How To Stop Scammers On Facebook Marketplace?

Published on: 19 July 2023 Last Updated on: 03 January 2024

Scammers are everywhere online these days, and it’s important to be aware of the different types of scams that you might encounter when buying and selling items on the Facebook marketplace.

Staying informed about potential scams that might be targeted toward you will help you protect your items, your personal information, and your money.

Our article gives you information on common Facebook marketplace scams and how to stop scammers on the Facebook marketplace.

What Is Facebook Marketplace?

Facebook marketplace is one of today’s most popular selling platforms for both used and new goods. Facebook users can easily navigate the marketplace to find items in their area and items that are available for shipping. It doesn’t charge any kind of fee for this service, which is part of what makes the platform so popular.

Common Facebook Marketplace Scams

As with any type of selling platform, scams are common on the Facebook marketplace. We give you an overview of the most common Facebook marketplace scams you might encounter.

1. Overpayment Scams

Overpayment scams are common both on and off the Facebook marketplace, and these scams involve the buyer claiming to have overpaid for the item by accident. They may try to show proof by providing some kind of receipt or screenshot of payment.

The buyer will then ask that you refund the difference, but once you do this, their original payment will be shown to be false or otherwise not processed. The buyer will then disappear, making off with the money that you sent them as a ‘refund.’

2. False Payment Scams

False payment scams involve the buyer sending you a payment receipt in order to get you to send a package or deliver an item.

These are often screenshots of false payments or utilize suspicious third-party apps. So, it’s important to always use a trusted payment app such as PayPal or Venmo and verify that payment is actually received before you take the next steps in the selling process.

3. Shipping Scams

Shipping scams are very common on most buying and selling platforms, and the Facebook marketplace is no exception. In these scams, a buyer may request that you go ahead and send a package before payment is received.

Alternatively, they may present you with a false payment receipt so that you will send the package. Buyers may also claim that a package was never received, and sellers on the Facebook marketplace may simply take your money and never ship your package.

These scams can be hard to catch at first, so always use common sense and scrutiny when dealing with shipping and receiving packages.

4. Bait and Switch Scams

Bait and switch scams involve the scammer listing a more valuable or popular item on the marketplace, but when you message them about that item, they tell you it has been sold. They may then offer you an item of inferior quality in the hopes that you settle for it and buy it.

5. False Listings

Fake listings, such as listings for apartments or other rentals, and listings that appear too good to be true for valuable items are often the cornerstone of this scam.

In these scams, you may be asked to fill out forms to obtain items or a rental, asked to put down a deposit, or asked to pay a holding fee, only for the rental or item listing to disappear. Then, the scammer vanishes with your money and information.

Tips for Stopping Facebook Marketplace Scammers

The following tips will help stop you from falling for scams when utilizing the Facebook marketplace. Always use caution and common sense when buying or selling online.

Make sure payments are fully received and processed before shipping any product; this stops you from losing the item if a payment turns out to be false.
Never engage with anyone who wants to send payments through sketchy third-party apps and always double-check who owns email addresses.
Always double-check electronics to make sure they are working and be wary of items that appear like they have been stolen.
If the price of something or a product is too good to be true, it likely is.
Never reveal codes that are texted to your phone, and never fill out any kind of form asking for your personal information in order to receive an item.
Always ask for tracking codes or provide tracking codes when shipping and receiving items to prevent false claims of lost packages and to ensure items are actually shipped.

To stop a Facebook marketplace scam for good, open the listing you believe is a scam. Tap on the three dots to open the menu, then navigate to the option that says ‘report listing.’ Tap or click on this, and Facebook will handle the scam listing.

You can also complete this method with the buyer by navigating to the messages exchanged with the buyer. Then, open the same menu by tapping or clicking on the three dots, and select ‘report buyer.’

Making Your Marketplace Experience Safe

Facebook marketplace is a powerful tool to help you buy and sell personal goods to locals in your area, or ship products to those farther away. However, the Facebook marketplace does have its share of scams, and it’s important to be wary as you utilize the platform. Keep your wits about you and remember our tips for stopping Facebook marketplace scammers in their tracks.

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Arnab

Arnab is a professional blogger, having an enormous interest in writing blogs and other jones of calligraphies. In terms of his professional commitments, He carries out sharing sentient blogs.

