đźš©Red Flags of a Firewood Scam
Buying firewood online should be simple. You find a supplier, make sure they have what you need, place your order, and your firewood arrives.
Unfortunately, scammers know that Facebook Marketplace and Facebook Ads can make it easy for them to create convincing listings.
The good news is that there are some common warning signs you can look for before you send your money.
It Looked Like a Good Deal
I was looking for firewood on Facebook when an ad popped up in my feed:
“Dry Seasoned Firewood For Sale Near Me.”
I clicked on the listing and asked if they delivered to my area.
A man messaged me back and said he worked for XYZ Firewood and that they delivered to my city. He said they had seasoned hardwood available and could deliver a full cord the next day for $200.
That was a good deal!
He said they could get me on the delivery schedule for the following day, but I would need to pay when I placed the order.
I told him I would rather pay cash when the wood was delivered.
He said they couldn't hold a delivery spot without payment.
He gave me several ways to pay: Zelle, Cash App, Chime or Apple Pay.
He even asked what size pieces I wanted.
So I sent the $200.
The next day came and went. No firewood.
I went back to Messenger to contact the person I had been talking to, but the conversation was gone. I couldn't message him anymore.
I went back to find the Facebook listing, but I couldn't find it either.
That's when I started looking more closely.
I searched for XYZ Firewood online and found an actual firewood supplier in my area. They had a website, a phone number, reviews and the same photos I received from the guy on Messenger.
So I contacted the supplier directly to ask where my firewood was.
They told me they had no record of my order and that the person I had been talking to did not work for them. They said they had dealt with this type of scam before and that scammers were using their business name to sell firewood on Facebook.
I looked at the payment information again.
The name and email associated with the payment didn't match the supplier's name. They didn't even match each other.
I contacted the police and made a report, but there wasn't much they could do.
I contacted my bank, but because I had voluntarily sent the money through a third-party payment service, they told me the transaction couldn't simply be reversed like a typical card purchase.
I tried to report the Facebook listing, but by then I couldn't even find the listing or the page anymore.
The firewood never arrived.
The $200 was gone.
What Went Wrong?
Looking back, there were several warning signs in this situation.
None of them, by themselves, necessarily prove that a seller is a scammer. But when several of these signs appear together, it's worth slowing down and doing some research before sending money.
Here are some of the most common red flags to watch for.
đźš© There Is No Location or Contact Information
A legitimate firewood supplier should make it reasonably easy to find out who they are and how to contact them.
That doesn't necessarily mean they need to have a large website or a formal business office. A small backyard seller may operate differently from a dedicated firewood supplier or tree service.
The concern is when there is no verifiable location, phone number, email address, or other way to identify who you're actually buying from.
What to do
Before ordering, try to independently verify:
Where the supplier is located
How to contact them
What areas they serve
What type of firewood they sell
If you can't determine who you're dealing with, be cautious about sending payment.
đźš© They Never Answer Basic Questions in the Comments
Look at the comments on the listing or posts.
Do people repeatedly ask things like:
“Do you deliver to Cleveland?”
“Do you deliver to Orlando?”
“Where are you located?”
And does the seller consistently respond with:
“Message us.”“DM me.”“Send me a private message.”
A legitimate supplier may absolutely need to discuss individual orders privately. But basic information about service areas, products, pricing, and ordering shouldn't always require a private conversation.
What to do
Look at the pattern.
If a seller consistently avoids answering basic questions publicly and immediately pushes everyone into private messages, take a closer look before ordering.
Transparency matters.
A legitimate firewood supplier should make it reasonably easy to find out who they are, where they're located, where they deliver, what they sell, and how to contact them.
đźš© The Facebook Seller, Business Name and Contact Information Don't Line Up
This is one of the more important things to check because scammers sometimes use the identity of a real firewood supplier.
For example, you respond to a Facebook listing and someone messages you saying they work for XYZ Firewood.
You search for XYZ Firewood and find a real supplier in your area.
They have:
A website
A physical address
Reviews
Photos
A phone number
A legitimate-looking Facebook page
You might assume you've verified the seller.
But you haven't necessarily verified the person who contacted you.
A scammer can copy the name, website information, address, photos, or even pictures of the actual owner of a legitimate supplier and use that information to make a fake Facebook listing seem real.
