Facebook Marketplace scams: the buyer who wants a code
A Marketplace buyer who asks you to read back a code “to prove you’re real”, overpays, or sends a payment email instead of paying, or a seller who wants a deposit for something you haven’t seen, is a scammer.
Meta says off-platform scams are most common for vehicles, rentals and home goods. For sellers the danger is codes and fake payments: a Google Voice “verification” code sets up a number in your name, and a “Zelle” email for a pending payment is invented. For buyers it’s deposits, gift cards and prices far below the going rate.
What it looks like
An example written by HARD, not a real message. Real ones change wording often.
Messenger message from a buyer whose profile was made last week
Hi, is this still available? I’ll take it for the full price. Before we meet I need to make sure you’re a real person, there are so many scammers lol. I’ll send a code to your phone, just tell me the 6 digits.
Check the one you got
Paste what you were sent. HARD checks it in this browser with the same rules as the Is this legit? check in its apps. Nothing you paste leaves this page.
How to tell it’s fake
“Always check your account to confirm payment, even if they send you a screenshot.”
Meta, Marketplace safety
- A code to prove you’re real.
- The FTC calls the Google Voice code request a scam every time: the code links a phone number to your name for the scammer to use.
- A payment you can only see in an email or screenshot.
- Meta says to check the account itself. Fake Zelle, Venmo and PayPal emails say money is pending until you do something.
- Overpayment with a refund request.
- They pay too much, often for “movers”, and ask you to send the difference. The original payment bounces.
- A deposit for something you haven’t seen.
- Rentals, cars and pets. Meta’s help pages say not to send deposits for high-value items before confirming they’re real.
- Moving off Facebook.
- A switch to text, WhatsApp or email removes Meta’s protections and its record of the chat.
If you clicked, called or paid
- If you gave a Google Voice code.
- Follow Google’s steps to reclaim your number, and turn on two-step verification on your Google account.
- If you paid by card, call your bank.
- On the number on your card, and dispute the charge.
- If you sent money by a payment app.
- Report it in the app and to your bank straight away. Payment app money is very hard to get back.
- Report the profile and listing.
- On Marketplace, open the listing or the profile, then Report. In the US, also ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Outside the US: Report Fraud in the UK (reportfraud.police.uk, which replaced Action Fraud), Scamwatch in Australia, the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre in Canada. Forward scam texts to 7726 in the US, UK and Canada.
If it was your parents, read Look after your parents, and if a card number or password has gone, Breaches explains what each kind of leaked data lets criminals do.
The official way to check
- Confirm payment in your own account.
- Open your bank or payment app yourself before handing anything over.
- Check tracking on the carrier’s own site.
- Meta advises checking tracking numbers there. For rentals, the FTC suggests searching the address with the owner’s name.
Someone on the phone asking for money right now? Guides has the two-step answer. More scams by name are on Is this a scam?, and new ones reach the Situation Room.
Questions
Why does a Facebook Marketplace buyer want a code from my phone?
To set up a Google Voice number, or get into one of your accounts, in your name. The FTC says this request is a scam every time. Never read out a code.
Is it safe to sell on Marketplace for Zelle?
Only once the money is in your bank account, checked in your own app. Emails saying a Zelle payment is pending until you pay a fee or upgrade are fake.
How do I report a Marketplace scammer?
Open the listing or the person’s profile on Marketplace and choose Report. In the US, also report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Sources
Sources checked on 7 Nov 2026.
- Facebook Help Centre: About scams on Facebook Marketplace, read 7 November 2026: overpayment, off-platform contact, fake payment emails, gift cards, verification codes, deposits.
- Meta: Trust and safety on Marketplace, read 7 November 2026: off-platform scams most common in vehicles, rentals and home goods; confirm payment in your account.
- FTC: The Google Voice scam, how this verification code scam works, 29 October 2021: code requests from buyers are a scam every time; how to reclaim your number.
- FTC: Selling stuff online? Here’s how to avoid a scam, 27 July 2022: fake payment notices, overpayment and fake checks.
- FTC: Avoiding rental listing scams, 31 July 2024: copied listings, deposits by payment app, search the address with the owner’s name.