Scam targets Facebook Marketplace sellers with account upgrade request
Calling it “a crafty new scam,” the Wisconsin Better Business Bureau is warning users of Facebook Marketplace to be aware of a fraud scheme that focuses on sellers being asked to upgrade their digital money transfer apps.
“Watch out when selling big-ticket items on Facebook Marketplace,” the Wisconsin BBB said in a statement this week.
The scam involves phony buyers on Facebook Marketplace who say you must upgrade your Zelle, or other digital money transfer app, in order to accept money from them.
Here’s how the scam works, according to the BBB:
You list a big-ticket item worth several hundred dollars on Facebook Marketplace. You are quickly contacted by a “buyer” who wants to pay using a digital money transfer app.
The BBB says this scam has happened with Zelle, but it could also work with CashApp, Venmo or another similar service.
Shortly after receiving the payment, you get an email, supposedly from Zelle or one of the other digital money transfer apps.
The bogus email states that the buyer paid via a Zelle “business account.” Now, you also need to upgrade your account to business status to accept the transfer. To do so, the buyer will need to send you another $300, though the amount can vary.
“They are happy to do you a favor — if you promise to refund them,” the BBB said.
The scammers are after the refund money.
“If you refund the scammer, you’ll quickly realize that they never sent you any money in the first place,” the BBB said.
“You’ll be out a few hundred dollars and the scammer will disappear.”