Online marketplaces are convenient for shopping but are prime targets for scammers. Facebook Marketplace is currently the most reported platform for online buying scams, accounting for 93% of reports in some studies. Other frequently targeted platforms include eBay, Instagram, TikTok Shop, and Gumtree.

Wise +4

Top Marketplaces Where Scams Occur

• Facebook Marketplace: Dominates due to the anonymity of profiles, lack of robust transaction oversight, and high volume of used goods (like cars and electronics).

• Instagram/TikTok Shop: Scammers set up fake business profiles or use sponsored ads offering goods at heavily discounted prices.

• eBay: Known for auction rip-offs, shipping scams, and phishing attempts to gain personal info.

• Gumtree: Frequently used for local classifieds scams where sellers may disappear after payment.

• Fake Websites/Cloned Sites: Scammers create websites that look like reputable brands (e.g., Amazon, popular apparel stores).

  Facebook +5

Common Marketplace Scam Tactics

• Fake Payment Confirmation (Seller Scam): A "buyer" sends a forged email or screenshot showing they paid, hoping the seller ships the item before verifying their bank balance.

• Non-Delivery of Goods (Buyer Scam): The buyer pays, usually via wire transfer or gift card, but never receives the item.

• Overpayment Scam: The buyer sends too much money, then asks the seller to refund the difference, but the original payment is later revealed to be fake (stolen credit card or fake cheque).

• Rental/Property Scams: Fake property listings for rent or sale designed to steal security deposits or viewing fees.

• Verification Code/Phishing: Scammers claim they need a "verification code" to prove you are real, but actually use it to hijack your account.

• Counterfeit Goods: Products sold are significantly lower quality than advertised or are broken, especially in electronics.

  Wise +4

Spent the last 2 weeks screenshotting every scam attempt in BW Buy & Sell groups. The numbers are wild:

47 scam attempts in 14 days. Just in Gabs.

The playbook is always the same:

1. Post a phone/laptop at a price too good to be true

2. Demand Orange Money upfront — "I'm not in Gabs, send money first"

3. Block the buyer after payment hits

Or the reverse — buyer says "I'll pay after delivery" then ghosts with the item.

The real problem isn't bad people. It's that there's zero infrastructure for safe peer-to-peer transactions in Botswana. PayPal doesn't work here. No one trusts bank transfers with strangers. And Orange Money has no buyer protection.

So we built something simple: an escrow service for Facebook Marketplace deals.

Buyer pays us → Seller delivers → Buyer has 24hrs to inspect → We release funds.

Both sides are protected. The person holding the money (us) has no incentive to scam either party — our entire business depends on trust.

Starting with Gaborone. Small deals first (under P5,000). Building trust one transaction at a time.

If you've been burned buying or selling on Facebook in BW, you know exactly why this exists.