Over 1/3 of Facebook Marketplace ads may be scams! Learn vital tips to avoid losing money and shop safely online.
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Did you know that over a third of Facebook Marketplace ads could be traps scammers set?
TSB has revealed a shocking truth: a whopping 34% of Facebook Marketplace adverts are likely scams. From fake iPhones to dodgy car deals, these scams could cost UK households millions.
Imagine finding that perfect item online, only to discover it’s a scam. Frustrating, right?
Here are the details you need to outsmart scammers.
What’s the big deal?
TSB has found that a whopping 34% of the ads on Facebook Marketplace are likely scams.
Imagine if one out of every three things you picked up at the shop was fake or broken – I know i wouldn’t be happy!
What did TSB find?
TSB’s fraud team checked out 100 ads on Facebook Marketplace.
They looked at things like cars, games, and even handbags and found that 34% of these ads were dodgy.
The sellers used sneaky tricks like sending people to fake websites, not letting them see the items in person, and asking for money upfront.
How big is the problem?
This is a big problem – Facebook Marketplace is where 73% of fraud cases reported to TSB takes place.
Last year, people in the UK might have lost a whopping £60 million on this site.
That’s like £160,000 vanishing every single day!
Examples of scams
The top things scammers try to sell are cars, phones, clothes, games, and even concert tickets. So, be extra careful if you’re looking for these.
Here are a couple of sneaky tricks TSB had found that scammers tried:
- Ninja Air Fryer – it was listed for £65 brand new (RRP £249.00, although it’s on offer (bit not as low as £65!)), but when trying to buy it, they were sent to a fake website.
- iPhone 13 – it was listed at £84 for a brand new model (retail price is £599). The fraud expert was directed to a scam website to make the payment.
- 2016 Audi Q3 – the car was on sale for £6,000. It seemed legitimate enough, but the seller wouldn’t answer any questions from the fraud squad. They then checked the email address and found it had previously been reported in 2023 on a community website about car fraud.
What should you do?
When shopping online, it’s always good to look out for scams and:
- Be wary
If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. Always double-check. - Stay safe
Don’t pay for anything without seeing it first. And never give out your personal info or send money to someone you don’t trust. - Report It
If something seems off, tell Facebook and if you’ve been a victim of a scam, report the case to your ban and Action Fraud.
Shopping online can be great and you can find some total bargains, but it’s always important to be careful. Don’t let those scammers trick you out of your money.
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