Facebook Scams: Fake Profiles, Marketplace and Messenger

Social media connects us with family, old friends and our communities. It also gives scammers a direct line to millions of people. According to the Federal Trade Commission, people reported losing $2.1 billion to scams that started on social media in 2025 — about eight times the 2020 figure. And more money was lost to scams that started on Facebook than on any other platform.

This guide explains the Facebook scams you are most likely to see, and the simple habits that protect you.

The numbers behind Facebook scams

The FTC’s April 2026 Data Spotlight found that in 2025:

• Nearly 30% of people who reported losing money to a scam said it started on social media.
• People reported far more money lost to scams on Facebook alone than they reported losing to text or email scams. WhatsApp and Instagram were a distant second and third.
• Investment scams caused the biggest losses — $1.1 billion, more than half of the money lost on social media.
• Shopping scams were the most-reported type. More than 40% of people who lost money on social media said it started with an ad.
• Nearly 60% of people who reported losing money to a romance scam said it started on social media.

The FTC notes that most scams are never reported, so the real numbers are likely higher.

Scam #1: Fake ads and shops

You see an ad for a brand-name product at a deep discount, or a small shop with beautiful photos. You order, pay — and nothing arrives, or what arrives is cheap and nothing like the picture. The FTC says most people who lost money to a social media shopping scam paid for things that simply never arrived.

Why does this keep happening? The FTC warns that social media platforms don’t always thoroughly vet the ads you see or the advertisers behind them. Anyone can pay for ads, including scammers impersonating real brands or selling knock-offs. In August 2026 the FTC said people lost more than $95 million in 2025 to scams that began with an ad on social media.

How to protect yourself:

• Before buying, search the company’s name plus “scam” or “complaint.”
• Don’t rely on star ratings alone — the FTC says some reviews and ratings are fake or misleading.
• Pay by credit card. The FTC says that best protects you if something goes wrong, because you can dispute the charge.
• Never buy from a seller who insists on gift cards, a payment app, wire transfer or cryptocurrency.

For more checks, see how to tell if a website is legit.

Scam #2: Marketplace listings and fake rentals

Buying and selling with neighbors on Marketplace can be convenient, but scammers use it too. The FTC cites an analysis of fake rental listings that found about half were posted on Facebook. A common pattern: a home or item at a great price, an owner who can’t meet in person, and a request for a deposit or payment before you’ve seen anything.

Protect yourself by seeing items (and rentals) in person before paying, meeting in a safe public place, and refusing payment methods that can’t be reversed.

Scam #3: The hacked friend on Messenger

A message arrives from someone on your friends list: they’re stuck and need money, they want you to buy gift cards, or they send a link with “Is this you in this video?” Often, the friend’s account has been hacked.

EXAMPLE — SCAM

Today 6:47 PM●●● ▮

L Linda (Messenger) Text message

Hi! Sorry to bother you, I’m in a bit of a jam. My bank card isn’t working and I need to pay a bill today. Can you send $300 by payment app? I’ll pay you back tomorrow. Please don’t call, I’m at the hospital with my mom and can’t talk.

What to do: don’t click links or send money. Contact your friend another way — call the number you already have, or ask a mutual friend. If their account has been taken over, the FTC’s guide to hacked accounts says they should change their password, sign out of all devices, turn on two-factor authentication, check their recovery details, and warn their contacts to ignore pleas for money.

Scam #4: New “friends” who want to talk about money

Many romance and investment scams start with a friendly message or a comment on a post. After a while, the new friend moves the conversation to a messaging app and starts talking about their success with investing or cryptocurrency — and offers to help you do the same.

The FTC’s advice: don’t let someone you met on social media make your investment decisions. In August 2026 it also warned about “investment training” ads on social media that show luxury cars and trips; the FTC says no one can guarantee you’ll make lots of money with little to no risk, or guarantee to teach you how to trade successfully. See trading scam red flags and romance scams.

Scam #5: Fake “recovery” pages

If you’ve already lost money, scammers may find you again. In July 2026 the FBI warned that criminals create fake profiles and pages — often on Facebook Messenger and Telegram — pretending to be the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, sometimes even using AI-generated videos of FBI staff, and offering to recover lost money for a fee. The FBI says IC3 does not have a social media presence and never asks for payment to recover lost funds.

Protect your own Facebook account

• Lock down your privacy settings. The FTC recommends limiting who can see your posts and your contacts.
• Use a strong, unique password and turn on two-factor authentication.
• Check your recovery details so you can get back in if something goes wrong.
• Be careful what you share publicly, such as your birthday, travel plans and family names — details scammers can use to sound convincing.

How to report a Facebook scam

• Report the ad, profile, page or message to Facebook using the platform’s built-in report options.
• Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov — the FTC asks people to report fake or scammy ads and any money lost to them.
• If you lost money, contact your bank or card company right away and also report to the FBI at IC3.gov. Our first-hour checklist covers each payment method.