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How To Replace Your Social Security Card Online

Your Social Security card is a very important document and you need your card for a variety of things. If you want to apply for Social Security retirement benefits or disability benefits you are going to need a copy of your card and you also need a copy of your card to get other types of benefits as well. Your Social Security card is one of the most important documents you own and you need to keep it somewhere safe so it doesn't get lost. Your Social Security card isn't something that you need to show often, but your Social Security number is something that you need to use often. Memorize your Social Security number and that way you won't need to use the card. The Social Security card is small and it is printed on thin paper which makes it easy to lose or damage. If you have lost or damaged your card you are going to need to get a new one. One of the most convenient ways to get your Social Security card is to apply for it online. If you apply for a replacement card online you won't need to leave the house and you won't have to go to the Social Security office. The Social Security office can be a true nightmare, especially if you don't like standing in line. It can take forever to be seen and the office is always crowded no matter when you go. You have to take a number and wait, and wait, and wait. Sometimes it can take hours to be seen. It is much more convenient to get your social security card online because you won't need to wait at the office and you can fill out the application at any time. You don't even save time by going to the office because they won't issue a card on the spot. You have to wait for it to come in the mail no matter how you apply so you might as well get your card online. You will have to prove your identity when you get your replacement card. You need to prove your age and citizenship. You will need your driver's license and birth certificate to prove your age and identity. The birth certificate has to be a certified copy or an original. If you don't have the right documents you won't be able to get your card so make sure that you have the documents you need. You might also need to provide additional documents. You can get a list of the documents you need on the Social Security website. If you are missing even one document you won't be able to get your card so make sure that you have everything you need before you start the application. If you are missing a document you won't be able to get your card so make sure that you have everything you need before you begin the application. It can take some time to gather the documents so give yourself plenty of time to get the documents together so you are ready to get your new card without any problems. There can be a lot of problems when you are applying for your card if you are not prepared so make sure that you have everything you need and that you are prepared to get the card. You can get a replacement card for free. You won't have to pay anything for it and it will come in the mail. It doesn't matter whether you apply for your card in person or you apply online, the card is going to come through the mail no matter what you end up doing. It takes about three weeks to get your card so you need to make sure that you have an idea about when it is going to come. If your card gets lost or stolen you could end up becoming a victim of identity theft and if this happens your life is going to be difficult. The only thing an identity thief needs to steal your identity is your Social Security number. They can easily steal your identity with your Social Security number and start opening up lots of different accounts in your name. They run up the credit cards and leave you with the bill. You could end up getting sued by the creditors and your credit score is going to be destroyed while you are trying to clear your name. You will have to file police reports and do many time-consuming things to clear your name. If you have your identity stolen and you need to buy a car or you were planning on buying a home you won't be able to do the things you want because your credit score is going to be low. Straightening out a case of identity theft can be difficult and it can also be a lot of work. You are going to have to work hard to clear your name and it can take a long time to get things fixed. If you don't get your replacement Social Security card when you are supposed to get it to make sure you that you report your card as stolen or missing. The Social Security Administration will send you out a new card. Once you get your card you want to make sure that you keep it in a safe place. Memorize your Social Security number since you need to use it for many different things. The card you rarely need to show so be sure to keep the card in a drawer or safe. You don't want to end up losing the card again. Getting a replacement Social Security card is very easy as long as you have the right documents. You have to be willing to show the documents you need and you want to keep an eye on the card in case it gets lost. Your Social Security card is an important document and you are going to need it when you retire. Read Also: Why DRM Is The New Standard For Document Security “Which Backend Keys Makes Social Networking Sites & Apps Works Smoothly?

How Do You Recover after Getting Defrauded?

That moment when you realize you have been defrauded can be soul-destroying. At first, you may be shocked and not know what to do. You cannot believe you have fallen for it. But once you get your head around what has happened, you can start working toward recovery. Here are the things you can do to recover after being defrauded. Stop Any More Money First of all, when you have identified a scam, ensure that you stop any funding. Make sure that no further payments are going to be made out to encourage them to defraud you anymore. It is easy to be shocked about what is happening and lose even more money. So, try to stop the scam at the source. For instance, if you have used a credit card, make sure that it is canceled and that you inform the card issuers of the fraud. Do Not Blame Yourself After you have discovered the scam and process what has happened, you will be angry and blame yourself. However, you have got to avoid doing this. This is not going to be productive and help you move on. Know that millions of people fall for fraudulent scams every year. You are not the first or the last person to do this. All you should think about is what you are going to do next and how you can prevent this from happening again. Try to Get Your Money Back A lot of people assume that once they have been defrauded they will never get this money back. However, this is not always true. Unfortunately, stock market fraud happens a lot and this means many people have looked for help over the years. Now, there are companies out there that can help you recover the money you have lost. Avoid Unsolicited Emails When you have been the victim of fraud, you need to learn your lesson. Avoid all unsolicited contact that you receive about another investment opportunity. For instance, if you receive any emails or telephone calls with so-called ‘great opportunities’ make sure that you ignore them. This could be another fraudulent scam that you do not want to get involved with. Delete all emails and messages you receive and ensure that you do not send any personal details. You also want to avoid opening any attachments or links they send to you. Follow Your Gut Unfortunately, there are thousands of scams happening every day to innocent people. If you have been one of these victims, you will know the worry and stress it can cause you. Indeed, you may have also lost a lot of money. In the future, in order to stop this from happening again, follow your gut. If something seems too good to be true or you have a bad feeling, ignore the opportunity. If you really want to make investments, do your own research and know that other opportunities are going to come along. Do not rush into any decisions without thinking them through. Read Also: Credit Card Fraud the Holiday Season: Things to Consider for Next Year Surviving Loss: What to Do With an Estate After You Lose a Loved One

