A Listing With Your Name On It

A message pops up on your phone asking, "Is this still available for purchase?" Attached to the message is a picture of what appears to be a Facebook Marketplace listing with your name listed as the seller. Your first thought may be, "That isn't me!" and you might feel tempted to reply right away to try to fix the situation.

But this message is actually a scam! The listing is fake, and cybercriminals are counting on you to reply. If you reply to this message, it shows that your phone number is active. An active phone number can be sold to other scammers, who will use it to try to hack your device or take over your Facebook account.

Follow these tips to avoid falling victim to this fake Facebook Marketplace listing scam:

• Don’t reply to unexpected messages from people you don’t know, even if you want to correct a mistake.
• If you know the sender but receive a suspicious message, verify it with the sender through a different communication method.
• Limit the personal information you share publicly. Cybercriminals can use details like your name to make their messages seem more believable.