Verify a Facebook message before you reply or click.
Scammers frequently abuse Facebook and Facebook Marketplace to run advance-fee fraud, clone accounts, and steal logins. Check the message before you let a friend's profile lower your guard.
Security Insight
Facebook Marketplace is one of the most common vectors for peer-to-peer payment scams (Zelle, CashApp), while Messenger is heavily used for phishing links.
Why Facebook messages deserve extra scrutiny
The illusion of personal connection makes Facebook a prime target for scammers. An account can be cloned, or a real account compromised, meaning a message from your 'aunt' might actually be from a criminal in another country.
A friend messages you about a grant or investment
A buyer wants to pay immediately but needs your email
You are asked to verify a code for a friend
You receive an 'Is this you in this video?' message
What IsThisSpam checks before you trust a sender
Quick verdicts are useful, but the real value is understanding why something looks safe, uncertain, or risky.
Account creation date
If a Marketplace buyer or a new friend request has a profile created just days or weeks ago, and zero other activity, treat them with extreme caution.
Impersonation patterns
Scammers clone profiles by downloading a user's public photos and creating a new account with the same name, then messaging the user's friend list.
High-pressure tactics
Marketplace buyers who are in a huge rush, claiming they need an item today but can't pick it up themselves, are almost always running a scam.
Context from the full message
The familiar profile picture is important, but a request to move the conversation off Facebook to text or WhatsApp is a major red flag.
Related guides
Use the checker for the fast answer, then read the deeper guidance for recurring scam patterns.
How to Spot a Facebook Marketplace Scammer
The 'Is This You?' Video Scam on Messenger
FAQ
These are the questions people usually ask right before they click, reply, or pay.
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Check the sender before you trust the message.
Start with a fast scan, then move to SuperScan when the message involves money, account access, or sensitive documents.