Fake Online Stores in Costa Rica
Fraudulent e-commerce operations target Costa Rican shoppers on Facebook Marketplace and Instagram, collecting SINPE Móvil payments then delivering nothing.
Part of: Fake Online Stores
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Online marketplace fraud is widespread in Costa Rica, where Facebook Marketplace is the dominant platform for private sales of electronics, furniture, and clothing. Scammers create convincing seller profiles — sometimes purchasing verified accounts — and use SINPE Móvil as the exclusive payment method, knowing it offers no buyer protection.
COPROCOM (Costa Rica's competition regulator) and MEIC (Ministerio de Economía) handle consumer protection complaints, but recovery of SINPE Móvil funds is rarely achieved.
How this scam works on Costa Rica
A Facebook Marketplace or Instagram seller lists popular items — smartphones, game consoles, kitchen appliances — at 20–40% below retail price. Communication moves to WhatsApp, where the seller creates urgency ('otro comprador esperando') and requests SINPE Móvil payment to their number before delivery.
After payment, the seller provides a fake tracking number, delays with excuses about the courier, then blocks the buyer. Some variants involve delivery of a box filled with rocks or an entirely different low-value item.
Sellers occasionally use Costa Rican government-assistance themed messaging — claiming to sell items purchased with government subsidies at a discount — to explain low prices and add false credibility.
Common red flags
- Price dramatically below Tienda Rex, Walmart CR, or comparable retail platforms
- Seller insists on SINPE Móvil payment with no alternative
- Seller rushes transaction with urgency about other buyers
- Seller profile created recently or purchased from a previous user
- Tracking number provided leads to a non-functional page
- No physical address for collection available
How to protect yourself
- Prefer in-person transactions for marketplace purchases — meet in a safe public location
- Use platforms with buyer protection (MercadoLibre Costa Rica) for higher-value items
- Avoid SINPE Móvil payments to unknown sellers — there is no chargeback
- Request a video call showing the exact item before payment
- Search the seller's SINPE number or name plus 'estafa' on Facebook before proceeding
- Report suspicious ads to Facebook Marketplace using in-platform reporting
How to report it
- Report to the OIJ at oij.go.cr for fraud complaints
- File a consumer protection complaint with MEIC at meic.go.cr
- Notify your bank about the fraudulent SINPE number to flag the account
Frequently asked questions
Is there buyer protection on Facebook Marketplace in Costa Rica?
Facebook Marketplace does not offer financial buyer protection for private sales. For protected purchases, use MercadoLibre Costa Rica, which offers a buyer protection programme for eligible transactions.