BBB warns shoppers about Facebook Marketplace scams

The BBB warns against unusual payment methods, offers that appear too good to be true and sellers who change meeting locations.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Facebook Marketplace can be a convenient way to buy and sell, but scammers are using it to target unsuspecting people. The Better Business Bureau is reminding shoppers to watch for red flags, protect their personal information and choose a safe public place to meet. 

Last week, two people were arrested in connection with robberies and aggravated assaults involving Facebook Marketplace meetups.

President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau, Kelvin Collins, says scammers use different tactics to trick buyers into handing over their money, often leaving them with nothing in return. 

“They’ll get you to pay in a usual way, whether that be cryptocurrency, gift cards, wire transfers things like that,” he said. “Or they get you to pay for a larger item through an escrow company. And typically, the escrow company is the same people that are trying to sell the product that may or may not exist.”

Collins says there are several warning signs buyers should look out for to avoid falling victim to a scam. 

“Look out for those too good to be true offers,” he said. “If you are looking for something, and it typically runs for a thousand dollars, and all of a sudden, you see it for $400, that’s a red flag. If they try to get you to go away from the site and use email, text message or something other than the site, that’s always a red flag.”

The dangers of online marketplace scams can go beyond losing money. In 2015, Bud and June Runion traveled from Marietta to Telfair County after Bud responded to a Craigslist ad for a 1966 Ford Mustang. Investigators believe the listing was used to lure the couple into a robbery. Collins says this is why buyers and sellers should always meet in a safe, public location when making a transaction. 

“The best place to meet is the police station,” he said. “Meet there, meet in the daytime, and take someone with you. No deal is worth your safety, and we’ve been seeing that lately. So, make sure you’re not inviting people into your homes, make sure you know where you’re meeting, and if they try to change the location at the last minute, huge red flag.”