People using Facebook Marketplace are being warned to take extra care after a number of people have revealed they have been the victims of a new scam
A new scam is making its way around Facebook and Brits are being warned to keep their eyes peeled.
People are being tricked out of hundreds of pounds worth of goods from the new online scheme.
One fraudster, who was using the popular site, used a fake banking app to convince victims into believing they had paid for pricey electrical devices they were selling on Marketplace.
During the scam, someone will turn up at your house after agreeing to buy an item and use a dodgy banking app which makes it seem as though the agreed sum has been paid, it has been reported.
One victim, from Merseyside and who asked to remain anonymous, had listed his laptop on Facebook Marketplace and believed he had found a legitimate buyer.
They told the St Helens Star: “I had communication with this profile which was this girl. It’s a profile they’d set up and they posted a message to me saying ‘my partner is on the way’.
“This boy came at around 8.50pm and went to pay with a mobile banking app which at the time I thought was completely legitimate.
“I had no idea this fake banking app existed. He showed me the transaction. I later found out no money had been transferred and he had blocked me on Facebook.”
The scam meant he lost out on £450 in total.
Another woman who was tricked, was reportedly conned out of £800 for a phone on the same night.
The National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) at the City of London Police is investigating the ongoing scams, head of Action Fraud Pauline Smith has confirmed.
Facebook Marketplace is used by many people to search for a bargain or get rid of some old toot and make some extra money in the process.
But unfortunately, scammers are lurking everywhere – and they have plenty of tricks and techniques to cheat you out of money or possessions.
NordVPN has issued five helpful tips to help protect yourself.
They include, always using official payment methods such as the Facebook Checkout service or PayPal – but don’t let buyers pay via PayPal Family and Friends. If you can, pay with a credit card. That way it’s easier to be refunded for fraudulent payments.
You should always insist on receiving payment first before any deal goes down. The company said: “Don’t send anything before receiving money for shipping and the item.”
People should always pay attention to seller ratings, they have advised, stating: “The star rating is there for a reason. If a seller has a low rating, it usually means not to trust them.”
Don’t accept overpayment is another piece of wisdom the company has shared. Under no circumstances, no matter how nice the buyer seems or how genuine the excuse they provide is, never fall for this trick.
Lastly, buyers and sellers should be wary of phishing scams. Some cybercriminals will redirect a link to a credential-stealing site or instruct you to download malware. Don’t click on anything suspicious.
