Buying on Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace is convenient for local pickups, but it has no built-in buyer protection — the burden of verification is entirely on you.
Upload a screenshot of the Facebook Marketplace listing
We attach it to your report so you have a record of what was advertised next to the bank-account check.
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Next: pick the level of check, then we'll collect the bank details from the seller.
In 2025, over £1.2 billion was stolen by fraudsters in the UK, according to UK Finance. Verify before you pay.
What we check
5 checks across the UK's most-trusted data sources, run in under 30 seconds.
Confirmation of Payee
Bank account matches the payee name
Companies House
Company registered & active
VAT verification
VAT number valid
DVLA Vehicle Check
Make, year, tax & MOT status
Seller Reviews
Reputation on Google, Trustpilot & more
Sellers on Marketplace aren't vetted by Facebook, and most listings happen between strangers paying by bank transfer. If something goes wrong after you've sent money, neither Facebook nor your bank will usually cover you.
Tips before you transfer
Verify the bank account before you transfer
Run a Confirmation of Payee check on the account name the seller gives you. A mismatch is the single strongest fraud signal we see.
Look at the seller's profile age
Brand-new accounts with no friends and no posting history are a red flag — established scammers create fresh profiles to dodge bans.
Insist on viewing the item in person
For anything over £100, refuse to pay before seeing it. A seller who won't meet should be assumed to be a scammer until proven otherwise.
Don't pay via 'gift' on PayPal or bank transfer for goods
Both bypass dispute mechanisms. If a seller insists on these methods for a non-trivial purchase, walk away.
Common scam patterns
- Listing photos stolen from a legitimate Gumtree or AutoTrader advert
- Seller pretends to be 'overseas' and asks for delivery payment up front
- Account name on the bank transfer doesn't match the seller's profile name
- Listed price is suspiciously below the market rate for the item
UK marketplaces compared
Buyer protection and top scam pattern for each of the six UK marketplaces we cover.
| Marketplace | Buyer protection | Off-platform payment | Top scam pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Facebook Marketplace | None | Standard — bank transfer / cash | Bank account name mismatch |
| eBay | Money Back Guarantee (on-platform payments) | Common when sellers push direct payment | Fake 'second-chance offer' emails |
| Gumtree | None | Standard | Reused photos from other listings |
| AutoTrader | Trader-listed only (private sales unprotected) | Standard for private sales | Shipping middleman for a car that doesn't exist |
| Checkatrade | Trade vetting; no payment cover | Standard — direct to the trade | Compromised email — invoice bank details swapped |
| Preloved | None | Standard | Recently created seller account, no history |
Frequently asked
- How do I check if a seller on Facebook Marketplace is genuine?
- Run the bank account they've given you through Confirmation of Payee — a mismatch between the account holder name and the seller is the strongest fraud signal you'll get. If they're trading as a company, cross-check the number against Companies House and confirm any VAT number with HMRC. All three checks run in under a minute at whoamipaying?.
- What are the biggest scams on Facebook Marketplace?
- Listing photos stolen from a legitimate Gumtree or AutoTrader advert. Seller pretends to be 'overseas' and asks for delivery payment up front These patterns show up on almost every UK marketplace — the platform-specific twist is usually how the seller pressures you off-platform or asks for direct bank transfer.
- Is it safe to pay by bank transfer on Facebook Marketplace?
- Bank transfer offers no built-in buyer protection — once the money's sent it's rarely recoverable, even if fraud is proven later. If you have to use it, verify the payee bank account matches the seller's name first. For higher-value items, use a card or an escrow service so Section 75 / chargeback rights apply.
- What should I do if I've already paid a scammer?
- Contact your bank immediately to attempt a recall on the transfer, then report the fraud to Action Fraud (0300 123 2040 or actionfraud.police.uk) and to the platform. The faster you act, the higher the chance your bank can freeze the funds under the Contingent Reimbursement Model.
- Does whoamipaying? cost anything to try?
- The first check is £2.50 with no account required. Multi-check packs bring the cost down to £1.43 per check, and business accounts get volume rates from around £0.70. There's no subscription — you top up when you need to.
Related reading
Verify before you transfer
Enter the bank details from the invoice and we'll show you what we can verify in seconds. No account needed to pay.
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