What to do
Don't use the contact information provided by the Facebook seller to verify them.
Find the supplier independently.
Search for the supplier yourself through Google, their website, Google Business listing, social media, or other independent sources.
Then contact the supplier using the phone number or email address you found yourself.
Ask:
“Are you associated with this Facebook listing or this person?”
If the supplier says no, stop communicating with the Facebook seller.
If you can't independently connect the Facebook seller to the real supplier, don't send money.
You can also ask in local community groups whether anyone has actually purchased from the supplier before.
đźš© The Facebook Page Says the Business Is Based Somewhere Else
Facebook's Page information can provide useful clues.
If someone is advertising firewood delivery in your local area, but the page information shows that the page was created or is being managed somewhere far away, or even in another country, that's worth investigating.
For example, if someone is advertising firewood delivery in your Ohio community but the Facebook page shows that it is being managed from Cameroon or another country that has no apparent connection to the local firewood supplier, that would be a significant reason to stop and verify the seller before sending money.
This does not automatically mean the seller is a scammer.
Businesses can have employees, owners, or page managers in different locations. A company could also use an outside person or agency to manage its social media.
But if the information doesn't make sense for the business being advertised, it's another reason to slow down and verify who you're dealing with.
What to do
Check the page's transparency information and compare it with what the seller is telling you.
If something doesn't line up, independently verify the supplier before sending payment.
đźš© The Price Is Unusually Low
Everyone likes a good deal.
But if a seller is offering a full cord of firewood for a price that seems dramatically lower than what other local suppliers are charging, take a closer look.
A low price by itself doesn't prove anything. Sellers have different costs, inventory, equipment, and business models.
The concern is when an unusually low price appears alongside other warning signs.
What to do
Compare the price with several legitimate suppliers in your area.
Then look at the rest of the listing.
An unusually low price combined with pressure to pay immediately, questionable contact information, or a suspicious Facebook page deserves extra caution.
đźš© They Pressure You to Pay Immediately
Scammers don't want you to have time to investigate.
You may hear things like:
“I only have one delivery spot left.” “You need to pay right now.” “If you don't pay in the next few minutes, I'll give your spot to someone else.”
A legitimate supplier may have a busy delivery schedule or require payment before delivery. Paying before delivery is not automatically a scam.
The important question is how and to whom you're paying.
What to do
Don't let pressure rush you into sending money to someone you haven't verified.
If you need time to check the supplier, take the time.
đźš© The Seller Becomes Unusually Demanding About Payment
Be cautious if the conversation suddenly becomes focused almost entirely on getting your payment.
Firewood can be a high-demand seasonal product, and legitimate suppliers may have limited delivery spots or inventory. But that is different from pressuring you into making an immediate purchase.
This can be especially concerning if the seller becomes unusually demanding, keeps pushing after you've said you want to verify the supplier, or repeatedly contacts you at unusual hours, such as the middle of the night, while demanding payment.
Normal business communication can happen at odd hours. A supplier may be working late, processing orders, or sending a delivery notification after hours. That is very different from an unknown Facebook seller repeatedly contacting you at 1 or 2 a.m. because they want you to send money immediately.
What to do
Stop and verify the supplier independently.
You don't owe an unknown seller an immediate payment simply because they are pressuring you.
đźš© They Insist on Direct Payment Through Zelle, Cash App, Chime or Similar Services Before Delivery
This is one of the biggest warning signs in the scenario above.
There is an important distinction here.
Paying a legitimate firewood supplier before delivery through a normal business checkout is not inherently a scam.
Many legitimate businesses take payment when an order is placed.
The concern is when someone you've only met through Facebook insists that you send money directly to them through a peer-to-peer payment service such as Zelle, Cash App, Chime, or a similar service.
What to do
If an unknown Facebook seller is insisting that you send money directly to them before delivery, don't do it. Find another supplier.
Don't let a promised delivery spot or unusually low price convince you to take the risk.
đźš© The Contact Information in Messenger Doesn't Match the Payment Information
Pay close attention to the name, email address, phone number, or account receiving your payment.
If the person tells you they're selling for XYZ Firewood but the payment account belongs to someone with a completely different name, or the payment information doesn't match anything you've been given - stop.
