Scam Type
Phishing Scam
Business Name Used
Venmo – Imposter
Date Reported
December 15, 2023
Postal Code
97005
Total Dollars Lost
$ 2000
Scam Description
I placed an ad on Facebook Marketplace to sell a sofa for $500. Received response saying they would pay me through Venmo so I gave my Venmo account name. I then received the following email that looked like it was from Venmo:
You have a pending payment of $500.We should be crediting your account now but we noticed the status of your Venmo account has been limited and not a business account, so it cannot be credited. An email has been sent to the buyer as well regarding the transaction, we need you to contact the buyer to send the additional in amount of $300.00 to your Venmo account so it can be expanded and change to a business account and you will be credited immediately with $800.00 into your account.
I sent money to what I thought was Venmo. I then received another email similar to that one with more money I had to pay in order to receive the $500 for the sofa plus reimbursement. At the time I had a lot on my plate so it took $2000 to realize I had been scammed.
