Facebook Marketplace Zelle and Venmo Scam, Explained

This video explains a scam involving either Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist where scammers will target your finances in either your Zelle or Venmo accounts.

In 2022, and perhaps for a long time before, scammers are contacting sellers soon after they place listings on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. The scammer pretends to show interest in buying the item that’s for sale. They ask for a Zelle QR code or Venmo information and also an email address. That email address is a big part of the scam.

The scammer will send an email to your email address that you just gave them. In that email, the scammer might pretend to be Zelle or Venmo. Alternatively, they may pretend that they received the email from Zelle or Venmo and that they needed to forward it to you, because Zelle or Venmo supposedly sent them a request to ask you for more money, supposedly to help open a “business account” or some other nonsense. Don’t do it. It’s a scam.

On Twitter, @yvettemc18 tweeted: “Beware of FB marketplace scammers! This happened to me twice already: I post a listing and someone shows interest right away. I ask for Venmo but they give an excuse that they can only use Zelle. I send them my Zelle QR code and then they’ll ask for my email. I became suspicious when two interested buyers had asked for Zelle and both of them don’t have FB profiles. They also insist on emails instead of using the provided QR code. One profile even said that they’re older and don’t know how to use Zelle! I then looked up “Zelle” and “Facebook marketplace” on google and sure enough it’s a known scam. They ask for your email bc they pretend to be Zelle and then send you an email asking you to upgrade your account. They then will say the payment didn’t go through and ask for more!”

This is just one of many examples of people documenting how they either were scammed or were approached by a scammer.

If you have any questions about this scam or any other scams, or if you have been the victim of a scam and want to tell your story, feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you for watching.

[jordanliles]

Please LIKE this video and COMMENT with your favorite breakfast food. That simple comment (in a new comment, not a reply to me) can help Google and YouTube see my video has engagement, causing it to receive better placement at the top of search results, therefore helping others not get scammed!

Note: I also want to add more information other than what's included in the video. I didn't spend a lot of time on the screenshot about the scammer asking to send $300, so let me explain further.

Let's say you're selling an item on Facebook Marketplace. Someone contacts you and says they're interested and they want to pay right away using Zelle or Venmo. They then say there's an issue and send you an email that they claim they received from Zelle or Venmo. In the email, Zelle or Venmo supposedly asked if they can ask you to send an additional $300 to help setup a "business account."

This is all a scam. Don't do this. Safeguard your information. Stay safe, everyone.

[sherrycoleman]

It's always zelle, and they will tell you that their cousin or nephew or someone else is going to come and pick it up, before they even get it

[candacetoomey]

Just happened to me. Thank you for posting this, you saved me from doing something really stupid.

[MemoriesOverMoney]

THANK YOU! I was selling baby items and was wondering why two people immediately messaged me and both were trying to pay before meeting.. I would NEVER prepay someone so something felt off. I’m glad I found your video. I told them no.. I’ll wait for the payment for once we meet and they both never replied 😭

[karaflintholistic]

Yup, definitely a great explanation and what I've been going through all day. I've also had people who send me a photo that looks like a text asking me to call or text them right away and that they want to pick up and pay cash. All with poor spelling and grammar. When I ask if they can send me an actual message to prove they're a real person, they don't respond. Very frustrating!

[amigandhi]

Thank you so much for this video! I was contacted on FB marketplace twice. Once a month ago asking for zelle info and today asking for venmo information. I also received an email that looked sketchy. I never clicked on the emails and with both users, I blocked them. Your video just confirmed my suspicions about them. Thank you!

[Theweezle]

Thank you. I just hate that Facebook is not advertising this more considering how common it is.

[StormRaid]

Thank you for explaining this. I have been bombed with these messages and it gets in the way for someone real to buy what I am selling. I tried using my other account and still got these scams. It makes it impossible to sell anymore and I think they have a way to keep real buyers from your posting. It's messed up and Facebook still hasn't done anything about it.

[milkyway]

Thank you! This almost just happened to me. It seemed weird in so many ways. I reported the individual as a scam and blocked them. Hopefully Facebook brings upon some sort of action.

[MikeDest]

Dealing with one of these right now. I didn't fall for it. Received a message from them way too soon. They asked questions that were already answered in the listing. The messages were coming from what seems to be a young high school girl's instagram account, but looks like it was an account that just stole her pictures. I find the real account and she doesn't even live in my area. Also no high school student is trying to buy the home item i'm selling. Then they said they would be paying via Zella, but it would be her son picking it up... again the account looks to be a high school girl in another state. Too many red flags.

[jevinlin]

Thank you, this just happened to me this morning. I was suspicious of the two scammers contacting me right away after I listed my PC for sell, and I would like to thank you again for helping me out.

[whatareyoudoingonmychannel]

I feel so dumb. I almost got scammed for 300$ but then something clicked in my head and I started to get hints in my head. They wanted to pay with zelle and not cash🤦‍♂️

[michaelnapper]

Thank you sir. Dealing with this crap right now and knew it wasnt right. Sure enough right after i watched your video they asked for my email.

[ingrid_inthesky]

I had an inkling and you proved me right. I almost got scammed. He won't write back and he already had a story.

[aeoluscaptainfantastic]

I've reported scam accounts and Facebook does nothing about it

[bumgilligan]

This just happened to me when i listed my steam deck. The lady had a real fb account, but all the other tells were there. "I can't pick it up till tuesday, but i want to pay now" "i need your zelle and email". She even showed fake interest by asking why I was selling. Seemed weird a 50+ yo lady would be looking to buy a steam deck. And 2 other people tried it on me too, but they weren't trying to be as convincing

[snupjohn]

This happened to me, but i caught it. These "buyers" don't have a real FB page. BEWARE! 2 immediate replies, both scammers.

[namratapatnaik]

So good to know these things, thanks for posting

[donaldcodes]

One thing I’ve noticed as well is they never negotiate the price. Legit sellers will always try to get a deal.

I’ve been selling for about 10 years now through Craigslist, kijiji, fb marketplace, etc.

[geotancal]

Wow. Glad I watched the video. Great info. I almost fell for it but just like you said listen to your instincts.