Marketplace is a service offered by Facebook for users who want to buy and sell goods. Like most websites on a user-to-user basis (e.g. Tokopedia or Shopee), the Facebook Marketplace has also become a “repository” for scammers. To avoid scams on Marketplace, read item entries carefully and take advantage of available sources of information. If you come across an entry that is suspected to be fake or caught in a scam, immediately report the matter to the authorities.
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Method 1 of 3: Buying Items
Step 1. Review the Facebook Marketplace community standards
These standards describe responsible buying and selling practices in detail, and indicate what items should not be traded on the Marketplace.
- Fraudsters can upload prohibited item entries on Marketplace, take payments you send, and never complete transactions.
- Fraudsters also often request payment or delivery processes outside of Marketplace's general guidelines. Alternative payment or shipping methods usually do not provide more protection as a buyer. This is why scammers try to direct you to use these methods.
Step 2. Check the seller's profile
One of the advantages of the Facebook Marketplace over other online user-to-user buying and selling sites is that it is mandatory to have a Facebook profile so that you can upload entries for items you want to sell or buy. By checking the seller's profile, you can find out whether the user in question is a real seller or a fraud.
- Keep in mind that an honest or genuine seller may display a lot of information that only his friends can see, and you can't get information from his public profile. However, you can still see his main profile picture and find out how old his Facebook account is.
- For example, if a new seller created his Facebook account one day before the sales entry was uploaded, he may be trying to scam you (and other users).
Step 3. Use Facebook Messenger with caution
Facebook allows you to interact with sellers via Facebook Messenger in order to negotiate the final price and complete the sale. If you suspect a found item entry is a scam, be wary of what you say to the seller.
- Do not provide personal information. Do not send your account or credit card number to a seller via Facebook Messenger, as well as any other information that would allow the seller to commit identity theft.
- If a seller claims to be from the same city, but you have doubts about what he's saying, try asking questions about events being held in your city or nearby. That way, you can gauge his knowledge of the city in question.
- Use your judgment or opinion. If you feel suspicious after speaking to a seller, cancel the transaction.
Step 4. Make payments through secure systems only
When completing a purchase on the internet, payment systems such as PayPal offer protection to you as a buyer if at any time the seller does not deliver the product you purchased.
- Fraudsters often ask you to make a payment by payment order or official check, cash, or wire transfer. Don't use these methods, even for domestic or local sellers because if the seller runs away, you can't track him down or get the money sent back.
- If the seller lives in the same city and asks for cash payment, calculate it carefully. Usually, a legitimate seller will not refuse your proposed payment method. Secure payment systems also offer advantages and give sellers a good name.
Step 5. Meet the seller in a safe place
The Facebook Marketplace was originally designed to be used by people living in the same city. However, just because the seller lives in the same city doesn't mean you don't run the risk of being scammed.
- Be wary of salespeople who ask you to come over to their house, or want to meet you in the evening. Ask the seller to meet with you and complete the transaction in a public place while it's still sunny, especially if you need to make the payment in person (cash).
- You can meet the seller in certain places or parking areas that are within the range of regional police patrols. If you want, you can also ask the security guard for permission and meet the seller at the police station. If possible, the police station is the safest place to meet the seller and complete the transaction.
Method 2 of 3: Selling Items
Step 1. Only accept the appropriate payment money
In one of the most common forms of fraud, the counterfeit buyer will pay more than the original price. Usually, it says that you can send a check or payment order to refund the difference.
- What actually happens is that the payment made by the fraudster is canceled or failed, but he manages to get the difference you returned from the “overpayment”. He may also have received the item you sent him.
- There is no valid reason for a buyer to pay more than the original price and then ask you to refund the difference.
Step 2. Pay attention to the buyer's profile
If you want to buy items from the Facebook Marketplace, you must have a Facebook profile. Legitimate buyers will have a complete and reasonable profile, while fake buyers will usually have a recently created “blank” profile.
User privacy settings may limit the amount of information you can view from someone's profile. However, you can still view the user's main profile and the general timeline of that profile
Step 3. Talk to the buyer via Facebook Messenger
One of the advantages of Facebook Marketplace is that you can interact with buyers through Facebook directly. However, be careful if you feel the buyer is trying to cheat.
- If the buyer claims to live in the same city, but you suspect that he or she is lying, ask questions about the event or area in your city. After that, you can measure his knowledge of the city in question based on his answers.
- Don't ignore your instincts. If you feel that something is not right, feel free to cancel the transaction and sale.
Step 4. Limit accepted payment methods
A secure payment system provides protection for both buyers and sellers. Fraudsters often suggest other payment methods (eg via voucher or gift card).
- For fake voucher cards, usually the card given has an empty balance or is a stolen card that can't be used anymore.
- Money transfer and wire transfer services do not guarantee that money will be received or provide protection when the goods are shipped, but you do not receive the payment.
Step 5. Ship the goods within the country or city only
Some buyers ask you to ship items that have been purchased overseas. During the duration of delivery, the buyer may cancel the transaction or the payment made is canceled.
- In this form of fraud, you can see evidence that the buyer has made a payment so that you can ship the goods. However, the payment made later is thwarted or the check from the buyer cannot be cashed, and of course it is too late if you want to cancel the delivery of the goods.
- You can avoid this scam by clearly stating in sales entries that you can only ship products to certain locations, and do not accept deliveries to other locations.
Step 6. Meet shoppers from the same city in a well-lit public place
The swindler from the same city may not only intend to steal the product from the seller, but may also take more than the “buy” item. Be careful, especially if you are selling electronics or other items that are easy to steal.
- Do not meet buyers in suspicious places or areas. In addition, reject buying and selling meetings held at night.
- Ask the police on duty if you are allowed to meet shoppers in the parking area or inside the police station. Fake shoppers intent on robbing or defrauding you will of course avoid these locations.
Method 3 of 3: Reporting Fraud
Step 1. Report the fraudulent item to Facebook
Facebook Marketplace offers three simple steps to report sales entries that are suspected to be fraudulent, or products that violate Marketplace community standards.
Visit the Marketplace page and look for the item you suspect. When you click on a post or entry, you'll see a " Report Post " link on the bottom right. Click the link and follow the instructions to create a report
Step 2. Submit a report to the police
In Indonesia, you can report fraud experienced to the police. However, this method may only be effective if the fraudster is from within the country (especially when the identity of the fraudster can be identified). If you suspect the fraudster is from the United States, you may be able to submit a fraud report to the authorities there (eg the FBI).
- Search the internet for information or contact the police directly to find out more about fraud reporting services and processes. The incident information that you provide is usually stored in a database that will be used by the police to identify patterns of fraud.
- Gather all available information about the fraudster, as well as the corresponding counterfeit entry.
- When you submit a report, it does not mean that law enforcement is actively investigating the fraud experienced specifically. However, your report helps the authorities and becomes additional evidence that can stop the scammer.
Step 3. Call or visit the nearest police station
If the scammer lives in the same city, you can go directly to the police station to make a report and let the authorities handle the situation. Keep in mind that someone who has already managed to deceive someone will usually commit fraud again.
- If you previously made a report by email (or reported fraud to Facebook in person), bring proof of the report with you when you visit the police station. Also have all information and documentation regarding the transaction, including recorded chats with fraudsters via Facebook Messenger.
- Visit the police station in person to submit a report. Do not call 112 or any other emergency number unless there is an emergency and your life or safety is at stake.
- Copy and save the police report. You may need to contact the police officer who assisted you in the reporting process after a week or two to find out if the investigation is continuing if you have not received news of the status of the report.