This doesn't automatically prove fraud. There can be legitimate reasons for different names or payment accounts.
But it needs to be explained and independently verified.
What to do
Don't send the payment until you understand who is receiving it and why.
If you can't independently verify the connection between the payment recipient and the firewood supplier, don't send the money.
A Few Things That Don't Automatically Mean a Seller Is a Scam
It's important not to confuse informal with fraudulent.
Not every legitimate firewood seller is a large business.
Someone may split firewood in their backyard and sell a few cords through Facebook Marketplace. They may not have a website, a registered business, or a sophisticated ordering system.
That alone doesn't make them a scammer.
A seller using a personal phone number isn't automatically fraudulent.
And paying before delivery isn't automatically a scam.
The bigger question is whether you can verify who you're dealing with, understand what you're buying, and make the payment through a legitimate payment process.
What Ohio Firewood Buyers Should Know
If you're buying firewood in Ohio, there are a few things worth knowing about how firewood is supposed to be advertised and sold.
Keep in mind: A seller not following every Ohio requirement does not automatically mean they are a scam. Some small or backyard sellers may have perfectly legitimate firewood but may not know all of the state's requirements. The purpose of knowing these rules is to help you understand what you're buying and recognize when a seller's description is unclear or misleading.
Firewood Is Sold by the Cord or a Fraction of a Cord
In Ohio, a cord is 128 cubic feet of wood when the wood is ranked and well stowed. When firewood is sold by measure, Ohio requires the quantity to be expressed using a cord, a fractional part of a cord, or the applicable metric equivalent. Ohio also allows firewood to be sold by weight or count under specific requirements.
For example:
1 full cord = 128 cubic feet
1/2 cord = 64 cubic feet
1/3 cord = approximately 42.67 cubic feet
1/4 cord = 32 cubic feet
If a seller tells you that you're buying “a cord,” you should be able to determine what quantity that actually represents.
Certain Terms Should Not Be Used to Sell Firewood
Ohio specifically prohibits using terms such as:
“Face cord”
“Rack”
“Pile”
“Rick”
“Truckload”
or terms of similar meaning when advertising, offering for sale, or selling wood for use as fuel.
These terms can be confusing because they don't tell a buyer exactly how much wood they're getting.
For example, a “truckload” could mean very different amounts depending on the size of the truck and how it is loaded.
Ask for the actual quantity in cords or a fraction of a cord.
Bundles Are Different
Packaged firewood is treated differently from a bulk, nonpackaged load.
For packaged natural firewood, Ohio's rules require the quantity to be stated in cubic feet or cubic meters, with specific exceptions for certain individual logs and small packages.
So if you're buying a few bundles for a fire pit, don't assume that a bundle has a standard size simply because another seller uses the same word.
The important thing is that you understand exactly what quantity you're paying for.
You Should Receive a Delivery Ticket or Sales Invoice
For nonpackaged fireplace or stove wood, Ohio requires the seller to provide a delivery ticket or sales invoice.
The required information includes:
The seller's name and address
The purchaser's name and address
The date delivered
The quantity delivered
The quantity the price is based on if that differs from the quantity delivered
The price of the amount delivered
A description of the wood in the most descriptive terms commercially practicable, including any quality representation made in connection with the sale
This doesn't necessarily mean you should expect a printed invoice.
A receipt or delivery ticket can be simple. What matters is that it contains the required information.
Sales Tax
Ohio generally imposes sales tax on taxable retail sales of tangible personal property unless an exemption applies. Whether a particular seller is required to collect tax depends on the circumstances of the sale and the seller's tax obligations.
That means not seeing a sales tax amount in a Facebook listing or advertisement does not automatically prove that someone is a scammer. Sales tax generally isn't something a seller would need to include in a Marketplace listing or Facebook ad in the first place.
At the same time, sales-tax compliance is a legal requirement for sellers who are required to collect it. As a buyer, the important thing is that any applicable sales tax is properly calculated and included in your total when you purchase the firewood.
What These Rules Do and Don't Tell You
Ohio's firewood regulations can help you understand whether you're being given a clear description of what you're purchasing.
But following these rules is not a scam test.
A seller could use the correct term “cord” and still be a scammer.
A seller could use the word “truckload” because that's what they've always called it or because they don't know the law, and still have a truck full of legitimate firewood.
