Why Do Scammers Want To Use Zelle on Facebook Marketplace?!
Zelle is a payment application that is similar to apps like Venmo, Paypal, CashApp, etc. The only difference is that it allows users to send money directly from their bank to the recipient’s bank with no middleman. Typically when sending/receiving money through Zelle, you are using your own bank’s app if they have it integrated or you are using your bank’s login to sign in on the Zelle app.
Zelle is a legitimate app and is not a scam by itself.
There are a few different scams that people are running on Facebook Marketplace right now, but the most common one is the ‘Business Account’ scam.
If you list something that is of high value, say over $200 dollars (but a lot of times, a lot more!), a buyer might contact you and request to purchase using Zelle. They’ll ask you for your email address (this is a common way to send on Zelle) and you will receive a fake email from that looks like it’s from Zelle. The email address will seem legit but will not be from Zelle.
The exact verbiage will vary, but the email will basically say that the buyer sent the money from a Zelle Business Account and that the seller (you) will also have to upgrade to a Zelle Business Account to receive the money.
The catch is that the fee to upgrade your account is typically a few hundred dollars. The email will probably have poor English and lots of grammar mistakes.
The scammer will then let you know that they received an email too and they sent enough money to cover both the item they are purchasing and the upgrade fee.
You might think - this isn’t so bad! You will see in the initial (fake) email that you have “$X pending” and you’ll see that it truly is enough to cover the item and the upgrade fee.
They will then ask you to reimburse them for the upgrade fee (typically around $200) and they are hoping that you won’t check your account first to see that the money never actually came through. So when you reimburse them for the $200 upgrade fee, you are sending them real money from your account that cannot be returned. They will give you tons of screenshots as documentation to make it seem legit, tell you the money will appear your account after midnight… anything to convince you to send them money on your own accord. Do not send these people any money. If the conversation you are having seems to be heading in this direction, STOP COMMUNICATING and block them.
Zelle Business Accounts are a legitimate thing - but most banks don’t offer it unless you have a business account with them. You will never be asked to sign up for a Zelle Business Account just for selling expensive items on Facebook.
Never give a buyer online your email address or phone number.
Another common scam is to call you pretending to be your bank, tricking you into giving them your bank password. From there, they can just log in and send the money themselves. Never give your password over the phone or email to ANYONE. Your bank will NEVER! ask for this information.
If someone is overpaying for an item, they are probably not legit.
You list an item for $500, but a buyer contacts you and gives a long winded story about how they are out of state and need to have it shipped to them so they will pay you an additional $500 on top of the purchase price to cover shipping. This is not real. They will send you an echeck (or even mail you one!) for $1,000 and it might even clear in your account and show up in your balance. They might ask what bank you have - this is to make sure that they don’t send a fake check from the same bank and it will take longer to bounce. This check WILL bounce and the money will be removed from your account within days or weeks. They will then say they no longer want the item and ask you to refund them either a portion or the entire amount via Zelle. When you send them money, it will come out of your real money. Again, even if that $1,000 shows up in your balance, it will be removed within a few days and whatever money you send them will not be returned.
They might also claim they accidentally sent too much money. Same deal as above, never refund them out of your own account.
Pro Tip: Set up 2FA (two-factor authorization) on your Zelle in case your account is compromised.
If you do fall for a scam and accidentally give access to your Zelle account, this will protect you!
If it seems fishy, trust your gut!
So many people have been messaging me with their stories of being scammed on Facebook Marketplace… please listen to your gut! We’ve all probably sold items many times online and you should know how a typical transaction flows. ALWAYS be cautious when dealing with people you don’t know!
Unfortunately, Zelle has it’s downside: you cannot get your money back once it’s sent.
The banks treat it like it’s cash - once it’s sent, there is no way to get it back to your account, even if you are scammed. Zelle is not meant for purchasing goods and services so there is no protection for transactions in which the item is ‘not as described’ or even not delivered. The only time that you could be refunded for a Zelle transaction is if your account is hacked and the money is sent without your authorization. Getting a refund this way is extremely rare and will likely trigger an investigation. If you are scammed, don’t try to tell your bank that you didn’t authorize the transaction as that is considered fraud.
On the bright side, if you sell an item, the buyer cannot file a chargeback once the money is taken out of their account.
Like I said, the bank treats it like cash so once the money is in your account, it’s yours! You do not need to worry about the money being removed days or even weeks after the transaction if it is sent through Zelle. If they send it to you by check (online or physical) you could be getting scammed.
So how should I take payment on Facebook Marketplace?
I recommend Venmo or CashApp, but scammers can still try similar tactics so never give out your email address or phone number. Don’t fall for fake emails pretending to be one of those apps! Always do your research and be cautious.
If you want more information on flipping furniture and selling it on Facebook Marketplace, check out my course:
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