The World Today
If you've ever tried to buy something on Facebook Marketplace, you've probably come across offers that seemed too good to be true. And they were. What began as a useful tool for connecting local buyers and sellers has, in many cases, become fertile ground for scams, fraud, and systematic deception. Today, more than 90% of what is offered in certain marketplace categories does not meet minimum standards of truthfulness, security, or traceability.
This article isn't looking for nuances: it's a straightforward indictment, based on hundreds of documented cases, victim testimonies, and digital behavior analysis. If you're thinking about using the Marketplace as a buying or selling channel, you should read this before you lose money, time, or your reputation.
The mirage of proximity: how Facebook sold trust and delivered chaos
Facebook promoted Marketplace as a natural extension of its social network : a space where you could buy and sell with real people, close to your area, with visible profiles and direct communication. The promise was tempting: avoiding intermediaries, saving commissions, and negotiating quickly.
But that proximity turned into vulnerability. By not requiring verification of identity, business reputation, or transaction history, Facebook opened the door to fake profiles, cloned accounts, and ghost sellers. Today, anyone can post a nonexistent product, use photos stolen from other sites, and disappear after receiving a deposit or advance payment.
Most common scams on Facebook Marketplace: from phantom cell phones to nonexistent rentals
Marketplace scams are as varied as they are creative. Some of the most common include:
- Selling stolen or non-existent cell phones : High-end models are advertised at tempting prices, a deposit is required to "reserve," and then the profile disappears.
- Fake rentals : Properties are offered with attractive photos, a deposit is requested to "secure a visit," and the visit never materializes.
- Clone appliances : Images from real stores are used, but the product never arrives.
- Motorcycles and cars with false documentation : Vehicles are sold with falsified papers or without physical existence at all.
- Fraudulent job postings : Jobs are posted requiring advance payments to “process admission” or purchase uniforms.
In all cases, the pattern is repeated: urgency, emotional pressure, low prices , and immediate disappearance after payment.
Where is Facebook? The lack of moderation and accountability
One of the most serious aspects of the problem is Facebook's systematic inaction. Despite receiving thousands of complaints every day, the platform fails to implement effective filters, require identity verification, or respond promptly to reports of fraud.
Reporting forms are generic, automated, and, in many cases, useless. Reported accounts remain active for weeks, and scammers simply create new profiles with different names. There is no traceability, no sanctions, and no real commitment to protecting users.
Facebook hides behind the claim that Marketplace is merely a "contact platform" and that it doesn't mediate transactions. But that excuse is no longer valid: when 90% of what's offered in certain categories is scam, negligence becomes complicity.
The algorithm as an accomplice: How Facebook Marketplace amplifies fraud
The Marketplace algorithm prioritizes posts with high engagement, regardless of whether that engagement comes from scammers, bots, or victims. This creates a perverse effect: fraudulent posts go viral faster than legitimate ones.
In addition, scammers use algorithmic manipulation techniques: they buy likes and fake comments, and use keywords to appear in popular searches. Facebook doesn't penalize these practices, and in many cases, rewards them with increased visibility.
The result is a toxic ecosystem, where misleading content has more reach than honest content. And where the average user has no real tools to distinguish between a legitimate offer and a scam.
Real testimonials: The human cost of digital fraud on Facebook Marketplace
The consequences of these scams are not only economic. People have lost their savings, been threatened, or suffered psychological damage for trusting a platform that presents itself as secure.
- "I paid him $5,000 for a refrigerator that never arrived. The profile disappeared, and Facebook didn't respond," says Mariana, a victim in Montevideo.
- "They offered me an apartment to rent in Pocitos. I sent the deposit, but they never responded. It was all fake," Andrés says.
- "I bought a motorcycle that turned out to be stolen. I ended up at the police station and had to pay lawyers," says Fabián.
These cases are repeated daily. And what's worse is that Facebook offers no redress mechanism, not even a human contact line for urgent cases.
Why is Facebook Marketplace still working? The normalization of fraud
One of the reasons why Marketplace continues to operate with impunity is the normalization of fraud. Many users now accept that "you have to be careful," that "you shouldn't pay in advance," and that "it's part of the game."
But this resignation is dangerous. Because it turns the victim into a passive accomplice and perpetuates a system where deception is the norm. Facebook benefits from this dynamic: the more posts there are, the more time users spend on the platform, and the more data is collected.
The company has no real incentive to clean up the ecosystem. Its business model doesn't depend on the quality of transactions, but on the volume of activity. And that turns the Marketplace into an institutionalized scam machine.
What should Facebook do? Urgent and possible measures
If Facebook really wanted to combat fraud on Marketplace, it could implement concrete measures:
- Mandatory identity verification for sellers.
- Public transaction history and reputation.
- Human moderation in sensitive categories such as rentals, vehicles, and electronics.
- Automatic blocking of profiles reported multiple times.
- Direct channel of attention for victims of fraud.
- Active digital education to prevent fraud.
But none of these measures have been effectively implemented. This shows that the problem isn't technical, but political and commercial.
What can you do? Strategies to protect yourself
If you're going to use the Marketplace, you have to accept that you're entering a minefield. Here are some basic recommendations:
- Never pay in advance.
- Verify the seller's identity.
- I asked for real photos, with specific details.
- Use traceable payment methods.
- Look for external references of the product.
- Report any suspicious behavior.
And above all, share your experience. The only way to combat fraud is to expose it, report it, and demand accountability.
Conclusion: Facebook Marketplace, the market of impunity
Marketplace could have been a powerful tool to democratize local commerce. But in its current state, it's a space dominated by scammers, where the company that manages it ignores its responsibilities.
When 90% of what's offered in certain categories is scam, we're no longer facing an isolated problem. We're facing a broken system, where negligence turns into complicity, and where users are left completely unprotected.
Facebook has the resources, the technology, and the power to change this reality. But until it does, Marketplace will remain what it is: a marketplace of impunity, where fraud is the norm.
Have you also been a victim of a Marketplace scam? Share your experience and help others avoid falling into the trap.
