12/28/2022 0 Comments Facebook marketplace cars![]() ![]() Simply put, no vehicle purchase made via Marketplace can be processed via eBay. Car scammers often forge documents to make it seem like a Marketplace transaction will be handled via this service. But it’s only valid for vehicle purchases made using eBay’s platform. The seller says they will use eBay’s Vehicle Purchase Protection plan for the transactionĮBay’s Vehicle Purchase Protection is a real program that provides up to $100,000 in repayment for losses associated with fraud. When asked why the price of an item is so low, the seller might offer one of a number of elaborate narratives to explain the discount: It belonged to a relative who recently died, or maybe the seller says they are in the military and are either overseas or shipping out soon and need to unload the item before moving. The seller has creative explanations for why that price is suspiciously low. If the seller is offering the same 1997 Honda Accord in ads targeted to users in various parts of the country, odds are high the listings are fraudulent. The seller’s Marketplace profile shows multiple listings of the same item targeted at locations in different statesĬlick on the seller’s name to see all of their Marketplace listings. Buyers should Google the email address used by the seller, to see if it has been associated with fraud in the past. Scammers sometimes list the same email address or similar ones as they jump from con to con. The seller’s email address has been cited in other instances of fraud Whatever the method, the goal is to quickly shunt buyers away from Marketplace and onto a platform where there are fewer risks of being caught or called out by Facebook users. ![]() ![]() Some bad actors will turn on the “vacation” setting for Facebook Messenger, which means you can only contact them via email or a website. The faux seller may want to avoid using Messenger to communicate with buyers for fear the messages could alert actual account holders that they have been hacked. ![]() The seller refuses to engage with you over Facebook Messenger or directs you to another website to make the purchase.Īs mentioned above, some Marketplace scammers use other people’s authentic Facebook accounts to add legitimacy to their fraudulent listing. But legitimate sellers don’t ask to be paid in gift cards, and this request is usually accompanied by a refusal to meet in person or show the item prior to payment. Gift cards may seem like an easy enough way to pay a seller who doesn’t want to be paid in cash or instant transfer. The seller asks you to pay using gift cards for eBay or another company. There are very few good reasons a seller would refuse to finalize the purchase in person, or would make you pay for the item without having seen it first. Many Marketplace transactions are local, such as a purchase of a used sofa from someone in the next town over. The seller will not meet you in person or let you see the item before purchase. Similarly, while most cars don’t fall under the umbrella of “scarce,” a suspiciously low price tag on a vehicle should give the buyer pause for multiple reasons. Beware of Marketplace ads for in-demand tech like smartphones or video game consoles listed at or below their retail prices. If an item is rare or popular, but the seller is listing it as readily available and at a price that’s too good to be true, it likely is. Screengrab from Facebook annotated by ProPublica The listing offers a suspiciously low price for a high-demand item. Facebook marketplace cars how to#For Buyers: How to Spot a Seller Scam on Marketplace ![]()
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