Por Renan Filho · 2026-10-13**Lead**
A new wave of scams on Facebook Marketplace is targeting sports fans by using the victim’s own name to make fake listings appear legitimate. Fraudsters are creating listings for high-demand sports tickets, signed jerseys, and training equipment, then attaching the name of a real Facebook user — often a friend or mutual contact — to the seller profile. The scheme has been reported across multiple U.S. states, with victims losing hundreds of dollars before realizing the seller never existed.
**Contexto**
Facebook Marketplace has become a popular venue for buying and selling sports gear, from game-day tickets to collectible cards. Scammers have long exploited the platform, but the new tactic — using a real person’s name without their knowledge — adds a layer of deception that even savvy buyers can fall for. The scam typically begins when a user sees a listing for a sought-after item, such as a Super Bowl ticket or a signed LeBron James jersey, at a price that seems too good to pass up. The seller’s profile shows a name that matches someone the buyer knows or recognizes from a local sports group. In reality, the scammer has copied the name and profile photo from a legitimate user, often after hacking or scraping public data.
Once the buyer sends payment via Venmo, Cash App, or PayPal Friends and Family, the seller disappears. The item never arrives. The real person whose name was used often has no idea their identity has been hijacked until they receive angry messages from would-be buyers. The Federal Trade Commission has issued consumer alerts about impersonation scams on peer-to-peer marketplaces, but the sports angle is particularly effective because of the emotional urgency tied to game-day purchases. Sports fans are more likely to act quickly on a limited-time deal for playoff tickets or a rare autograph.
**Analise**
This scam exploits the trust inherent in social networks. By using a name that appears familiar — perhaps a fellow member of a fantasy football league or a parent from a youth soccer team — the fraudster bypasses the buyer’s natural skepticism. The sports context amplifies the risk: fans often search for tickets or merchandise during high-pressure windows, such as hours before a game or after a championship win. Scammers monitor these moments and post listings timed to maximize urgency.
The impact goes beyond financial loss. Victims who discover their name was used without consent face reputational damage and potential harassment. Some have reported being blocked from local sports buy-sell groups after other members mistook them for the scammer. Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, have noted an increase in marketplace fraud tied to major sporting events. However, the decentralized nature of Facebook Marketplace makes enforcement difficult. Facebook’s parent company Meta has said it uses automated systems to detect suspicious listings, but scammers constantly adapt by creating new accounts and using stolen identities.
**Fontes**
- Federal Trade Commission (FTC) consumer alerts on marketplace impersonation scams - Meta’s transparency reports on fraudulent activity on Facebook Marketplace - Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) public advisories on sports-related fraud - Consumer advocacy reports from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) on peer-to-peer payment scams