Can a Private Investigator Help With Online Marketplace Scams?

Jul 10, 2025By Easton Secure Solutions

ES

Online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, OfferUp, and Letgo make it easy to buy and sell just about anything—from furniture and electronics to used cars and rental properties. But with that convenience comes a darker side: scammers and fraudsters hiding behind fake profiles, burner numbers, and deceptive listings.

Every week, people fall victim to online marketplace scams. Maybe you paid for an item that never arrived, met someone for a deal that turned out to be bait-and-switch, or discovered too late that the seller’s identity was completely fake.

The big question becomes: Is there anything you can actually do about it?

If you’ve been scammed—or suspect you're being set up—a licensed private investigator can help. We specialize in uncovering the real person behind shady transactions, identifying fraudulent behavior, and helping victims take legal or civil action.

Let’s break down how these scams happen, why they’re so hard to trace on your own, and exactly how a PI can step in.

Common Types of Online Marketplace Scams


Online scams can vary depending on the platform and the scammer’s strategy. Here are the most frequent ones we encounter:

1. The “Item Never Delivered” Scam
You agree to buy a product, send payment through Zelle, CashApp, or Venmo—and then silence. The seller blocks you or deletes their account.

2. The Overpayment Scam
A “buyer” sends you a fake check for more than the item’s price, asking you to send the difference. Days later, the check bounces and you’re on the hook.

3. Rental or Property Scams
A too-good-to-be-true apartment is listed. You’re asked to wire a deposit before seeing it in person. Turns out, the listing was stolen from a legitimate rental site.

4. Fake Product Listings
Luxury watches, phones, or event tickets are listed at a discount. You pay, and what arrives (if anything) is fake, broken, or not as described.

5. Marketplace Impersonation
Someone uses a stolen identity or sets up a burner profile, pretending to be a trusted seller. Often combined with location spoofing or stolen photos to build trust.

Scammers thrive because they rely on anonymity. But that’s where a professional investigator can make a difference.

Why It’s So Hard to Solve on Your Own


Even tech-savvy buyers hit roadblocks when trying to investigate scams themselves. Why?

  • Phone numbers are often VOIP or prepaid burners
  • Emails may be tied to throwaway accounts or encrypted services
  • Social media profiles are fake, stolen, or quickly deleted
  • Payment apps offer limited recourse once a transaction is “complete”
  • Law enforcement may not prioritize the case unless the dollar amount is high or there's a pattern of fraud

When you’ve only got a name, a phone number, or a profile picture, it may feel impossible to get justice.

That’s when people turn to us at Easton Secure Solutions LLC—to take the investigation deeper than Google or people search websites ever could.

How a Private Investigator Tracks Down Marketplace Scammers


Here’s how we approach online scam investigations using legal, verified methods:

1. Reverse Tracing Contact Information
Even if the scammer used a burner phone or email, there’s often a trail left behind. We analyze:

  • Phone numbers (even disconnected or VOIP)
  • Email addresses linked to marketplaces, payment apps, or classified ad sites
  • CashApp, Venmo, or Zelle usernames and transaction patterns

Using proprietary databases, we cross-reference this info with credit header data, utility records, and device usage patterns to help identify the person behind the transaction.

➡️ Explore our Identity Verification Services

2. Image and Profile Analysis
Scammers often reuse the same photos, listings, or profile info across platforms.

We use:

  • Reverse image search to detect stolen property photos
  • Metadata analysis (when available) to trace image sources
  • Username history tools to check for pattern behavior
  • Marketplace history searches to see if this person has scammed others

In many cases, we can tie the activity to a known scam ring or repeat offender.

3. OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence) Investigation
Our investigators comb through public and semi-public digital records to build a full profile, including:

  • Social media activity
  • Past posts on forums or niche selling sites
  • Craigslist and Facebook groups
  • Online reviews, reports, or complaints against the seller

This allows us to build a timeline and behavior pattern, critical for confirming fraud and preparing documentation for legal action.

➡️ Learn how OSINT strengthens our investigations

4. Real-Time Surveillance or Verification (When Local)
If the scammer is local and you’re planning to confront them or retrieve the property, we can perform:

  • In-person surveillance to confirm location or identity
  • Sting-style verification (if legally applicable) to document false claims
  • Contact with witnesses, neighbors, or known associates if necessary

We always remain compliant with New York state laws and never use pretexting, hacking, or any illegal tactics.

Real Case Example: Facebook Marketplace Car Scam


A client in Nassau County paid $2,500 for a used car listed on Facebook Marketplace. The seller insisted on Zelle payment and claimed the vehicle would be delivered within 24 hours. It never came.

After the seller stopped responding, the client tried reporting it to Facebook and Zelle—but neither offered real help.

We stepped in.

  • Using the Zelle ID, phone number, and Facebook profile, we identified:
  • A connection to a prior Facebook scam account from Queens
  • A second CashApp linked to the same phone used in another recent complaint
  • Utility records confirming the scammer’s residence in Jamaica, NY

The client submitted our findings to the NYPD along with a complaint to the state Attorney General. Within weeks, the scammer was linked to several other reports and criminal charges were filed.

When Can You Take Legal or Civil Action?


If we identify the person responsible and confirm fraudulent behavior, your options open up:

  • File a police report with supporting documentation
  • Submit a complaint to the Attorney General’s Office (NYS)
  • Sue in small claims court to recover your money
  • Alert the payment platform with verified evidence to potentially reverse the charge
  • Warn others via Better Business Bureau or scam-tracking databases

You don’t need to let it go. A private investigator gives you the tools to fight back with facts.

What You Need to Start the Case


You don’t need a full profile or deep background check. Most of our cases start with:

  • The phone number or email used in the deal
  • Screenshots of messages, listings, or transactions
  • Profile names, handles, or links from Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or OfferUp
  • CashApp/Zelle/Venmo usernames or payment receipts
  • A short explanation of what happened

Once we review the materials, we’ll suggest the best approach and provide a clear quote for the investigation.

How Much Does It Cost to Investigate a Marketplace Scam?

  • Basic Identity Verification: $199
  • Full Marketplace Fraud Investigation: Custom-quoted after review (often $399–$1,500 range depending on depth)
  • Court-Ready Report with Evidence Package: Optional add-on available

We tailor every case based on how much information you already have and how far you want to go with recovery.

Serving in person within NYC and Long Island — Licensed, Discreet, and Results-Driven. Remote services available Nationwide.
At Easton Secure Solutions LLC, we’re based in New York and serve clients across Long Island, the five boroughs, and surrounding counties. Our team is licensed, ethical, and focused on results.

We specialize in:

✅ Fraud investigations
✅ Online impersonation and scams
✅ Skip tracing and identity verification
✅ Pre/Post-court evidence gathering

📞 Call today: (516) 962-1267
📧 Email: [email protected]
➡️ Visit our Client Intake Page to start now.

You Don’t Have to Accept Being Scammed
If you’ve been taken advantage of on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or another platform—don’t give up. Even when the trail seems cold, a licensed PI can uncover the facts, find the scammer, and give you the documentation to hold them accountable.

Let us do what Google can’t.
Get your answers—and your power—back.