Thinking of having your car professionally detailed by a merchant advertising on Facebook? If you're not careful, you could be signing up for a scam.
Watch Out! Facebook Car Detailing Scams Are on the Rise
Published on Oct. 11, 2024
Recent news reports have highlighted a wave of Facebook scams centered around fake car detailing services. Scammers pose as the owners of small car detailing companies to trick people into direct messaging them.
The scam posts start off with enticing offers, promising no upfront payments required or offering a special discount. But the tone changes once they’ve received a direct message from a prospective customer. With a potential mark on the hook, the scammers will suddenly ask for things like “refundable deposits” before the work starts. Often, they play on the heartstrings of their marks by noting how people are doing a good thing by supporting a local business or accusing you of wasting their time. Don’t fall for it!
How To Spot Scam Services
Of course, just because a business is advertising on Facebook does not mean it’s automatically illegitimate. Here are some red flags that might indicate a page pretending to be between an authentic local business is actually a scammer simply looking to earn your trust:
- The account was created within the last couple of months.
- The account has posted no/few photos.
- The business has limited reviews or recommendations.
- The business has no official phone number and only communicates through direct messages.
- The business has no other internet presence outside of Facebook.
What To Do If You’ve Been Contacted By a Facebook Scammer
One of the first things you should do if you realize a scammer has contacted you is to report the account to Facebook. Getting the account flagged as soon as possible will help prevent anyone else from falling for the same scam. You can also individually report any suspicious messages you’ve received.
The worst thing you can do to a scammer is destroy their reputation. If you’ve been scammed or spotted a scammer, do not be afraid to comment publicly on the scammer’s posts as a warning to others. You can even find your local community’s page and make a post drawing attention to the scam. If people are on high alert, it will be much harder for a scammer to operate in your area— and they might just give up their efforts and scuttle off to a different part of the internet.
What To Do If You Fell for a Facebook Scam
If you fell into the trap of a Facebook scammer, contact your bank if you exchanged any financial information with them. If a payment was made, the bank may be able to reverse it.
Other Potential Facebook Scams
Facebook scams are certainly not limited to car detailing. Services promising inexpensive painting, roofing or duct cleaning services could all be masking potential schemes. And they’re not always going to be as direct as asking you for a payment, either. In many cases, all it takes is for you to click one link, and the scammer will receive all of the information they needed. Best practice is to be vigilant and always verify the source before opening a link.
Sources:
- Fox 2 Detroit: “Mobile car detailing scams explode on Facebook” (2024)
- The Moco Show: “Local Facebook Groups Continue to Deal With… Scams” (2024)
