Marketplace Scam Spotter

Buying or selling on Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Craigslist, OfferUp? Walk through the checklist before sending money or shipping.

Are you buying or selling?

0 flags (0 pts)

No flags so far

Walk through the checklist. Even one big flag is worth slowing down for.

Tap each red flag the seller is showing

Asks you to message off-platform (text, WhatsApp, Telegram)

Real listings stay on the platform — that is where scam protections live. Anyone trying to move you to a private channel before payment is dodging those protections.

Cannot show extra photos or do a video call

A real seller can take a fresh photo with today's date or a video showing the item. If the only photos are stock or 5-year-old listings, the item probably is not theirs.

Wants payment by Zelle, wire, gift card, or crypto

PayPal Goods & Services or eBay's built-in protection let you dispute. The "no-reverse" payments are scammer-favorites — once sent, the money is gone.

Price is suspiciously low (50%+ off)

A $1,200 iPhone for $400 is bait. Even broken iPhones sell for more. Cheap iPads, gaming consoles, designer bags often follow this pattern.

Shipping the item from out of state when listed locally

A "local Atlanta" listing where the seller suddenly cannot meet and "needs to ship from Indiana" is the classic bait-and-switch.

Sob story — "selling for my grandmother"

Excuses like "the move is rushed", "deceased relative", or "deployed military" build sympathy and pressure. Real sellers do not need that to make a sale.

Brand new account with no reviews

Check Facebook profile age, eBay seller feedback, Craigslist responses. Brand new accounts that only post one item are fishy.

Safer ways to meet in person

•Most US police stations now have "Safe Exchange Zones" — well-lit parking spots with cameras specifically for online sales meet-ups. Free.
•Bank lobbies during business hours work too — bring a friend.
•Inspect the item with the same charger / SIM / battery the seller showed in photos. Test before paying.
•Pay with cash for in-person, PayPal Goods & Services for online — both leave you a path to dispute.

If you have already been scammed

Report it to the platform first (eBay, Facebook, Craigslist all have report links). Then file at IdentityTheft.gov for an FTC record. If money was sent through your bank, call them within 60 days — you have stronger protections under federal law in the first 60.

Scam Message Decoder

Paste any text-message scam.

Witness Statement Builder

Report a scam properly.

Online Banking Safety

Lock down before you transact.