Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist Payment Scams: The Fake Screenshot Playbook
Fake payment screenshots, overpayments, "verification codes" and shipping excuses — the scams that hit online sellers, and a simple routine that stops them.
Selling locally online is convenient. It also attracts a small set of scams that repeat endlessly. Know them, and you will spot them in the first message.
1. The fake payment screenshot
The buyer "pays" with Zelle, Venmo, Cash App or PayPal and sends a screenshot. The image is edited, cropped or generated. Fix: never hand over an item until the payment shows in your own app or account.
2. The overpayment
"I paid too much by mistake — please refund the difference." The original payment is fake or will be reversed. Fix: never refund until the original payment has settled.
3. The verification code
"Send me the code you just received to prove you're real." The code lets the scammer take over an account or set up a number in your name. Fix: never share one-time codes.
4. The shipping excuse
A buyer who can't meet in person wants you to ship first, often with a fake "payment held until tracking" email. Fix: ship only after a confirmed, settled payment.
5. The cashier's check
A check for more than the price, with a request to send back the change. See the overpayment check scam.
A seller's routine
- Agree on the payment method in advance.
- Confirm the payment in your own account — not from an image.
- Meet in a public place for local sales.
- Keep the conversation in the platform's messages.
If you sell at volume
For shops and resellers handling many payment proofs, ThisVerify checks screenshots for edits and misleading statuses in under a minute — a fast filter before you verify.
FAQ
What is the safest way to get paid on Marketplace?
A payment you can confirm in your own account before handing over the item, using a method whose seller protections you understand.