Got scammed on Facebook Marketplace? Here's what to do right now

Facebook Marketplace is one of the most-used platforms for secondhand goods. While the online marketplace helps buyers and sellers score local deals, it also attracts scammers worldwide who want to exploit its popularity. In fact, FTC data shows that scammers targeted Facebook and other social media platforms and created $2.1B in fraud losses in 2025, a significant jump since 2021.¹ 

Getting scammed can feel frustrating and embarrassing. You may be thinking, “I should have known better,” as you replay the timeline of how the scammer tricked you into handing over money or personal details. But rest assured, you’re not alone: marketplace scams happen to even the most cautious users.

If you got scammed on Facebook Marketplace, act quickly. The first 24-48 hours are critical to maximize your chances at getting your money back. Here's your step-by-step plan to report fraud, dispute your losses, and protect yourself from additional fraud. 

Step 1: stop all communication with the scammer

Once you realize you’ve been scammed on Facebook Marketplace, stop contact immediately—then block and report the scammer. You may be tempted to negotiate or reason with the scammer, but don’t! The longer you engage, the more likely you are to share additional money or personal details.

To block the scammer:

1. Click their profile
2. Click the three dots
3. Click “Block”

To report the scammer:

1. Click their profile
2. Click the three dots
3. Click “Report profile,” then follow the on-screen instructions

After cutting contact, document everything. Take screenshots of the scammer's Facebook profile, the original listing and URL, payment receipts, and messages between you and the scammer. Screenshots are important because messages, profiles, and listings can disappear once the scammer suspects they’ve been caught. 

Step 2: contact your bank or payment service immediately

If you paid by credit card

Dispute the charge as soon as possible. When you call your card issuer, use the phrase "unauthorized transaction" or "item not received.” Although your bank may need up to 60 days to investigate your claim, they often issue temporary credit within 24 hours. 

But be warned: this credit is not a final refund. If the bank's investigation finds the claim invalid, they will reverse the credit and pull the money out of your account.

If you paid by debit card

Contact your bank's fraud department (not customer service) right away. Tell them you paid a fraudulent charge, and ask them to reverse the transaction. 

Banks typically require more documentation for debit card disputes than for credit card disputes. To strengthen your case, provide screenshots, communication records, and a clear timeline of events.

If you used Zelle

Payment recovery is unlikely. Zelle offers no buyer protection, which means payments are typically instant and irreversible. Immediately contact the bank or credit union linked to your Zelle account, as quick reporting could help your case.

Explain the situation, provide details about the transaction, and ask the bank to investigate. Under increasing FTC pressure, some banks are processing Zelle fraud reversals. If the scam involves someone impersonating your bank, you have even better chances at recovering your losses.

If you used Venmo

Next steps depend on whether you paid the scammer from a personal or business account. If you paid with a Venmo Business account or tapped the “turn on for purchases” toggle from your personal account, you may be covered under Venmo’s purchase protection. Dispute the transaction through your Venmo app.

If you paid the scammer from your personal Venmo account (without enabling purchase protection), you can’t dispute the transaction with Venmo directly. Instead, contact the bank or credit/debit card issuer linked to your Venmo account to attempt a chargeback. 

If you used PayPal Goods & Services

File a dispute through PayPal's Resolution Center within 180 days of the transaction. PayPal's buyer protection covers scenarios in which the item was "not received" and "significantly not as described.” If you sent payment through PayPal Friends & Family instead, you lose all buyer protection and cannot dispute through PayPal; contact your bank or card issuer to attempt a chargeback.

If you used Cash App

Cash App offers no buyer protection, meaning payments are instant and irreversible. If you believe you sent money to a scammer, be sure to report the issue and call Cash App support at 1-800-969-1940. You’ll also want to contact the bank or card linked to your Cash App account to attempt a chargeback. Be careful not to “refund” any payment directly back to the sender; if a scammer claims to have accidentally paid you and asks for money back, report it directly in the app instead. Sending money back hands it straight to the scammer.

If you paid cash in person

File a local police report. Provide any identifying information about the scammer, including license plate numbers, physical descriptions, or meeting locations. Reporting the scam may not get your money back, but it could support official documentation for insurance claims and identity theft reports. 

Step 3: report the scam

Report to Facebook 

Before you report to Facebook, make sure you’ve taken screenshots of the scammer’s name and profile, plus the listing and URL (if still active). Screenshots are crucial for your case, especially if the listing or scammer disappears after reporting.

To report the scammer posing as a seller:

1. From your Facebook feed, click “Marketplace” in the left menu.
2. Click “Buying.”
3. Click the listing.
4. Click the name of the fake seller.
5. Click the three dots, then “Options.”
6. Click “Report.”
7. Click “Scam,” then follow the on-screen instructions.

To report the scammer posing as a buyer:

1. From your Facebook feed, click “Marketplace” in the left menu.
2. Click “Selling.” 
3. Click “Your Account.”
4. Click “Seller dashboard.” 
5. Click the listing. 
6. Click the message between you and the fake buyer. (If you can't find the message, click “See More,” then “More Options,” then Report.)
7. Click “Scam,” then follow the on-screen instructions.

To report the listing:

1. From your feed, click “Marketplace.” 
2. Click the listing.
3. Click the three dots, then “Options.”
4. Click “Report listing,” then follow the on-screen instructions.

