Updated January 2026: This guide has been completely rewritten with fresh data from our fraud database, including 2,277 documented marketplace scam cases and real victim stories.
Yes, you can absolutely get scammed on LetGo, OfferUp, and Facebook Marketplace. Our database of 2,277 marketplace scam reports reveals the exact tactics criminals use – and how to protect yourself.
Peer-to-peer selling apps promise great deals on secondhand items. But scammers have infiltrated these platforms, stealing thousands of dollars from unsuspecting buyers and sellers. This guide exposes the real scams happening right now, backed by documented cases from ScamWarners’ fraud database.
The Hard Numbers: Marketplace Scam Statistics
Based on our analysis of scam reports spanning 2007-2026:
- 2,277 documented marketplace scam cases
- 477 vehicle-related marketplace scams
- 369 overpayment scam attempts
- 665 fake PayPal/payment confirmation scams
- 359 cases where items were never shipped
The most common payment methods scammers request: wire transfers (490 cases), cryptocurrency (27 cases), and gift cards (11 cases) – all untraceable and non-refundable.
Real Victim Stories From Our Database
The Wedding Dress Scam
“I’m devastated and have come to this website begging for help. I went on Facebook Marketplace to sell my wedding dress. We needed extra financial relief because of COVID…”
A seller agreed to sell her wedding dress for $1,200 to someone named “Thomas Cornea.” The buyer said he’d add $100 for shipping. He sent what appeared to be a PayPal payment confirmation – but it was a sophisticated fake email designed to look exactly like PayPal. The seller shipped her dress. The payment never arrived. She lost her wedding dress and received nothing.
Red flags ignored: Buyer offered to pay MORE than asking price. Buyer wanted item shipped rather than local pickup. Payment “confirmation” came via email, not the PayPal app.
The Military Deployment Vehicle Scam
This scam appears repeatedly in our database with nearly identical wording:
“I am selling this car because I am in the military and my unit will be sent out of country. I don’t want it to get old in my garage. The price is low because I need to sell it before next month…”
We’ve documented this exact script used with Jeep Wranglers, Toyota Tacomas, Honda Accords, Mercedes-Benz GLKs, and Winnebago RVs. The scammer claims they’ll ship the vehicle through “Facebook Marketplace Shipping” or “eBay Buyer Protection” – services that don’t exist for private vehicle sales.
The Fake Vehicle History Report Scam
A newer variation targets sellers rather than buyers:
“MotoVINReports.com is a vehicle history report scam website that targets people selling their cars online. The scammers pose as interested buyers and request a vehicle history report from the specific website before agreeing to purchase the car.”
The “buyer” insists you get a VIN report from their specific website (which they control). You pay $39 for a worthless fake report. The buyer disappears. The scammer pockets your money.
5 Most Common LetGo, OfferUp & Marketplace Scams
1. The Overpayment Scam (369 documented cases)
How it works: A buyer sends a check for MORE than your asking price, then asks you to wire back the difference. The check bounces days later, but your wire transfer is gone forever.
Warning signs:
- Offers to pay more than listing price
- Asks you to send money back via wire, Zelle, or gift cards
- Claims the “extra” is for movers, shipping, or a third party
- Won’t meet in person
2. The Fake Payment Confirmation (665 documented cases)
How it works: Buyer claims to have sent PayPal, Venmo, or Zelle payment. You receive an official-looking email “confirming” the payment. You ship the item. The email was fake – no money ever entered your account.
Warning signs:
- Payment notification comes via email, not the app itself
- Email says payment is “pending” until you ship
- Buyer pressures you to ship immediately
- Sender email address doesn’t match official domain
3. The Non-Delivery Scam (359 documented cases)
How it works: You pay for an item. The seller provides a fake tracking number or simply disappears. The item never arrives.
One victim reported: “I was scammed on Facebook Marketplace by Michel Van Scheut from Belgium. Paid €80 for an Apple TV 4K including shipping. Never got it and now Michel no longer responds to my messages. Facebook is not doing anything about it.”
4. The Fake Escrow/Shipping Protection Scam
How it works: Scammer claims to use “Facebook Marketplace Buyer Protection” or “OfferUp Shipping Protection” for high-value items like vehicles. They direct you to a professional-looking but fake website to make payment.
Reality: Neither Facebook Marketplace nor OfferUp offers escrow services for private vehicle sales. Any “protection program” for cars is a scam.
5. The Code Verification Scam
How it works: A “buyer” asks for your phone number to verify you’re real. They then trigger a Google Voice or two-factor authentication code to your phone. They ask you to share the code “to prove you’re not a scammer.” Now they’ve hijacked your phone number or account.
How To Protect Yourself on LetGo, OfferUp & Marketplace
For Sellers:
- Meet in person at a safe location – Police stations often have designated “safe exchange zones”
- Accept cash only for local sales – No checks, no “I’ll send extra for shipping”
- Never ship before confirming payment in your actual account – Log into PayPal/Venmo directly, don’t trust email confirmations
- Be suspicious of buyers who can’t meet – Military deployment, out of town, sending a “mover” are classic scammer excuses
- Don’t accept overpayments – No legitimate buyer pays more than asking price
For Buyers:
- Inspect items in person before paying – If they won’t meet, don’t buy
- For vehicles, get your own VIN check – Use official services like Carfax, never a site the seller recommends
- Use in-app payment when available – OfferUp’s in-app payments offer some buyer protection
- Research too-good-to-be-true prices – A $5,000 car worth $15,000 isn’t a deal, it’s a scam
- Never wire money or send gift cards – These payments are untraceable and non-refundable
What To Do If You’ve Been Scammed
- Report to the platform – LetGo, OfferUp, and Facebook all have fraud reporting
- File a police report – Required for many fraud claims
- Report to the FTC – ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- Report to IC3 – The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center
- Contact your bank immediately – You may be able to stop or reverse payments
- Document everything – Screenshots of conversations, payment confirmations, profile pages
- Report the scammer – Post details on ScamWarners to warn others
Frequently Asked Questions
Is LetGo safe to use?
LetGo (now merged with OfferUp) can be safe if you follow precautions: meet in person, accept cash only, and never ship items to strangers. The platform itself isn’t the problem – it’s scammers who exploit buyer/seller trust.
Can you get scammed on OfferUp?
Yes. Our database shows hundreds of OfferUp scams involving fake payments, non-delivery, and overpayment schemes. OfferUp’s in-app payment system offers better protection than external payments, but it’s not foolproof.
How do I know if a buyer is scamming me?
Major red flags: offering more than asking price, refusing to meet in person, asking you to ship items, sending payment “confirmations” via email, requesting verification codes, or using urgency tactics like “I’m deploying tomorrow.”
Will PayPal protect me on marketplace purchases?
PayPal’s Buyer Protection has limitations for peer-to-peer sales. More importantly, scammers send FAKE PayPal emails – always log directly into PayPal.com to verify any payment before shipping.
What is the safest way to sell on Facebook Marketplace?
Cash-only, in-person transactions at a police station safe exchange zone. Never ship to strangers, never accept checks, never send money back for “overpayments.”
The Bottom Line
Marketplace apps like LetGo, OfferUp, and Facebook Marketplace aren’t inherently dangerous – but they’re hunting grounds for scammers who know the platform well. Our database of 2,277 documented cases proves these scams are common, follow predictable patterns, and are completely avoidable if you know the warning signs.
The golden rule: If a deal requires you to trust a stranger with your money or item before you can verify them in person, walk away.
Have you encountered a marketplace scam? Report it on ScamWarners to help protect others.