Urgent Facebook warning over Marketplace scam that could cost you thousands
FACEBOOK users have been warned to be wary of a Marketplace scam that could end up costing you thousands.
Catfish host Nev Schulman is using his expertise in the art of deception to help people stay safe from online tricks.
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He believes Brits are most vulnerable while innocently cruising Facebook Marketplace to bag a bargain.
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Lulled into a false of security on the networking app, its nearly three billion users are prime targets for fraudsters, he fears.
And Nev suggests it’s because “we’re all still beginners” when it comes to navigating selling apps such as Facebook Marketplace, Vinted, Depop and eBay.
The 37-year-old MTV star has partnered with mobile-banking app Zelle to educate users on how to identify and avoid scams.
He told Yahoo News: “Scammers target sellers on marketplaces because the average internet sale or seller probably hasn’t done it many times.
“Facebook Marketplace probably being one of the biggest [for scams] just because Facebook has the most users.
“If you don’t know the simple few red flags to look out for it can be easy to fall victim.”
Most read in The Scottish Sun
Nev warned people to watch out for a common scam used by fraudsters.
Scammers may often send strange messages to unsuspecting buyers on platforms such as Facebook Marketplace, claiming to be from the social network themselves.
Users are then typically asked to click on a link to confirm their information.
Due to being eager to secure their item, many naive buyers end up unknowingly giving scammers their personal details.
Another warning sign Nev urged buyers and sellers to look out for is eagerness, a lack of negotiation and no questions asked.
Con artists then offer to pay for their purchase through a money transfer app, before claiming it didn’t go through because the seller needs to update their account.
A link is then sent asking the user to pay a small fee for the payment to proceed – followed by a fake email from a non-existent firm asking you to confirm the transaction.
We previously told how Facebook issued their own warning regarding scams amid an influx of complaints in recent months.
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