Report to the FTC

Fill out the fraud report form at reportfraud.ftc.gov. (It only takes about five minutes.) The report feeds into the FTC’s Consumer Sentinel database, which law enforcement agencies use to track scam patterns and build investigations. 

Report to the FBI

File a complaint at ic3.gov. The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center tracks online fraud trends and threats. Filing a complaint is especially important if you lost more than $500 or if you suspect the scheme involved multiple victims. 

Contact your state Attorney General's consumer protection office

Many states maintain fraud databases and can provide additional resources for identity protection. Some states have programs that compensate victims for fraud losses.

File a local police report 

If you met in person or have identifying information about the scammer, filing a report allows local police to investigate the case or create official documentation for other agencies. 

Step 4: assess what personal information you exposed

Marketplace scammers don’t just want to cheat you out of a deal—they also want to steal your data. While scammers set up fake transactions, they harvest your personal information to sell on the dark web or use for future fraud attempts.

After a Facebook marketplace scam, the scammer may now have access to:

• Your full name, as shown on your Facebook profile or the payment platform you used
• Your email address and/or phone number if you got in touch outside Facebook Messenger
• Your home address if you provided a pickup or delivery location
• Your payment credentials if you paid the scammer with a link they provided
• Your Venmo, Zelle, or PayPal account details and transaction history if you used any of these payment platforms to complete the transaction

Why this matters:

• Personal information gathered from a marketplace scam is often packaged and sold on dark web forums.
• Your name, phone number, and address provide enough information for scammers to attempt an account takeover or synthetic identity fraud. 
• Your sensitive data can be exposed long after a scam. Even $50 lost to a marketplace scam can result in far more lost to identity theft.

Step 5: protect yourself from follow-on fraud

Once scammers have access to sensitive personal information, they move quickly to exploit your data. Update your accounts and set up alerts to protect against future fraud attempts. 

Change your passwords

Update passwords for any accounts that link to the email address or phone number you used during the transaction.

Enable two-factor authentication

If you haven’t already done so, enable two-factor authentication for your primary email account and P2P payment platforms: Venmo, Zelle, PayPal, Cash App, etc. Use authenticator apps rather than SMS when possible. Phone numbers can be compromised through SIM or Google Voice hijacking, both of which rely on the same personal details a scammer may now have.

Monitor your credit reports

Keep close tabs on your credit for the next 90 days; look out for any unauthorized accounts or transactions.

Place a fraud alert or credit freeze

A fraud alert requires creditors to verify your identity before opening new accounts, while a freeze completely blocks access to your credit report. Consider these options if you shared your Social Security Number (SSN) or suspect that it was exposed. 

Set up dark web monitoring alerts

Dark web monitoring services scan criminal forums and marketplaces that buy and sell stolen personal information. If your email address and phone number get leaked on the dark web,  you’ll get an alert. 

Can you get your money back from a Facebook Marketplace scam?

Your chances of reimbursement depend almost entirely on the payment method you used during the transaction. If you purchased an item with Facebook’s checkout and shipping system, you may be eligible for a refund. 

However, if you paid outside Facebook—using a credit/debit card, P2P payment platform, or with cash—Facebook won’t refund you. Your best bet for reimbursement is to immediately contact your bank or payment service. (See Step 2 for details on how to dispute by payment type.) 

Here’s a quick summary of recovery odds by payment method:

Will Facebook do anything about marketplace scams?

Facebook moderates the platform at a massive scale, so individual scam reports rarely result in direct action. Understanding Facebook’s marketplace scam policy helps set realistic expectations. Although Facebook will NOT refund transactions made outside its checkout system, the platform WILL suspend accounts that receive multiple scam reports. 

Even if you don’t recover your losses, flagging fake profiles and listings helps block active scammers and protect other users on the platform.

The bigger risk you might be missing

Most people focus on the immediate financial loss and overlook the longer-term identity risk. Facebook Marketplace fraud—just like any scam—can put you at further risk for identity theft. A scammer can use your name, address, phone number, and email to:

• Take over your financial accounts by resetting passwords or answering security questions
• Create new identities by combining your real information with fake details
• Commit tax fraud by using your SSN to file fake tax returns
• Hijack your phone number by transferring your number to a scammer-controlled device
• Take over a Google Voice number linked to your phone, which can then be used to bypass two-factor authentication on other accounts

The next 48 hours matter

The steps you take in the next 24-48 hours will make the biggest difference in your recovery: document the evidence, dispute the charge through the right channel, and report to agencies that can act on it. 

Just as important is recognizing that financial loss is only a part of the damage a scam poses. The personal information you shared during the transaction (even if you didn’t send any money!) could already be in the hands of cybercriminals. Identity theft doesn’t always happen immediately; it could be months after the original scam before you notice something is amiss.

Here’s the good news: you can get ahead of it. Run a free dark web scan right now to find out if your email, phone number, or personal data is already circulating on dark web databases. 

Frequently asked questions

This guide is published by OmniWatch. Follow OmniWatch on Facebook for ongoing guidance on identity protection, digital safety, and scam awareness.

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1 Federal Trade Commission, New FTC Data Show People Have Lost Billions to Social Media Scams