Facebook deals, minus the scams

Why Facebook Marketplace is scammer territory

Facebook Marketplace connects you with strangers using profiles that are often fake, stolen, or days old. The classic scam: a too-good price, a seller who "needs a deposit to hold it" or "send delivery fee first", then silence. By the time you realize, the account is deleted.

How escrow changes the deal

• Found something on Marketplace? Agree the item, price and delivery with the seller.
• Create the escrow transaction — item description, both M-Pesa numbers, amount, deadline. Under a minute.
• Pay into escrow — the seller gets SMS & WhatsApp proof that payment is secured.
• Receive and verify the item — then release. If nothing arrives, your money stays in escrow and a dispute can be raised.

The tell that never fails

Propose escrow to any Marketplace seller. A genuine seller accepts instantly — their payment is guaranteed. A scammer will make excuses, push for "small deposit first", or disappear. Their reaction is itself a filter.

Also works for

Jiji, Instagram shops, WhatsApp vendors, Telegram sellers — any social commerce deal where you're buying from someone you don't know.