Facebook Marketplace scams targeting sellers and car buyers
Fake buyers send e-transfer "deposit" links that steal your bank login. Fake car listings demand deposits before you ever see the vehicle.
How it works
If you are selling: a buyer says they will send a deposit and texts you a link that looks exactly like your bank's e-transfer page. It is actually a reverse e-transfer request. Logging in hands the scammer your bank credentials. One Ottawa seller lost 700 dollars overnight from a 100 dollar coat listing. Police call this the current "hot fraud" against sellers. If you are buying: too-cheap vehicle listings pressure you to e-transfer a deposit before viewing the car, or the car is stolen with falsified paperwork.
What to do
- Never log in to your bank from a link someone sends you. Open your banking app yourself.
- For local sales, deal in cash or verify an e-transfer arrived inside your own banking app before handing anything over.
- Never send a deposit for a vehicle you have not seen. Verify ownership before paying anything.
Sources
If this has already happened to you, our scam recovery visit can lock down your accounts and devices. And if you are just not sure whether something is a scam, asking us is always free.