Published: 03/07/2025By: Megan Francis
Online marketplaces have become an important part of how we shop. Facebook Marketplace, in particular, has gained immense popularity as the go-to platform for buying and selling goods peer-to-peer. That said, a lot of this commerce occurs between buyers with no intermediaries, and with the rise of online transactions, the risk of scams has also increased significantly.
One such scam that has been making headlines recently involves the use of fake Zelle emails and stolen accounts to target unsuspecting users on Facebook Marketplace. This article will walk you through the details of the Zelle scam on Facebook Marketplace, including how it works and how you can protect yourself from falling victim.
Once you understand the methods of these scammers and take proactive measures, you’ll be able to reduce your risk of being scammed on Facebook.
Phishing and Stolen Accounts
One of the primary methods scammers use is phishing, a trick that, unfortunately, often works and continues to plague digital security to this day. Scammers attempting phishing send you fake emails or messages, hoping you’ll reveal personal information or click on included harmful links. On Facebook Marketplace, scammers often pretend to be from Zelle, which is a popular and fairly trusted payment service.
Expect scammers to send urgent messages like a payment confirmation or to receive emails that ask for more personal details. If you click on the link in the message, you’ll be taken to a fake website that looks just like the real Zelle. There, scammers will try to trick you into giving up your login information, which they can then use to steal from you.
Another way scammers trick you is by using stolen accounts. They might get these accounts through data breaches or hacking. With a stolen account, they can make fraudulent payments on Facebook Marketplace. For example, the scammer might buy something from you using a stolen account. However, when the original owner recovers the account and reverses the transaction, you are left with nothing.
Scammers also use other tricks to target people on Facebook Marketplace. They’ll almost exclusively create fake profiles to pretend to be real buyers or sellers and then use these profiles to make fraudulent deals or spread false information. They’ll always try to target people who are new to online marketplaces or don’t understand the risks. People who are in a rush to sell things or those who are willing to accept a lower price are prime targets.
To protect yourself, be careful and always be on guard when dealing with online transactions on Facebook Marketplace and other online peer-to-peer sales websites. Never click on links in emails or messages from people you don’t know. Always make sure you know who you’re dealing with before making a payment, and be suspicious of deals that seem too good to be true.
Additionally, you might see some scammers asking for unconventional payment methods like gift cards. A common theme is scammers requesting Steam gift cards instead of traditional payment methods, which would be much easier and more reliable. Scammers will do this because of the anonymity and ease of resale that comes with gift cards.
How the Scams Work on Facebook Marketplace
There are two main scams commonly seen happening on Facebook Marketplace, but keep in mind that scammers are likely to come up with new ones all the time.
The Overpay Scam
One common scam is when a “buyer” offers to pay more than your item is worth and asks you to refund the difference. They might say they’re using Zelle to pay, but you’ll later find out they never actually sent the money. Sometimes, scammers will send you a fake payment confirmation email that looks more or less the same as a real one.
Believing the payment went through, you might ship the item and send back the extra money. At this point, the scammer will likely delete their profile and disappear with the items and extra money on top, leaving you with nothing.
The Fake Payment Confirmation Scam
Another scam is with scammers sending you fake emails that look like they’re from Zelle, confirming a payment. These emails are a trick like the type we discussed above, but these don’t include a fake receipt. Instead, these will probably have a link that seems to be from Zelle, but it’s really a phishing link.
If you click on it, you will be taken to a fake website that looks like the real Zelle website (even the URL will be a close match). There, you might be asked to enter your login information. Once the scammer has your login details, they can use them to get into your Zelle account and withdraw your money or make fake transactions in order to convince you that you just got money.
In both of these scams, the use of fake Zelle emails and stolen accounts is the most important part. By creating fake Zelle emails, scammers can, and have been, tricking sellers into believing that a payment has been made. Given the general trust people associate with Zelle’s platform, these scammers have found a great deal of success exploiting this method.
Reporting Scams and Stolen Accounts
If you believe that you’ve been the victim of a scam or that your Zelle account has been stolen, it’s important to report the incident to both Facebook and Zelle. Facebook has a dedicated reporting tool that allows users to report suspicious activity of this kind.
You can access this tool by going to your Facebook profile and clicking on the “Help” menu. From there, you can select the “Report a Problem” option. Zelle also has its own reporting tool that lets you report fraudulent activity under their name and brand. For this tool, go to the Zelle website and click on the “Contact Us” link.
In addition to reporting the incident to Facebook and Zelle, you may also want to file a report with your local law enforcement agency for possible recovery of your stolen money/items in the case of a scam. Not only will this help you recover any losses, it’ll make sure scammers think twice before trying the same thing again.
How People Search Tools Expose Scammers
Vigilance and awareness are important, but a little extra digging can also go a long way in protecting yourself from online scams. Sometimes, it can be hard to tell the difference between a really good deal you’ve come across and a scammer who’s just posing as such to get your attention and ultimately scam you.
This is where a reliable people search tool such as US People Search can make a big difference in helping you score good deals and leave the scammers behind. A good people search tool can do a lot for you, as it’s designed to help you find information about people you encounter online, particularly those on platforms like Facebook Marketplace. You can even find where someone is buried using this tool!
Imagine you’re selling a high-end camera on Facebook Marketplace and get an oddly enthusiastic message from someone wanting to buy. Before moving forward, you can check their identity by using a people search tool for a quick background check.
By entering the buyer’s full name or phone number, the tool can show you a lot about the authenticity of their identity. In particular, the reverse phone number search can bring up a history of complaints or negative reviews linked to the number, which might indicate a history of scamming attempts.
A good people search tool will also let you investigate social media profiles linked with the buyer’s name. Inconsistencies between the profile information on Facebook Marketplace and their social media presence, like vastly different locations or a complete lack of an online footprint, will be red flags.
Using a people search tool is an important piece of the puzzle, but don’t let it replace your own judgment. Leverage the information you get from these tools along with common sense, and you’ll be making much more informed decisions when dealing with strangers online. At the same time, make sure you’re prioritizing responsible and ethical people search practices, which require that the information you access is publicly available and used legally.
Protecting Yourself From Zelle Scams
Online marketplaces are a blessing as long as you know how to stay safe from scams. The prevalence of scams targeting Facebook Marketplace users shows the importance of being vigilant and informed, both as a buyer and a seller.
When buying online, it’s best to err on the side of caution if you have any doubts. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is, so you should be skeptical. Consider always taking the time to verify the identity of the person you’re dealing with through a people search tool.
After learning how you can stay informed about scams and be safe during online shopping, you can protect yourself from becoming a victim of scammers on Facebook Marketplace.
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