Fake Facebook Ads

Image of FTC Warning on Fake Facebook give-a-ways

Facebook is a popular way to find great deals, but it attracts fraudsters trying to take advantage of you.  They’ll post fake ads for products or services you’re looking for at really cheap prices.  They’ll post photos or videos of the goods to convince you that the offer is real.  There are several ways they can scam you on Facebook or other social media channels:

  • Fake Sellers.  Fraudsters create a fake Facebook account that pretends to be a real company, or they steal an actual person’s Facebook account.  They list items at prices set to catch your interest.  You can agree to the offer and pay the “seller,” but you never receive the promised good or service.
  • Fake Promises.  Fraudsters will offer an item at a certain price, but then change the price or the item itself at the last second.  In other cases, despite what was promised, the actual item you receive doesn’t work, is in poor quality, or is incomplete.  Fraudsters will never agree to meeting up in person to deliver it, even for larger purchases like cars; they want to hide their identity and the poor quality of the product.
  • Fake Giveaways.  Fraudsters will give you a free item, and all you have to do is pay for the shipping.  They give you a link to enter your shipping information, but it will put a virus on your computer or steal your personal information.  You never receive the free item.

Protecting Yourself

Fake ads will often appear in Facebook, so take the following actions to prevent yourself from being scammed:

  • If the product and/or price are too good to be true, it probably is.  Search for the product online to see its price from other sellers.
  • Try to meet with the seller and bring a friend as a witness.  Usually, fraudsters will decline this to hide their identity.
  • Check user ratings before making a purchase.  Poor reviews may show the seller should not be trusted.
  • Check the seller’s profile for anything unusual, such as inactivity, inconsistent information, or poor grammar.
  • Keep track of all conversations with the seller.  Stay on the Facebook Marketplace so that you can provide them as proof in case you’re scammed.

If you Become a Victim

If you suspect you have been scammed:

  1. Contact the seller directly to resolve the issue.
  2. If they do not respond after 2 days, file a dispute with Facebook.  Facebook has a policy to help protect you: Purchase Protection Policy.
  3. Notify the FTC and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
  4. Check your purchases for anything unusual.  If you believe your debit or credit card or account has been compromised, contact your bank or credit union at once to limit your losses.

For more information, watch this video from 23 ABC News on these fake ads: