Check twice before sending money online

Notice on the smartphone screen. Alert, warning, virus, error. Vector illustration in flat style.

When using direct person-to-person payment services it is important to always verify anyone you are sending money to. Sending money through these services is like handing over cash. That money is gone once it is sent. Double and triple-check that you have received the items you are paying for.  To stay safe, confirm the identity of the person you are interacting with before finalizing any transactions.

We have received several reports of a fraud trend emerging from people selling items online with Facebook Marketplace. They have received requests from interested “buyers” promising to send money via a person-to-person payment service. The seller then receives an email claiming to be from the person-to-person payment service, notifying them that the transaction amount is too large to send. They then ask the seller to take action to release the funds, usually by clicking on a link. These fake emails often look like they are coming from a legitimate company, but they are really part of an elaborate scam.

Don’t share information or send money to unknown recipients

We encourage everyone to never share their information or send money to anyone they cannot 100% identify. If you receive an email claiming to be from a real company asking for your information or take action, you should stop and respond with one of these methods: 

  • Contact the company directly from an official source. Close the email, Google the company, and use their official contact information to confirm the message is legitimate. 
  • If you have no relationship with that company at all, do not respond or click on any links. Promptly delete the email. 

Remember: if you are the seller of an item, you should not be the one to send money to a prospective buyer. It is acceptable for you to question any person or company that is sending you a suspicious or unsolicited message asking you to share information, send money, or follow a link. In this scenario and with any fraud trend, always take a step back and assess the situation before conducting a payment that cannot be reversed. 

Contact us for help

We are available to help you with any questions or concerns you may have. Contact us here if you have questions or need help verifying the legitimacy of an email or offer: Contact Us