Security number was involved, use IdentityTheft.gov.

See also [what to do after a Zelle, Venmo or Cash App scam](https://www.epifive.com/blog/zelle-venmo-cash-app-scam-what-to-do), and, for scams that begin with a package notification, [package delivery text scams](https://www.epifive.com/blog/package-delivery-text-scam-usps-ups-fedex).

## Quick reference: red flags

- The buyer sends more than the asking price, or a check when you asked for something else.
- You are asked to send part of the money back, or to a third party.
- The buyer sends a screenshot and not a payment you can see in your own account.
- The buyer will not meet, will not call, or says they are out of town and will send a courier.
- A link asks for your card number, bank login or password.
- You are rushed or told to act before you can check.
- The payment method is a gift card, wire transfer or cryptocurrency.

## Summary checklist

1. Never accept a check for more than the price or return an overpayment.
2. Check payments in your own bank or payment app, not in screenshots or links.
3. Keep communication on the platform and share as little personal information as possible.
4. Do not hand over or ship an item until the money is in your account.
5. Do not use money from a check to pay anyone.
6. Report scams to the platform and to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and contact your bank immediately if you paid.

## References

- FTC, How To Spot, Avoid, and Report Fake Check Scams: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-spot-avoid-and-report-fake-check-scams
- FTC Consumer Alert, Fake check scam targets online car sellers: https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2025/02/fake-check-scam-targets-online-car-sellers
- FTC, What To Do if You Were Scammed: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-do-if-you-were-scammed
- Meta, Marketplace safety: https://www.meta.com/safety/scam-prevention/marketplace-safety/

## Frequently asked questions

### What is an overpayment scam when selling online?

A buyer sends a check or payment for more than the price, says it was an accident, and asks you to send the difference back. The FTC warns that the check is fake, the bank may take weeks to find out, and you owe the bank the money while the buyer is gone.

### How do I know a payment really arrived?

Check your own payment app or bank account directly. Meta's Marketplace safety page says to confirm the payment in your own account even if a buyer sends a screenshot of a transaction.

### Is a check that clears my bank account safe to rely on?

Not necessarily. The FTC says funds usually have to be made available quickly, but that does not mean the check is good, and banks can take weeks to discover a fake check. If it bounces you may have to repay the bank.

### What should I do if I already sent money to a scammer?

Contact your bank, card issuer or payment service right away and ask for a reversal, then report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The sooner you act, the better the chance of recovering money.