E-Commerce Website Security: Top 14 Must-Have Cybersecurity Features

With the rise of digitization, there has been a rise in cybercrime. In fact, when a cyberattack happens, it harms a company directly and indirectly. Also, it affects its reputation in its potential customers’ eyes. In fact, you cannot count but estimate the loss that happens. Hence, it is important to ensure e-commerce website security. In this article, you will learn about the top fourteen ways to ensure e-commerce website security. However, before that, it is also important to understand the importance of ensuring security in e-commerce websites. Hence, to learn more, read on to the end of the article. Importance Of E-Commerce Website Security In 2024, most businesses are working in the online framework. Their revenues heavily depend on their websites. If they do not emphasize their website’s security, their customer base and reputation will become vulnerable. As an eCommerce website owner, you need to comply with certain payment guidelines. These include PCI/DSS (Payment Card Industry – Data Security Standard) to ensure smooth payment transactions. Moreover, you need to install security protocols to secure your data integrity. They will not only protect your customer data from hackers but also keep the search engines satisfied. Thus, security is essential for your eCommerce website. Top 14 Ways To Ensure E-Commerce Website Security The following are some of the major cybersecurity features you must ensure on your website: 1. Implement 2-factor Authentication Does not matter how frustrating it may sound. As long as you are keeping your customer’s data secure, every security method is fine. Employing 2-factor authentication may make your customers a bit agitated. They first enter the login credentials and then enter the OTP received on their number to decrease security breaches and hacks drastically. So, employ the process and safeguard your customer accounts. 2. Get HTTPs And SSL Certification To obtain HTTPS authentication businesses need an SSL certificate to be installed on a website. Before installation, you need to buy an SSL certificate. This is because it encrypts the data communication between the server and the client. Then, it passes the data over a secure network through cryptographic functions (symmetric & asymmetric). This keeps cybercriminals from intercepting the communication. Out of all the SSL certificates, the EV SSL certificates require a user to undergo a unique validation process to verify his credibility through his name, ID, address, and more. Thus, get an EV SSL to secure your Ecommerce website and obtain the highest validation level. 3. Comply With PCI-DSS Guidelines For A Secure Payment Gateway System PCI-DSS or Payment Card Industry – Data Security Standard is a body that governs a website’s right to maintain an online payment transaction system. If you are a website that sees over six million transactions every year, you must be level 1 compliant. However, if your transactions range from 20,000 per year, you are safe as a level 4 client of PCI-DSS. The compliance helps you to secure your payment gateway system. Also, it allows you to use a third-party app to accept payments and make refunds on your behalf. 4. Use A VPN As A Night Watchman When you use public networks such as Wi-Fis to access the site, it is better to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) to watch your back and restrict other connections to manipulate the ongoing connection between the server and the client. Without a VPN, hackers can easily manipulate the payment transaction and hack credit and debit card details. VPN will secure your customers’ payment transactions even on Wi-Fi and keep their sensitive data as safe as houses. 5. Restrict Malicious Bots Using reCAPTCHA The reCAPTCHA method is extremely effective in keeping hackers at bay. Basically, ReCAPTCHA generates random questions that a bot cannot answer. There are plenty of malicious bots lurking around the internet in hopes of finding an ideal prey for cybercriminals. When they get access to your account, malicious bots can steal information, leak it, or even bring your site down. ReCAPTCHA adds an extensive layer of security that is impenetrable for a code or a bot. It restricts bad guys’ entrance by protecting login pages, signup pages, contact form pages, form submission pages, payment gateway pages, etc. 6. Start Using A Reliable Content Management System (CMS) Choosing the right CMS is important for businesses to determine whether an eCommerce website will stay safe. Mediocre CMSs are a big risk to have. They might help you save a few bucks, but you will always be vulnerable to theft. But, CMSs like WordPress and Joomla have renounced entities having customer bases in millions. Moreover, they are regular in updating security patches and always stay a step ahead of the bad guys. The only thing you need to do is keep them updated. 