Double Check

Is the Facebook Marketplace buyer asking for a code a scam?

A typical version of this message
Hi, is the dresser still available? Before I drive out, I want to make sure you're a real person and not a bot — I've been scammed before. I just sent a 6-digit verification code to your phone. Can you read it back to me so I know you're legit?
Why it is a verification code scam
Yes. That code is a real security code — for YOUR accounts. The 'buyer' entered your number into Google, WhatsApp, or a bank's login page, and the code that arrived is the last barrier between them and an account in your name. Read it out and they are in: often it is used to open a Google Voice number that then runs scams traced to you. The 'prove you're not a bot' framing is the giveaway — sellers never need to verify themselves this way.
What to do
Never read any texted code to anyone, for any reason — codes are for typing into the site that sent them, only ever by you. Stop replying to this buyer and report the profile. If a code was already shared, secure that account immediately: change the password and check for a Google Voice number or new devices added to it.

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Checked by Double Check on August 31, 2026. This page documents a widely reported scam pattern; the example wording is representative, with links and personal details replaced. See more in the scam guide or recent answers.