Selling on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist and the "buyer" asks for a code or sends a link

Selling on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist and the "buyer" asks for a code or sends a link

You list a couch, a bike, or a phone on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, OfferUp, or Poshmark. Within minutes, a very eager buyer appears: they'll pay full price without seeing it, but they "can't meet in person," want you to receive payment through a link, or need you to read back a code "to make sure you're real." When a buyer asks for a code, sends a payment link, or wants you to pay a fee to get paid, it's a scam. Here's how to recognize it.

How does the fake buyer scam work?

These are the most common variants on US marketplaces:

• The verification code. The buyer says they've been scammed before and want to "verify" you with a code they'll text you. In reality, they're registering a Google Voice number (or another account) with your phone number, and the code is the key. They'll use that number for other scams.
• The fake Zelle or payment email. They say they've paid, and you get an email that looks like Zelle, PayPal, or your bank: "Payment pending. Your account must be upgraded to a business account to receive this amount." To "unlock" the payment, you're asked to send money. Real payment services don't do that.
• The payment or shipping link. They send a link to "receive the money" or "confirm shipping" through a supposed delivery service. The page imitates a real company and asks for your card details to "collect" the payment.
• The overpayment. They send a check or payment for more than the price and ask you to refund the difference. The original payment bounces later; your refund doesn't.
• The shipping agent. They're out of town and their "mover" or "shipping agent" will pick up the item, and you need to pay part of the shipping fee upfront.

How do I tell the buyer is fake?

• They don't ask about the item and accept the price straight away.
• They want to move the conversation off the platform to text, email, or WhatsApp.
• They can't meet in person and insist on shipping, often through an "agent."
• They ask for a verification code or your email to "send the payment."
• The payment arrives as an email, not in your account.
• You have to pay something to receive the money.
• New profile, few reviews, or a profile that doesn't match the conversation.

What do I do right now?

1. Never share a code sent to your phone, for any reason.
2. Don't click payment or shipping links sent by a buyer.
3. Check payments only in your own app or bank, never by email.
4. Keep the conversation on the platform, where the marketplace can see it if there's a problem.
5. Prefer in-person sales with cash or a payment you can see in your account, in a public place. Many police stations offer safe exchange zones.
6. Report the profile to the marketplace and block it.

What if I've already entered my details or a code?

• If you shared a Google Voice code: sign in to your Google account and check whether a Google Voice number is linked to your phone; reclaim it if possible, change your password, and turn on two-step verification.
• If you entered your card: call your card issuer immediately using the number on your card, block the card, and dispute any charges.
• If you sent money to "unlock" a payment: contact your bank or payment app and report it as fraud.
• If they have your personal information, follow the plan at IdentityTheft.gov.
• Save evidence: screenshots of the chat, the profile, the emails, and the links.

Where do I report it?

• To the marketplace, using its report tools.
• To the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• To the FBI's IC3 if you lost money.
• Phishing emails or texts can be reported as CISA explains in its guide to recognizing and reporting phishing. Forward scam texts to 7726 (SPAM).
• NoCall: report the number in the spam numbers directory.

Frequently asked questions

Why would a buyer want my phone number's code? Because it lets them create an account, often a Google Voice number, tied to your real phone. They use it to scam others while hiding their identity.

I got an email saying the buyer paid through Zelle, but there's nothing in my bank. What's going on? The email is fake. Zelle payments show up directly in your banking app, and there's no "upgrade" you need to pay for to receive them.

Is it safe to accept a cashier's check? Fake checks can look real and bounce days later. For private sales, cash in person or a payment you can confirm in your own account is safer.

In short

On any marketplace, three things give away a fake buyer: they ask for a code, they send a link to get paid, or you have to pay something to receive the money. Keep the conversation on the platform, check payments only in your own app, and report the profile. And report the number in the NoCall spam numbers directory so other sellers are warned.