7. Do Not Use Unsolicited Extensions And Plugins Plugins and extensions are necessary to enhance your website’s reach. They allow you access to multiple tools and features on the internet. However, not all plugins are safe to install. These days, due to rising cybercrimes, you must be aware of what you’re installing or adding. Cybercriminals can engrave malicious codes in the plugins, and when a user installs it, they get access to his site. Before installing any plugin, make sure that its source is known. Check for its reviews and ratings across the internet. Also, check its performance reports and badges for further inquiry and self-satisfaction. 8. Perform Audits For Site Security Site security auditing does not interest a lot of merchants, but it is essential for their survival. Site security auditing includes checking whether the anti-virus is working appropriately and whether security protocols are repelling attacks or not. As a merchant, you must initiate site auditing from time to time. It will help you prevent attacks and fix bugs and technical glitches. If detected early, some security issues can be repelled; otherwise, they may harm the website if they stay for longer periods. So, keep auditing your website at regular intervals of time. 9. Install A Firewall In Your Web Application If you own a web application, the firewall can benefit you immensely. Web Application Firewall or WAF protects the website or web app by analyzing the traffic between the application and the internet. A firewall protects the user data of the application from XSS (cross-site scripting), SQL injection, cross-site request forgery, etc. A firewall is the need of the hour to suffice the mounting cyberattacks and help sustain the business. 10. Perform Data-Backup Regularly In today’s tech world, data is more important than cash in your wallet. Here, you can earn cash again. However, once you lose data, you cannot retrieve them in the same proportion. For businesses, data is their lifeline. They thrive on data and channel their operations accordingly. Since it is immensely important, protecting it is quite a task for businesses as cybercriminals are always on the lookout for data. The best way to protect your data is by creating a copy of it and saving it on the cloud. Cloud allows you to access your data anywhere at any time, making it extremely reliable. 11. Regular Software Updates Regular software updates are crucial for e-commerce website security since they come with patches that deal with vulnerabilities. Additionally, since developers always research and improve cybersecurity, new updates let you access the latest features. In fact, they protect your website from new threats like ransomware. Also, it offers protection against data breach attempts. Moreover, software updates also let your website meet the compliance requirements of the e-commerce industry. Furthermore, it also helps in improving the overall performance of your e-commerce website. 12. Strong Password Policies Firstly, if there is a strong password policy, cyber criminals will not gain unauthorized access to the website. As a result, you can also prevent financial losses that may happen to your business. Moreover, you can also save your business from reputational damage. Generally, cybercriminals and hackers use weak passwords to penetrate networks. Thereby, they stop your business’s critical processes. Hence, with a strong password policy, you can ensure e-commerce website security. 13. Use A Secure Hosting Environment A secure hosting environment protects your e-commerce website from various security threats. These include hacking, data breaches, malware, etc. Apart from that, it also helps to maintain your site’s integrity. Also, it helps you to protect sensitive information like passwords and credit card numbers. Additionally, it also offers protection against DDoS attacks Moreover, site downtime negatively affects your search engine ranking. Here, a secure hosting environment can help you a lot. 14. Focus On User Education And Training If you invest in user education and training, you can help them respond to cybersecurity threats. Basically, your users will learn to identify and respond to threats such as phishing, social engineering, and malicious attachments. Thereby, you can reduce the likelihood of cyberattacks that can compromise your e-commerce website security. As a result, you will gain more trust from your users and customers. Final Thoughts eCommerce is booming every day. New ways of marketing, selling, and attracting are in place to make life convenient for customers. On the hind side, hackers also build new ways to capture as much data as possible. Basically, they employ bots and bugs to do the dirty work. Bots can enter your website and steal customer data, whereas bugs can get attached to plugins and gain access once you install them. Keeping track of what you are installing, where you are visiting, and who you are allowing access to is of paramount importance. However, everything can get simple if you follow these fourteen steps. This way, you can frame a robust website security system. Do you have more recommendations on how to ensure e-commerce website security? Please share your ideas and opinions in the comments section below. Read Also: Everything You Need To Know About PKI In Cybersecurity Five Tips to Make Sure Your Security Software Is Actually Secure Why DRM Is the New Standard for Document Security Top 10 Computer Security Mistakes

How To Stop Scammers On Facebook Marketplace?

What Is Facebook Marketplace?