$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
Facebook Marketplace catfish scam
Scammers on Facebook Marketplace create fake buyer or seller profiles to trick people into sending payments for items that do not exist or never arrive.
“social media scam”
↑ 470%Key indicators
Usually targetsSocial media users
Often hitsSmall business owners
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$600
median reported loss
Typical range$60 – $6.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Annual reports95,000
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers list desirable items like electronics, furniture, or vehicles at attractive prices on Facebook Marketplace
2
They ask buyers to pay outside of Facebook's protection system using peer-to-peer payment apps or wire transfers
3
After receiving payment, the seller stops responding, blocks the buyer, and deletes their profile
What to do first
Use Facebook checkout for buyer protection and avoid paying through external payment apps
Related terms
Marketplace fake listingFB buyer scamFacebook non-delivery scamSocial media scamsFacebookSurgingSocial media usersOnline shoppersSmall business ownersCreators and online sellersMilitary and veteransUnited StatesUnited KingdomAustraliaMarketplace fake listingFB buyer scam
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Lisa, 35, a social media users, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate social media scams situation while using Facebook. Scammers list desirable items like electronics, furniture, or vehicles at attractive prices on Facebook Marketplace
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: They ask buyers to pay outside of Facebook's protection system using peer-to-peer payment apps or wire transfers
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: After receiving payment, the seller stops responding, blocks the buyer, and deletes their profile
The outcome
Lisa realized something was wrong when seller demands payment through zelle, venmo, or gift cards instead of facebook checkout. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Use Facebook checkout for buyer protection and avoid paying through external payment apps Lisa's experience shows why seller demands payment through zelle, venmo, or gift cards instead of facebook checkout and profile was recently created with few friends, no history, and stock-style photos are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Seller demands payment through Zelle, Venmo, or gift cards instead of Facebook checkout
- Profile was recently created with few friends, no history, and stock-style photos
- Seller refuses to meet in person or let you inspect the item before paying
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Use Facebook checkout for buyer protection and avoid paying through external payment apps
- ✓Meet sellers in person at a public location to inspect items before paying, and bring someone with you
- ✓Report fraudulent listings and profiles to Facebook and file a report with the FTC
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- The FTC reports online shopping and non-delivery as the second most common fraud category, with social media marketplaces being a significant source
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Use Facebook checkout for buyer protection and avoid paying through external payment apps
- ✓Meet sellers in person at a public location to inspect items before paying, and bring someone with you
- ✓Report fraudulent listings and profiles to Facebook and file a report with the FTC
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
The FTC reports online shopping and non-delivery as the second most common fraud category, with social media marketplaces being a significant source
FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Social media users, Online shoppers
Geographic concentration
United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada
Primary channel
Facebook — Social media scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Social media users are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The rapid increase in reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- The FTC reports online shopping and non-delivery as the second most common fraud category, with social media marketplaces being a significant source
Source notes
- FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about facebook marketplace catfish scam
How does the facebook marketplace catfish scam work?+
Scammers list desirable items like electronics, furniture, or vehicles at attractive prices on Facebook Marketplace They ask buyers to pay outside of Facebook's protection system using peer-to-peer payment apps or wire transfers After receiving payment, the seller stops responding, blocks the buyer, and deletes their profile
What are the warning signs of facebook marketplace catfish scam?+
Seller demands payment through Zelle, Venmo, or gift cards instead of Facebook checkout Profile was recently created with few friends, no history, and stock-style photos Seller refuses to meet in person or let you inspect the item before paying
What should I do if I encounter facebook marketplace catfish scam?+
Use Facebook checkout for buyer protection and avoid paying through external payment apps Meet sellers in person at a public location to inspect items before paying, and bring someone with you Report fraudulent listings and profiles to Facebook and file a report with the FTC
Who is most at risk for facebook marketplace catfish scam?+
This scam primarily targets Social media users, Online shoppers. It is most commonly reported in United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and typically appears on Facebook.
Is facebook marketplace catfish scam getting worse?+
Facebook Marketplace catfish scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US, UK, AU, CA. Last updated 2026-04-04.
Related scams
Similar scams to watch out for
Extension fraud
↑ 131%Malicious browser extension data harvest scam
A seemingly useful browser extension captures browsing activity, credentials, or payment behavior after a short period of benign use.
What to do first
Review permissions before installing.
Targets
Remote workers
Seen in
Global
Smishing
↑ 100%Package redelivery text scam
A delivery text says a parcel cannot be delivered until you confirm address details and pay a small redelivery fee.
What to do first
Open the courier site manually and check tracking there.
Targets
Online shoppers
Seen in
Global
Marketplace fraud
↑ 27%Marketplace rental deposit scam
A fake landlord advertises a good rental deal on a marketplace and pushes for a deposit before any real viewing or lease.
What to do first
Never send a rental deposit before a verified viewing and lease.
Targets
Renters
Seen in
Global
Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.