This Facebook Scam Is Spreading Fast in Iowa and Illinois—Don’t Fall for It
DO NOT FALL FOR THIS NEW FACEBOOK MARKETPLACE SCAM
Scammers are now targeting sellers by pretending to be eager buyers, offering instant payment and a convenient pickup time. But it’s all a trap. This new scheme tricks people into handing over personal information like email addresses under the guise of a payment error, potentially giving scammers access to accounts and financial data.
It’s spreading fast and catching even experienced sellers off guard. If you’re listing anything on Facebook Marketplace, read this before you respond to the wrong message.
Facebook Marketplace Scam: True Story
I posted my couch for sale on Facebook Marketplace, and within two minutes, someone tried to scam me.
It started innocently enough. An older woman named “Angela” commented on a public post on my Facebook profile, saying she was interested in the couch. She asked me to message her directly because, according to her, my listing was still “pending” and she couldn’t interact with it.
We started chatting through Messenger, and at first, everything seemed normal. She said she’d pay now, pick it up after work tomorrow, and asked if that was okay. Seemed like a dream buyer—quick, decisive, and polite.
But then came the red flags.
She asked if I used Zelle. (This is the second time I became suspicious because what 60-year-old woman uses Zelle? Now the "pending" comment seems more fishy.)
I said no, but I had Venmo and Cash App. She asked for my Venmo username and then said, “What’s your email to add as a recipient?”
That’s when I felt the most suspicious. She sent a screenshot of an error message from Venmo, saying she couldn’t verify the payment without my email. But that’s not how Venmo works. If you’ve ever used it, you know you can search and pay someone just by their username. You don’t need an email unless something fishy is going on.
So I pushed back: “What’s your Venmo name? I’ll send a request.” She replied that it “won’t go through” and that she *needs* my email “since it’s her first time sending to me.”
That’s when I realized—it was a scam.
If I had sent her my real email, she could’ve tried to access my Venmo account. Scammers often use phishing links disguised as payment issues to trick you into logging into a fake site, stealing your password, or even gaining access to your actual account.
Instead of giving her my real email, I gave her a fake and humorous “bigdaddyscamscams@hotmail.com” She never messaged again.
What You Need to Know:
- Never give out your email for Venmo or other money apps.
- Stick to in-person transactions when using Facebook Marketplace.
- Scammers often create urgency, like saying they’ll send money now and pick up later.
- Double-check usernames and payment requests directly in the app.
Stay alert. These scams are getting sneakier—and they’re happening fast. If something feels off, it probably is.
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