Woman Loses $1,250 to Facebook Marketplace Phishing Scam After Trying to Sell Play Tent

A woman from Comox Valley on Vancouver Island is raising awareness about an online phishing scam after losing $1,250 while trying to sell a play tent for $40 on Facebook Marketplace.

Severine Nichols had posted her daughter's play tent on a local buy-and-sell group on Facebook Marketplace. A potential buyer quickly responded, asking to secure the item with an e-transfer and collect it later.

Nichols said the buyer’s profile appeared legitimate, complete with photos and signs of being a local user with children, which gave her confidence to proceed. When the buyer sent the e-transfer, it looked authentic and raised no immediate red flags.

The email prompted Nichols to input her banking details through what seemed like a normal e-transfer process. "It looked exactly like a regular e-transfer—nothing weird or suspicious," she said.

However, after submitting her information, an error message appeared. Nichols canceled the sale and informed the buyer, but moments later, she discovered an unauthorized e-transfer of $1,250 had been made from her account to an unknown recipient.

"The shock and then the tears—I immediately started having a panic attack," she recounted, adding that the loss was financially devastating as a part-time student.

Online Phishing Scams on the Rise

Phishing scams like this one are becoming increasingly common, according to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. Fraudsters create convincing fake emails and websites to steal victims’ banking details, allowing them access to personal accounts.

RCMP Const. Monika Terragni noted that this was the third reported case of its kind in Comox Valley this year. "The scammers are incredibly skilled at making these scams look real," she said, urging people to remain vigilant when engaging in online transactions.

Tips to Avoid Scams

To reduce the risk of falling victim to phishing scams, authorities recommend slowing down and thoroughly verifying the legitimacy of e-transfers. If possible, meet buyers in person in a public place and accept only cash.

Additionally, Terragni reminded users that even long-standing Facebook profiles could be hacked, making it difficult to detect fraudulent activity.

As for Nichols, she has arranged to pay her rent in instalments after losing more than half of her rent money in the scam. She hopes her experience will serve as a warning to others.

"I don’t want anyone else to go through this," she said, emphasizing the need for better consumer protections against online scams.