Active threat
Category hub
Marketplace scam alerts
Online marketplaces account for a record share of FTC complaints — Facebook Marketplace, eBay, OfferUp, Craigslist. Both sides of the transaction can be the scam: fake buyers spoofing Zelle confirmations, fake sellers vanishing after a deposit, fake couriers requesting 'release fees'.
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What this is
A marketplace scam is fraud committed on a peer-to-peer commerce platform, either by a buyer (fake-payment confirmations, overpayment refunds, fake delivery service) or by a seller (non-delivery, bait-and-switch, deposit-and-vanish).
Red flags to watch for
- Buyer insists on paying via Zelle/CashApp/Apple Pay and sends a fake 'payment received' email asking you to refund a 'mistake'
- Seller asks for deposit via Western Union, gift card, or crypto before showing the item
- Listing price is far below market for high-demand goods (PS5, iPhone, designer bag)
- Buyer asks for your address to send a 'courier' that requires an upfront pickup fee
- Stock photos used in the listing reverse-image to multiple unrelated sellers
Live cases from the GACS feed
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What to do if you've been targeted
- 1
Verify the counterparty
Reverse-image search listing photos, check the account age, and look for verified profile signals. New accounts with no reviews are high-risk.
- 2
Use protected payment rails
Card transactions via PayPal Goods & Services or Stripe-protected checkout. Avoid Zelle, CashApp Friends & Family, and gift cards for stranger transactions.
- 3
Document everything
Screenshot the listing, the seller/buyer profile, the chat, and the payment confirmation. You'll need these to dispute.
- 4
Report and dispute
Report the listing on the platform, file with reportfraud.ftc.gov, and dispute the charge with your card issuer or PayPal.
- 5
Save to Shield
Add the account handle and any wallets/phone numbers to your free GACS Shield.
FAQs
How do I avoid getting scammed selling on Facebook Marketplace?
Meet in person at a police-station safe-exchange zone. Accept cash only, count it on the spot, and inspect bills. Never ship to a 'courier' the buyer arranges.
I sent a deposit and the seller went silent — what now?
If you paid by card, file a chargeback. PayPal Goods & Services is protected; Friends & Family is not. Crypto/Zelle/CashApp are typically unrecoverable — report to the platform and your local police.
How do fake 'payment received' emails work on marketplaces?
Scammers spoof the From-name to read 'Zelle', 'PayPal', or 'Apple Pay' and embed an image mimicking the real confirmation banner. The body usually claims the buyer paid extra by mistake and asks you to refund the difference. The actual payment never landed — confirm only inside your bank or payment app, never via email.
Is buying a gift card on a marketplace ever safe?
Resold gift cards are one of the highest-risk marketplace categories — sellers can drain the balance after delivering the code or sell the same code to multiple buyers. If you must buy a discounted card, redeem it to your account within minutes and dispute through buyer protection the moment the balance reads zero.
How do I report a scam to GACS?
Submit the wallet address, website, phone number, or social handle at gacs.app. Each report is cross-checked against CryptoScamDB, URLhaus, and on-chain analysis before publication. Activate your free GACS Shield to monitor follow-on activity tied to the same actor.
Is the GACS Shield really free?
Yes. Activating your free Shield gives you unlimited scans, saved history, weekly alerts, and a watchlist — no card, no trial. There is no paid scanner tier.
Related scam profiles & guides
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Get My Free Scam AlertsAuthoritative sources
Independent primary sources used to check and corroborate the guidance on this page.
- FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
Official US channel for reporting internet-enabled fraud and cybercrime.
- US Federal Trade Commission — ReportFraud
Consumer fraud reporting and published enforcement data.
- UK Action Fraud
UK national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime.
- Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre
Canada's central repository for fraud reports and scam alerts.