A seller could have no registered business and still be a completely legitimate small seller.
The important question is whether you can understand what you're buying and independently verify who you're buying it from.
If the seller can't tell you how much wood you're getting, what you're paying for, where they're located, or how to contact them outside of Facebook Messenger, that's when you should slow down and investigate further.
Resources for Checking a Firewood Seller
If you're unsure about a firewood seller, don't rely on the information provided in the Facebook listing or Messenger conversation alone. Look the supplier up independently and compare the information you find.
Here are some places you can check:
Ohio Secretary of State — Business Search
You can search Ohio's business records by business name to see whether a business entity is registered with the state.
Remember: Not finding a seller in the Ohio business search does not automatically mean they are a scam. A small or backyard seller may be operating as an individual rather than as a registered business.
Ohio Attorney General — Consumer Complaints
The Ohio Attorney General's Consumer Protection Section allows consumers to file complaints about businesses and also provides a way to search consumer complaints.
This can be another useful source of information, although a lack of complaints does not necessarily mean a supplier is legitimate.
Better Business Bureau
Search the BBB directory for the supplier's name, phone number, website, or location. You may find customer reviews, complaints, business information, or a BBB profile.
A supplier not being listed with the BBB does not automatically mean there is a problem. Many legitimate small businesses are not BBB members or may not have a BBB profile.
Search the supplier's name, phone number, address, and website independently.
Look for:
Google Business Profile
Website
Reviews
Address
Phone number
Other established business listings
Make sure the information you find actually matches the supplier you're trying to verify.
Do not use a phone number or email address provided by the Facebook seller to verify the supplier. Find the contact information yourself.
Look at the seller's Facebook profile or business page and check the available page information and history.
Pay attention to:
When the page was created
Previous page names
Page history
Location information
Countries where the page is managed, when shown
Whether the information matches the local supplier being advertised
A new Facebook page or a recent name change does not automatically mean a scam. It's simply another piece of information to consider.
Yelp and Other Established Listings
Search the supplier's name on Yelp and other established business directories.
These listings can help you compare names, phone numbers, addresses, websites, and customer experiences.
Again, not being listed does not automatically mean a supplier is illegitimate. The goal is to compare information, not to require every legitimate supplier to have an online presence everywhere.
Local Community Groups
If you're still unsure, ask in a local community group whether anyone has actually purchased firewood from the supplier.
Ask about their experience with the supplier, not just whether someone recognizes the name.
Someone saying “I've seen that name before” isn't the same as a neighbor saying “Yes, I bought firewood from them last year and they delivered it.”
The Most Important Step
If a Facebook seller claims to work for a real local firewood supplier, independently contact that supplier.
Don't use the phone number, email address, website link, or other contact information the Facebook seller gives you.
Find the supplier yourself through Google, their website, their Google Business Profile, or another independent source.
Then ask:
“Are you associated with this Facebook listing or this person?”
A scammer can copy a real supplier's name, address, website, photos, and even pictures of the owner or facility.
Finding the real supplier online is only half of the verification.
You also need to make sure the person you're actually talking to is connected to that supplier.
Before You Buy
Most people looking for firewood online are simply trying to get a load of wood delivered to their home.
You shouldn't have to be an internet detective to buy firewood, but taking a few minutes to look at the listing, check the seller's information, verify the supplier independently, ask questions, and understand how you're being asked to pay can save you from a very expensive mistake.
Remember:
A low price isn't proof of a scam.
A Facebook listing isn't proof of a scam.
A small or informal seller isn't automatically a scam.
Paying before delivery isn't automatically a scam.
But when several warning signs appear together, especially when someone is using the identity of a real supplier and asking you to send money directly through a peer-to-peer payment service, it's time to stop.
Verify first. Pay second.
And if something doesn't add up, there will always be another firewood supplier.
Enjoy your fires,
Nick & Michelle Persolja
The Firewood Co.
Dry My Wood™
37859 Stevens Blvd
Willoughby, OH
Seasoned & Kiln-Dried Firewood Always in Stock!
We proudly serve Lake, Geauga, Cuyahoga, Lorain, Summit, Medina, Portage, Trumbull, Ashtabula, and Mahoning Counties.
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