How do I check if a seller on Facebook Marketplace is legit?
Look at the seller's profile age and activity, their Marketplace ratings and the photos of the item, and search their name and number with "scammer". A seller with an old profile, real ratings, original photos and a normal price is probably legit; a new profile with stock photos and a bargain usually is not.
Marketplace scams go both ways. Fake sellers take payment and vanish; fake buyers send fake receipts or ask you to pay "shipping" to their rider. The checks are the same: who is this person, and does the story hold up?
What to check
- Open the profile: when was it created, are there posts and photos from years back, do friends comment?
- Look at Marketplace ratings and how many items the seller has sold.
- Reverse image search the item photos: stock photos or photos from another listing are a sign.
- Ask for a specific photo or video of the item, with a paper showing your name.
- Search the name, the username and the number with "scammer" and "budol".
- Prefer meet-up in a public place or COD, and never pay a deposit to a new profile.
Frequently asked questions
- The seller has a badge or says they are "verified". Is that enough?
- No. Badges can be faked in a profile name or banner. Look at the history and the ratings instead.
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