Scammed on Facebook Marketplace: What to Do in the First Hour

The first hour matters most. Here's a checklist.

Last checked: 29 October 2026 against the sources listed at the end of this guide.

#What should I do right now?

1. Call your bank or card issuer.
2. Screenshot the chat, profile and listing.
3. Report the seller using Facebook's report option on the listing or profile.
4. Report to police or your fraud service.
5. Change passwords if you shared any details.

Speed matters most with the bank. Payments made by card can sometimes be disputed, and some bank transfers can be traced or frozen if the bank acts before the money moves on. Tell the bank it was a scam, give the date, time, amount and the account details you paid, and ask for a reference number. Use the phone number on the back of your card or the bank's official app, never a number sent to you in the chat.

#What evidence should I save?

• The Marketplace listing link, title, price and photos.
• The seller's profile link and name as shown at the time.
• The full Messenger conversation, including any links or phone numbers they sent.
• Payment receipts, bank statements and the account number or payment ID you paid to.
• Any courier tracking number, fake delivery page or fake payment confirmation email.

Take screenshots on your phone and also save the profile and listing links. Scammers often delete listings and change names within hours, so the link and the screenshot together are stronger than either one alone.

#Where do I report?

Related guides: Forgot Your Messenger PIN? Can You Restore Encrypted Chats?.

In the UK, Report Fraud replaced Action Fraud on 4 December 2025 for England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and can be reached online; people in Scotland report to Police Scotland. In the US, the FTC collects fraud reports at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) takes reports of online crime. In Malaysia, call the National Scam Response Centre (NSRC) as soon as possible if money left your account, then make a police report. In Singapore, use the ScamShield Helpline or report to the police. In Australia, contact your bank and report through ReportCyber.

#How do I report the seller to Facebook?

Open the listing or the seller's profile, tap the three dots and choose Report, then pick the scam or fraud option. You can also report the conversation from Messenger. Facebook's Report content on Facebook guide explains that reports are confidential, so the seller is not told who reported them. Reporting does not get your money back, but it helps Facebook remove the account before it reaches more buyers.

Check whether your purchase is covered by Facebook's Purchase Protection. Facebook's How Purchase Protection works on Facebook Marketplace page explains that it applies to eligible purchases made through Facebook's own checkout, not to payments made by bank transfer, cash or other apps arranged in chat.

#What common mistakes should I avoid?

• Waiting before calling the bank.
• Deleting the chat.
• Paying a 'recovery agent'.
• Sending more money to release a promised refund.

Once you post about a scam, expect fake recovery agents. They message you claiming to be hackers, lawyers, police or Meta staff who can trace the scammer and return the money for a fee. Genuine police and banks do not charge to investigate. Anyone asking for an upfront payment, a gift card or cryptocurrency to release a refund is running a second scam.

If you shared a login code, password or card number, treat it as a security incident as well. Change the password, turn on two-factor authentication, ask the bank to block the card, and check your Facebook account for logins you do not recognise.

#How do I keep the account safe while I sort this out?

• Never share a login code, password or backup code with anyone, including people who say they work for Meta, the police or a recovery service.
• Make sure the email address and phone number on the account are ones you still control, and remove any you do not recognise.
• Turn on two-factor authentication where the platform offers it, ideally with an authenticator app, and keep your backup codes somewhere offline.
• Log in only from the official app or by typing the address yourself, not from links in messages, comments or ads.
• Keep screenshots of every notice, email and step you take, with dates, in case you need them for a review or a report.
• Make one careful attempt at each official step rather than many rushed ones, because repeated failed attempts can trigger extra checks.

#When It Is Safer to Get Expert Help

Ask for help before you appeal if the account matters to your income, your business or your memories, if you have already had one appeal rejected, or if you cannot tell whether the problem is a bug, a restriction or a hack. That is where most avoidable losses happen.

AwareXone is independent and not affiliated with Meta, Instagram, Facebook, WhatsApp or Threads. Recovery work is best-effort and the platform makes the final decision.

• You gave the scammer a login code and your Facebook or WhatsApp account is now behaving strangely.
• The scammer has your ID, address or bank details and is threatening you.
• Your own Marketplace access was restricted after you reported the seller.
• Someone is offering to recover the money for a fee.