How do I know if a Facebook Marketplace car listing is a scam?

Key red flags: price 15%+ below market, seller can't meet in person, requests deposit before meeting, new FB profile (<30 days), pressure to decide quickly, out-of-state vehicle they'll ship, and refusal to provide VIN for history check.

Is it safe to buy a car on Facebook Marketplace?

Yes, if you follow safety protocols: verify seller identity (profile age, friends, location), never send money before meeting, meet in public places, bring someone with you, inspect the car thoroughly, and only exchange money at title transfer.

Should I ever send a deposit for a car on Facebook Marketplace?

No, never send deposits before seeing the car in person. Legitimate sellers understand this. A small deposit ($100-200) is reasonable only after you've inspected the car and agreed to purchase, and even then cash at pickup is safer.

What is a Facebook Marketplace car escrow scam?

Scammers create fake escrow websites that look legitimate. They insist payment go through "their" escrow service for "protection." Once you send money, the site disappears. Real escrow: use only established services (Escrow.com) that you navigate to directly, never through seller links.

How do I verify a seller on Facebook Marketplace?

Check: account age (2+ years ideal), friend count (100+ with mutual connections), profile activity (regular posts beyond marketplace), location matches listing, and no other vehicle listings. Meet at their home to verify they actually own the car.

What should I do if I was scammed on Facebook Marketplace?

Immediately: report to Facebook, file police report, report to FTC (reportfraud.ftc.gov), contact your bank if payment was electronic. Recovery is rare (<5%) but documentation helps authorities track scammers and may support insurance claims.

Facebook Marketplace Car Scams 2025: Red Flags & How to Avoid

Q: Is it safe to buy a car on Facebook Marketplace?

Yes, if you follow safety protocols: verify seller identity (profile age, friends, location), never send money before meeting, meet in public places, bring someone with you, inspect the car thoroughly, and only exchange money at title transfer.

Q: Should I ever send a deposit for a car on Facebook Marketplace?

No, never send deposits before seeing the car in person. Legitimate sellers understand this. A small deposit ($100-200) is reasonable only after you've inspected the car and agreed to purchase, and even then cash at pickup is safer.

Q: What is a Facebook Marketplace car escrow scam?

Scammers create fake escrow websites that look legitimate. They insist payment go through "their" escrow service for "protection." Once you send money, the site disappears. Real escrow: use only established services (Escrow.com) that you navigate to directly, never through seller links.

Q: How do I verify a seller on Facebook Marketplace?

Check: account age (2+ years ideal), friend count (100+ with mutual connections), profile activity (regular posts beyond marketplace), location matches listing, and no other vehicle listings. Meet at their home to verify they actually own the car.

Q: What should I do if I was scammed on Facebook Marketplace?

Immediately: report to Facebook, file police report, report to FTC (reportfraud.ftc.gov), contact your bank if payment was electronic. Recovery is rare (<5%) but documentation helps authorities track scammers and may support insurance claims.

The Facebook Marketplace Scam Landscape

8-12% of car listings on Facebook Marketplace involve some form of fraud. The average victim loses $3,200, and less than 5% ever recover their money.

Facebook's massive reach and relatively easy account creation make it a prime target for scammers. The platform's buyer protection doesn't cover vehicles, leaving buyers without recourse.

No Buyer Protection for Vehicles

Facebook Marketplace Purchase Protection does NOT cover vehicles, boats, or real estate. If you're scammed buying a car, Facebook will not refund your money. Your only recourse is police reports and civil court.

6 Common Scam Types

Common Facebook Marketplace car scams and how to avoid them
Scam Type	How It Works	Red Flags	How to Avoid
Deposit Scam	Seller asks for deposit to "hold" car, disappears	Any request for money before meeting	Never pay before seeing car in person
Fake Escrow	Seller insists on "safe" escrow site they control	Pressure to use specific payment service	Use cash or bank check at title transfer only
Shipping Fraud	Car is "out of state" but can be shipped for fee	Seller can't meet in person, too-good price	Only buy cars you can inspect locally
Title Washing	Salvage title registered as clean in another state	Out-of-state title, price below market	Run NMVTB title check, verify history
Curbstoning	Dealer poses as private seller to avoid liability	Multiple cars listed, professional photos	Verify title matches seller's name and ID
Odometer Rollback	Mileage reduced to increase value	Wear doesn't match miles, service gaps	Check Carfax, inspect wear patterns

1. The Deposit Scam (Most Common)

How it works: Seller claims multiple interested buyers and asks for a deposit to "hold" the car. Once you send money (Zelle, Venmo, wire), they disappear or block you.

Script they use: "I have 3 people coming to see it this weekend. Send $200 to hold it and I'll take the listing down."

Never Send Money Before Meeting

No legitimate seller needs a deposit before you've seen the car. If they're worried about no-shows, offer to confirm meeting time the morning of. Walk away from any seller who insists on prepayment.

2. Fake Escrow Services

Scammers create professional-looking escrow websites. They insist you use "their" escrow service for "buyer protection." The site is fake - your money goes directly to them.

3. Shipping Fraud

The car is "out of state" but seller offers to ship it for a fee. Car doesn't exist. This is especially common for rare or in-demand vehicles priced suspiciously low.

How to Verify Seller Profiles

Spend 2 minutes checking the seller's profile before messaging. This single step eliminates 80% of scams.

Seller profile verification checklist
Profile Element	Safe Signs	Red Flags	Weight
Account Age	2+ years old	Created within 30 days	High
Profile Photo	Personal photos, family	Stock photos, no photos	Medium
Friends List	100+ friends, mutual connections	<20 friends, no mutuals	High
Activity	Regular posts, comments	Only marketplace listings	Medium
Location	Matches listing area	Different city/state	High
Other Listings	0-2 other items	5+ vehicles listed	High

Profile Verification Steps

Click on seller's name to view full profile
Check "About" section for location, work, education
Scroll through timeline - look for regular activity
Check friends list for mutual connections
Look at other Marketplace listings - multiple cars = red flag
Verify profile location matches listing location

Listing Red Flags

Immediate Red Flags - Walk Away

Price 15%+ below market value. Stock photos or photos from other listings (reverse image search). Seller can't meet in person. Pressure to decide immediately. Request for any payment before meeting. Sob story explaining low price. VIN not provided or doesn't match car.

Suspicious Pricing

If a 2018 Honda Accord typically sells for $18,000 and you see one listed at $12,000, it's either a scam or has serious undisclosed issues. Check KBB or Edmunds for fair market value before engaging.

Photo Red Flags

Stock photos: Generic dealer-quality photos
Watermarks: Other websites or dealers
Inconsistent backgrounds: Different locations in different photos
No interior shots: Hiding damage or that car doesn't exist
Screenshot quality: Photos of photos from other listings

Safe Transaction Protocols

Before Meeting

Get VIN and run Carfax/NMVTB check
Verify seller profile (see checklist above)
Confirm meeting at seller's home (verifies ownership)
Arrange meeting in daylight hours
Tell someone where you're going

At the Meeting

Bring a friend - never go alone
Meet at seller's registered address (matches title)
Verify seller ID matches title name
Inspect car thoroughly before discussing money
Test drive with seller present

Payment Protocol

Cash: Safest for amounts under $5,000
Cashier's Check: Get from your bank, verify with seller's bank
Never: Wire transfer, Zelle, Venmo, gift cards, cryptocurrency
Exchange money only at title transfer: Sign title, hand over check

What to Do If Scammed

Immediate Steps If Scammed

1. Screenshot all messages and listing before they're deleted. 2. Report the profile to Facebook. 3. File police report (you'll need this for any recovery). 4. Report to FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. 5. Contact your bank if electronic payment was made. 6. Report to IC3.gov (FBI's internet crime center).

Recovery is rare but documentation is crucial. Even if you don't recover your money, your report helps authorities identify patterns and catch repeat scammers.

WATCH

Trust your instincts - if something feels wrong, it probably is.

Facebook Marketplace car scams are sophisticated but beatable with basic verification. Never send money before meeting, always verify seller profiles, and trust your gut. The 2 minutes spent checking a profile can save you thousands.

Pros

Most scams are easily identified with basic checks
Seller verification takes only 2-3 minutes
Legitimate sellers understand safety protocols
Red flags are consistent across scam types

Cons

No buyer protection for vehicles on Facebook
Recovery rate under 5% if scammed
Scammers constantly evolve tactics
Some scams are very convincing

Recommendation

Develop a pre-contact checklist: verify profile age, check for mutual friends, confirm location matches, and reverse image search photos. If a listing passes these checks, proceed with in-person verification. Never skip steps because a deal seems too good.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Scam Prevention

Deposit Scams When Buying Cars