A Pennsylvania woman fell victim to two scams after trying to report fraud on Facebook Marketplace, leaving her waiting for replacement cards for 13 accounts.
A tractor listing catches her attention
Donna Shaak said she was scrolling through Facebook Marketplace when she saw a seller near her offering various items.
“Farm equipment, four-wheelers, tractors, lawnmowers, go-karts, all just outdoor fun activity stuff,” Shaak said.
One item caught her attention — a small Kubota tractor.
“So I saw the tractor, and I thought, oh, that would be nice for my hubby,” Shaak said.
A $200 deposit leads to trouble
Shaak reached out to the seller, who was Facebook friends with two of her family members, and sent a $200 deposit. Shortly after, the seller stopped communicating, and their profile disappeared.
“And, I thought this happened on Facebook, so I’m going to call Facebook right now and report her,” Shaak said.
A fake customer service number
Shaak searched for a Facebook customer service number on Google and called it. However, Facebook does not have a customer service phone number, and users must seek help through its website. Someone answered the number Shaak called, claiming to be with Facebook.
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The person told Shaak that the seller might have accessed everything on her phone.
“He kept repeating, I’m going to help you. I’m going to help you clarify this. I may even get your $200 back,” Shaak said.
Scammer gains access to 13 accounts
The caller then instructed Shaak to gather all her credit cards and account numbers, warning her that the seller might have the ability to access and use them.
“But what you’re going to have to do is get all your credit cards and your account numbers. Depending on what she did on your phone, she might have the ability to get to those numbers and use them,” Shaak said.
To protect her accounts, Shaak was told to provide her Social Security number and all her account details. She complied, sharing information for 13 different accounts.
“The caller asked us to go through all the cards that we had, read the numbers, and said he’s going to go in and cancel them,” Shaak said.
However, instead of canceling the cards, the caller stole the information. Shaak is now waiting for all her cards to be replaced.
How to avoid similar scams
Consumer investigator Brian Roche explained that Shaak was the victim of two separate scams: first through Facebook Marketplace and then by scammers who posted a fake customer service number online.
Roche advised that when buying items through social media sites, it is always best to deal with the seller in person.