Marketplace Scams: How to Avoid Getting Ripped Off in 2026
The most common scams on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and OfferUp, plus a 5 step verification routine that catches almost all fake sellers, fake buyers, and overpayment scams.
Marketplace scams are a tax on convenience. Buyers lose money to fake listings. Sellers lose items to fake buyers. Both lose to overpayment scams. This guide covers the most common marketplace scams in 2026 and a 5 step verification routine that catches the majority of them.
8
Most common scams
Across the major marketplaces
5 steps
Verification routine
Stops most scams cold
VoIP
Scammer line type
Watch for it on contacts
$0
Send before delivery
Always inspect first
The top 8 marketplace scams
- Fake listing. Item never existed. Seller asks for a deposit to 'hold' it.
- Sold but still posted. Seller takes money, never ships, never responds.
- Wrong item shipped. You get an empty box or a brick.
- Fake payment confirmation. Buyer sends a fake Zelle or Cash App screenshot.
- Overpayment scam. Buyer 'accidentally' sends too much and asks for the difference back.
- Shipping label scam. Buyer offers to send their own shipping label that is actually paid by a stolen credit card.
- Meet up robbery. Buyer or seller arranges to meet at a private location.
- Test code scam. Buyer says they want to verify you are real and asks for a Google Voice verification code, which they use to steal your identity.
The 5 step verification routine
Phone check
Run a reverse phone lookup on the contact number they provided.
Profile age
Account age, total transactions, reviews.
Reverse image
Stolen photos almost always match other listings.
Pay safely
Avoid Zelle, Cash App, Venmo for strangers. Inspect first.
Meet publicly
Police station swap zones beat private addresses.
Red flags by transaction stage
| Stage | Red flag | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Listing | Price 30%+ below market | Verify item is real before paying |
| First message | Asks for personal info or verification code | Stop, block |
| Pre meet | Wants to ship before you can inspect | Decline |
| Payment | Sends a screenshot, not a confirmed transfer | Wait for funds to clear |
| Meet | Wants to meet at a private home or remote location | Insist on public meet |
Run a private check on any phone number
Get a 60 second report with possible owner, line type, location signals, and risk indicators. The phone owner is not notified.
Run a checkFrequently asked questions
What is the most common Facebook Marketplace scam?
Fake listings that ask for a deposit to 'hold' the item, followed by a vanish. Close runner up is the Google Voice verification code scam.
Is it safe to use Zelle on Facebook Marketplace?
Only with people you know. Zelle transfers are irreversible. If you must use a digital payment, prefer one with buyer protection or use cash in person.
Why do scammers ask for a verification code?
They are creating a Google Voice account using your phone number. This gives them a free phone number tied to your identity, which they use for further scams.
Can a phone number check stop marketplace scams?
It catches a large share of them. Scammers overwhelmingly use VoIP numbers, which a phone number check flags immediately.
What if I have already been scammed?
Contact your bank or payment provider. Report on the marketplace platform. File with the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Related articles
Is This Phone Number a Scam? How to Tell in 60 Seconds
The exact signals that flag a phone number as a scam: line type, fraud score, country mismatch, and known scam reports. With a 60 second check that catches most setups.
How to Verify Someone's Identity Before Meeting in Person
A practical 10 minute routine to confirm someone is real before a first date, an Airbnb meet, a private sale, or a freelance hire. Phone check, image search, ID verification, and video.
Phone Scams in 2026: The 15 Most Common Scams
A complete guide to the most common phone scams in 2026. IRS impersonation, package delivery, OTP theft, AI voice clone scams, and how to verify the caller in under 60 seconds.
SIM Swap Attacks: How to Detect and Prevent Them
What a SIM swap attack is, how attackers convince a carrier to move your number to their SIM, the warning signs, and the 6 settings that block the attack in 2026.
Check the number. Know more.
Run a private 60 second report. The phone owner will not be notified.
Start your check