Mississippi deputies are warning Facebook Marketplace sellers about a payment scam that can leave victims without their vehicle, equipment, or the money they expected to receive.
The Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department said scammers are targeting people selling high-value items online, including vehicles, side-by-sides, and heavy equipment, according to WXXV.
The scam starts with someone posing as a buyer. Deputies said the person agrees to purchase the item, then pays with a counterfeit cashier’s check or a fraudulent ACH wire transfer.
By the time the seller learns the payment was fraudulent, the property may already be gone. In some cases, deputies said, the victim can still be left paying a note on a vehicle they no longer have.
The Scam Can Involve A Vehicle That Still Has A Loan
Darkhorse Press reported one version of the scheme involving a seller who still owes money to a bank or lender.
In that setup, the buyer agrees to pay off the amount owed through an ACH transfer, then pays the remaining balance with a cashier’s check. Deputies said the ACH transfer may be made with compromised or stolen bank information.
The transfer can look successful at first, giving the seller confidence to release the vehicle or equipment. Once the fraudulent transaction is discovered, the funds can be recalled. Deputies said that can happen within a day or take several weeks.
Deputies Say More Than One Person May Be Involved
The sheriff’s department said the scam can involve multiple people and more than one victim. One person may handle the online conversation, another may arrange the payment, and someone else may pick up the vehicle or equipment.
That structure can make the sale feel organized and legitimate while giving scammers time to move the property before the seller or bank confirms the payment was bad.
Pearl River County officials also warned that Facebook Marketplace scams can range from counterfeit goods to armed robbery, so both buyers and sellers are being urged to use caution.
The Risk Is Releasing Property Before Payment Is Final
The Federal Trade Commission warns that fake checks can look real, including cashier’s checks. The agency also says banks may make deposited funds available before discovering that a check is fake.
That delay is what makes this type of scam dangerous for sellers. A payment appearing in an account does not always mean the money is final, valid, or safe to rely on before handing over a vehicle.
For high-value sales, sellers should verify payment directly with their bank and avoid releasing property until the bank confirms the funds are final and cannot be reversed. A buyer who pressures the seller to move quickly, avoids normal verification, or uses a complicated payoff-and-cashier’s-check arrangement should raise concern.
Deputies Are Asking Victims To File Reports
Anyone in Pearl River County who believes they were targeted or victimized in this type of scam is asked to contact Central Dispatch at 601-749-5482 and file a report.
Do not hand over a title, keys, vehicle, side-by-side, or equipment just because a payment appears to have posted. Confirm the money through the bank first, especially when the buyer uses a cashier’s check, ACH transfer, or loan payoff arrangement.