Unlike eBay, Facebook Marketplace doesn’t charge any fees for listing personal goods. Marketplace’s modern interface and safety features may interest you more than Craigslist. Unfortunately, Marketplace’s popularity also makes it attractive to scammers. If you see something you think is a scam, we recommend you stop communicating with the buyer or seller and report the suspected scam to Facebook. Here are some tips to help you stay safe on Marketplace.
Messaging
Keep communications inside Facebook and Messenger. Specifically, watch out for:
- Requests to contact a third party, like relatives of the seller, who doesn’t own the Facebook account.
- Someone contacting you about a Marketplace listing outside of Marketplace.
Buying and Selling
- Scrutinize deals that seem too good to be true. Scammers may underprice items to lure victims.
- Review the seller’s profile. On it, you can see ratings and reviews from other buyers, friends in common, their other listings, and their Marketplace activity.
- Do not send deposits for expensive items without first confirming that they’re real.
- Try to confirm the item’s existence and ownership in person before paying.
- Eligible purchases made with checkout on Facebook are covered by Purchase Protection. Items paid with cash or person-to-person payment methods are not covered.
- Exchanging the item in person? SafeTradeSpots are designated locations at law enforcement offices where buyers and sellers can meet in public under surveillance to complete in-person transactions. There’s no charge for the service.
For more advice, visit Recognizing scams on Facebook Marketplace | Facebook Help Center.