At the moment, many Facebook users are reporting fraudulent advertisements in the Facebook Marketplace to our cooperation partner Watchlist-Internet. For example, gaming chairs are offered as gifts. The person only asks for 15 euros for shipping. The amount should be sent using PayPal's “Send Money to Friends” feature.

Criminals also lurk in Facebook Marketplace and other online marketplaces. If the owners of the advertised product want you to send goods or shipping costs using the PayPal “Send Money to Friends” function, you will be cheated! There is no buyer protection with the “Send money to friends” function! Therefore, this function should never be used for transfers to unknown people!

How does the PayPal trick work in Facebook Marketplace?

Criminals advertise products in the marketplace using hijacked Facebook profiles or fake profiles. These are marked as “to be given away”. The sellers only charge a small amount for shipping – around 15 euros. This must be paid using PayPal’s “Send Money to Friends” feature.

Fraudulent Facebook ad in conjunction with PayPal
Screenshot of a fraudulent Facebook ad (Watchlist Internet)

However, anyone who pays loses their money and does not receive a product. PayPal cannot do anything in this case either, as buyer protection does not apply to “Send money to friends”. If your money ends up with fraudsters, PayPal cannot refund it. PayPal itself advises against using the “send money to friends” option on online marketplaces or classifieds platforms!

The PayPal trick is available in all common classifieds platforms! Therefore: Never use the “Send money to friends” function with strangers.

Have you been scammed?

Source: Watchlist Internet

Related to the topic: Transfer with PayPal – the right way!


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