Consumers need to be on high alert for a new Venmo email
scam circulating on Facebook Marketplace. Beth Freebairn from Center Valley,
Pennsylvania recently fell victim to this scam while trying to sell a chair for
$50 on the popular online marketplace.
The scam starts with the alleged buyer contacting the seller
through Facebook Marketplace as expected. However, red flags start to emerge
when it comes time to make the payment. The scammer sends an email posing as
Venmo, claiming the seller needs to upgrade their account from personal to
business by paying a fee. They pressure the seller to contact the person in the
email to complete the upgrade process.
There are several warning signs that this is a Venmo email
scam on Facebook Marketplace:
·
Venmo will only contact users from an @venmo.com
email address, never from a Gmail account as the scammers used.
·
Venmo does not require account upgrades or fees
to receive payments.
·
The scammer creates a false sense of urgency and
pressures the seller to act quickly.
Freebairn admits she missed these red flags in the moment
and ended up sending the scammer $300 via Venmo, thinking it was legitimately
going towards a business account upgrade. She wants others to learn from her
mistake and be vigilant when selling on Facebook Marketplace.
As more people turn to Facebook Marketplace and other online
platforms to buy and sell items, scammers are finding new ways to exploit
unsuspecting users. Here are some tips to protect yourself:
·
Only communicate and make transactions through
the official channels on Facebook Marketplace. Be wary of buyers wanting to
move the conversation off the platform.
·
Be suspicious of any emails claiming to be from
payment services like Venmo, especially if they ask you to click a link,
provide verification codes, or make additional payments. Always check the
sender's email address.
·
Don't let buyers pressure or rush you into a
sale. Take time to research the person you're dealing with.
·
Consider using an SMM panel to boost your
Facebook Marketplace posts and attract legitimate buyers. A reputable SMM panel
can help increase your item's visibility while weeding out scam accounts.
After the Action News Troubleshooters got involved and
contacted Venmo about Freebairn's case, Venmo was able to shut down the
scammer's account and resolve the issue. Freebairn got her $300 back and her
account was returned to good standing.
One way to increase your chances of a successful, scam-free
sale on Facebook Marketplace is by using a trusted SMM panel service like
TheTopTierSMM. We offer a variety of social media marketing services to safely
boost your posts and attract serious buyers.
With TheTopTierSMM, you can get more likes, followers, and
comments on your Facebook Marketplace listings from real accounts. Our SMM
panel uses cutting-edge techniques to enhance your online presence while
protecting you from scammers and bots.
Visit TheTopTierSMM today to learn how our SMM panel can
take your Facebook Marketplace selling to the next level. Don't let Venmo email
scams on Facebook Marketplace ruin your online selling experience. Partner with
the SMM pros and sell with confidence!