The first message I got on a $750 listing was from a guy named "Daniel" who wanted to send me a Google verification code "just to make sure I was a real person."
I am a real person. Daniel was a script.
Two minutes later, "Sarah" wanted my Zelle so she could "send the payment right now" for an item she hadn't asked a single question about. Another script.
By the end of the first hour I'd heard from four scammers and zero buyers.
Local online selling is plagued by a major trust crisis. Estimates suggest that nearly a third of all listings on open classified sites are fraudulent or spam.
If you list an item for sale, you're often targeted by scammers before a single real buyer reaches out. They want your phone number, your email, or your home address, and they use automated scripts to try to trick you.
If you want to sell your items locally without exposing your personal information, you need to know how these scams operate and how to spot them instantly.
The Most Common Resale Scams
Scammers rely on speed and confusion. Here are the three most common tactics used on platforms like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist:
1. The Phone Number / Verification Code Scam
A buyer messages you and says, "I want to make sure you are a real person and not a scammer. Can I send a Google verification code to your phone? Just text me the code back."
- The reality: They're trying to use your phone number to set up a Google Voice account or access one of your personal accounts. Once you send them the code, they use your number to scam others anonymously.
- The rule: Never share a phone number or send verification codes to a buyer. Real buyers do not need a code to verify you.
2. The "Relative with a Cashier's Check" Scam
You list a high-value item, and someone immediately offers to pay your full asking price. They say, "I am out of town right now, but I will mail you a cashier's check. My brother/agent will pick up the item once the check clears."
- The reality: The check is fake. It may look real and your bank might even credit your account initially, but weeks later the check will bounce, and the bank will claw back the money. By then, the scammer's courier has already walked away with your item.
- The rule: Only accept cash or secure digital payments in person at the time of pickup. Never accept mailed checks or prepaid couriers.
3. The Overpayment Scam
The buyer sends you a screenshot showing they sent you too much money via Venmo or Zelle (e.g., they sent $500 for a $50 item). They ask you to send the difference back.
- The reality: The screenshot is edited or the payment was sent from a stolen account. Any money you send back comes out of your pocket, and the original payment will eventually be reversed.
- The rule: Verify your own banking app to see if the funds actually arrived. Never rely on screenshots or emails sent by the buyer.
How to Protect Your Privacy and Address
To coordinate a local pickup, you eventually have to tell the buyer where to go. That's a real security risk if you're messaging strangers.
Here's how to manage local sales safely:
- Meet in public for small items: If you're selling a phone, a camera, or a designer jacket, meet at a busy coffee shop or a police station parking lot. Many stations have dedicated, camera-monitored "swap spots" for online transactions.
- Verify email identities: Scammers use temporary, throwaway profiles. ClearList forces buyers to pass email verification via a 6-digit code before they can even make a reservation. This single step eliminates automated bots.
- Use dynamic address sharing: Never post your street address in a public listing description or send it to casual inquiries in chat. ClearList keeps your address hidden until a verified buyer has reserved your item and booked an approved pickup slot on your calendar.
Keep your transactions local, keep your address hidden until the last moment, and don't move off the platform to text.
Daniel and Sarah can go bother someone else.
Learn More About Secure Local Sales.
Frequently asked questions
How do I outsmart an online scammer on Facebook Marketplace?
Three rules cover 95% of cases. Never share a phone number or Google verification code with a buyer. Never accept mailed cashier's checks. Never trust payment screenshots; only trust funds visible in your own banking app. If a buyer pushes you off-platform to text or email, that alone is a red flag.
How do I avoid scam buyers online?
Verify buyer identity through email confirmation before sharing your address. Meet in public for small high-value items (camera-monitored police station swap spots are increasingly common). Don't post your home address in the listing. Don't accept payment via mailed checks or "overpayment" Zelle transactions.
What is the Google verification code scam?
A "buyer" asks you to verify you're a real person by sending you a Google code. They claim they need you to text the code back. The code is being used to register a Google Voice account using your phone number, which they then use to scam others. Real buyers never need a verification code from you.
What is the cashier's check scam?
A buyer offers full asking price for a high-value item and asks to mail you a cashier's check, with a courier picking up the item once the check "clears." The check is fake. Your bank may credit the account initially but reverses weeks later, after the courier and item are gone. Cash or in-person digital only.
How do I keep my address private when selling locally?
Don't post it. Don't share it in chat until pickup is confirmed. Use a tool that releases the address only after a verified buyer books a pickup slot. ClearList does this by default; the public listing never contains your address.
Related reading: ClearList vs. Craigslist: the safe, organized way to declutter your whole house and ClearList vs. Facebook Marketplace.