Vancouver Island Woman Loses $1,250 in Facebook Marketplace Scam, Warns Other

A woman from the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island is sharing her story to alert others about an online phishing scam after what should have been a simple $40 sale on Facebook Marketplace turned into a $1,250 financial loss.

Severine Nichols listed her daughter’s play tent for sale last week in a local buy-and-sell group. A female buyer quickly expressed interest, offering to send an e-transfer to secure the item before picking it up later.

“I checked her profile. It was local, had a picture, kids—it wasn’t new. I felt pretty good about it,” Nichols told CBC News.

The e-transfer appeared legitimate in her inbox. Trusting its authenticity, Nichols clicked the link and followed the prompts, including selecting her bank and entering her login credentials.

“It looked exactly like a regular e-transfer,” Nichols explained. “There was nothing strange or different—no red flags.”

However, after entering her banking information, an error message appeared. She canceled the sale and sent a screenshot of the error to the buyer. Minutes later, an email notification arrived confirming a $1,250 e-transfer to an unknown recipient.

“The shock and tears hit immediately. I started having a panic attack,” Nichols recalled. As a part-time student, the loss represented over half her rent and nearly an entire paycheck.

RCMP Warns About Sophisticated Scams

Const. Monika Terragni of the Comox Valley RCMP confirmed this was the third reported phishing scam in the area this year. Fraudsters, she said, are becoming increasingly adept at crafting convincing schemes.

“They’re very good at this—they do it for a living,” Terragni noted. “They make it harder to detect fraudulent links and emails.”

The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre has issued warnings about similar phishing scams, where fake emails direct users to fraudulent websites that steal banking information.

Tips to Avoid Scams

Terragni recommends slowing down and carefully verifying e-transfers before proceeding. If possible, meet in person in a public place and accept cash instead of online payments.

“People should also remember that legitimate Facebook accounts can be hacked,” she said. “An account that looks genuine might still be compromised.”

A Call for Greater Awareness

Nichols, now working with her landlord to manage rent payments in installments, hopes to prevent others from experiencing similar losses.

“I don’t think there’s enough protection for us out there,” she said. “I don’t want anybody else to go through this.”