Berkley Public Safety warns of PayPal impersonation scams on Facebook Marketplace
Scammers pose as PayPal on Facebook Marketplace and trick sellers into calling fake customer service numbers during payment disputes.
How it works
A buyer on Facebook Marketplace contacts a seller about a purchase and claims there is a payment problem. The scammer then provides a fake PayPal customer service phone number. When the seller calls the number, they reach the scammer, who extracts payment information or convinces them to send money to resolve a fake issue.
Red flags to watch for
- Buyer contacts you with sudden PayPal verification or payment problem during sale
- They provide a phone number to call instead of directing you to PayPal.com
- The number does not match official PayPal contact info on the real website
- Urgency or pressure to resolve the issue quickly to complete the sale
- Request for payment, refund, or account details through the fake number
What to do
Do not call any phone number a buyer gives you. Instead, hang up and go directly to PayPal.com or the official app to check your account and contact support. If you list items for sale, use only the official payment service contact information from their website. Report the suspicious buyer to Facebook Marketplace and to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
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Source: WXYZ ABC Detroit. Scam Sentinel summarizes this news report in plain language; it is a decision aid, not a guarantee.