Console Pre-order Marketplace Scam on Facebook Marketplace
Scammers list hard-to-find gaming console pre-orders or bundles on Facebook Marketplace at below-retail prices, collect payment, and never ship anything.
Part of: Console Preorder Marketplace Scam
Last reviewed: 5 July 2026
Every time a new games console launches, stock shortages send buyers hunting for guaranteed units, and Facebook Marketplace's local-first, low-friction listing format makes it a favorite hunting ground for people willing to pay a premium to skip the queue.
How this scam works on Facebook Marketplace
A listing appears offering a brand-new, sealed console 'pre-order slot' or launch-day unit, often with a stock photo pulled from the manufacturer's press kit and a price just low enough to look like a deal but not so low it seems fake. The seller's profile is usually new or recently repurposed, with few mutual friends and a short post history padded out with unrelated marketplace items to look established.
Because Marketplace nudges buyers toward Facebook Pay or off-platform payment for 'shipping' items, the scammer insists the console can't be picked up locally 'because it's still in the warehouse' and asks for payment via a money transfer app before promising to ship. Once paid, the seller either stops responding, sends a tracking number for an empty or unrelated package, or claims a delay and requests a second 'customs' or 'restocking' payment before disappearing entirely.
Common red flags
- Seller refuses local, in-person pickup and insists the item must be shipped
- Listing uses manufacturer stock photos instead of the seller's own pictures of the actual unit
- Seller profile was created recently or has no marketplace transaction history
- Price is noticeably below every other listing for the same in-demand console
- Seller pushes you to pay via a peer-to-peer app or bank transfer instead of Facebook Pay's checkout
- Urgency language claiming only one unit is left or the deal expires within the hour
How to protect yourself
- Only complete console purchases through Facebook Marketplace's own checkout and shipping protection, never a side conversation
- Insist on local pickup and meet in a public, well-lit location such as a police station lobby
- Reverse-image search the listing photos to check if they've been lifted from a retailer or another listing
- Check the seller's profile age, mutual friends, and prior sales before messaging
- Never send payment via a friends-and-family transfer for a stranger's item
- If a deal feels too good for launch-week stock, assume it is until proven otherwise
How to report it
- Use Facebook Marketplace's in-listing 'Report' or 'Report seller' option
- Report the seller's profile to Facebook for fraudulent activity
- File a complaint with your national consumer protection or fraud reporting agency
- If you paid via a money transfer app, report the transaction to the app's support team immediately
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to buy a console pre-order on Facebook Marketplace at all?
It can be, but only if you use Marketplace's built-in checkout and shipping, or meet the seller in person to inspect and pay for the item on the spot. Any request to pay separately before shipping is a major risk signal.
What should I do if I already sent payment for a console that never arrived?
Contact the payment app or bank immediately to report the transaction as fraud, save all chat logs and listing screenshots, and report both the seller and listing to Facebook.