“Zelle Scam – Facebook Marketplace” | #datingscams | #lovescams | #facebookscams

“Dear PoPville,

I just wanted to highlight a scam I recently encountered on Facebook Marketplace. I’m not sure how prevalent the approach is but thought I’d share in case others were targeted.

Essentially, a potential buyer contacts you on facebook marketplace and requests to purchase your item – with the caveat that they can only use Zelle. However, after the buyer “sends you the money” over Zelle, you receive an email from Zelle indicating that, in order to authorise the transaction, the buyer has to send you $200 that, upon receiving, you then send back. The buyer then claims this is because they are sending this through a business account and quickly “sends” you the $200 that they then demand back. However, if you inspect the emails you receive as this is taking place, one from ‘Zelle’ and one from a bank like Wells Fargo, they look cobbled together with various fonts, weird spacing, and an overall sketchy vibe. The money “sent” also never hits your account. I’d assume most people could spot this immediately, but wanted to share in case anyone is in a rush.”