Scam targeting sellers on Facebook Marketplace in circulation in Montreal

Montreal sellers on Facebook Marketplace say they're adjusting to a new type of scam from deceptive buyers trying to seize their bank account through fake e-transfers.

Violaine Pelletier-Madsen, who sells her personal items on the popular platform, says she almost fell victim when she tried selling something to an individual who wanted her to put the product on hold. He offered to pay a deposit.

"I didn't look online to go see their profile," she said. "So I just took it for granted that this conversation goes well and I accepted the Interact transfer."

She clicked what looked like an e-transfer link but clicked out when it wasn't directing her to her official bank page or banking app.

It's a scenario cybersecurity expert Claudiu Popa says he sees often.

The scam, also known as reverse fraud, involves the scammer sending a link disguised with official-looking branding and asking the seller to input their banking information to claim the payment. Once the victim does so, the scammer gets access to their account and sends themselves an e-transfer. 

Popa says if the buyer expresses a sense of urgency, it should immediately set off alarm bells.

"You can put anything you want in that link. If you tell a person you're waiting for them, the vendor's going to click," he said.

The Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) says the scam seems to be relatively new in Montreal. 

In an email, the SPVM says seven cases of reverse fraud were reported between January and April 1, 2025, adding that no reports were recorded in previous years.

How to protect yourself

In April, the RCMP warned residents in Newfoundland and Labrador about the scam after receiving reports from defrauded victims. It says one thing to look out for are e-transfer emails from generic email providers like GMail, which financial institutions don't use.

Popa says phishing scams in general have been alive ever since e-commerce.

Sellers should beware of shortlinks or URL shorteners which can be used by the scammer to obscure long and obviously illegitimate websites, he says.

"If you see a banking or financial link, you do not click on those links. You go to the website that you know and trust and you log yourself in manually," said Popa.

Scammers also typically use a recently created Facebook profile using a common local name, according to the RCMP.

It's why thoroughly checking the buyer's social media profile has become part of Amy Johnson's e-safety routine. She's also a Facebook Marketplace seller and the owner of Piece to Grow Vintage in Montreal.

"You can see if people, even way back, have a history of photos, or friends," said Johnson, adding that having a mutual friend is usually a good sign. "Those are the kinds of things I'm looking for."

Pelletier-Madsen says seeing reviews on a buyer's profile from other sellers also puts her at ease. But, mainly she trusts her gut.  

"When I'm not comfortable with the transfer of money I'm like 'I know how it goes normally' and when it's just weird and not common, I start asking [myself] questions," she said.