7 Ways to Stay Safe When Using Facebook Marketplace (2024)

FAQs

7 Ways to Stay Safe When Using Facebook Marketplace? ›

Here are some red flags for Facebook Marketplace scams: Sellers offer suspiciously low prices for high-ticket items. Sellers refuse to meet in person. Buyers or sellers try to take the conversation outside of Facebook Messenger.

Here are some red flags for Facebook Marketplace scams: Sellers offer suspiciously low prices for high-ticket items. Sellers refuse to meet in person. Buyers or sellers try to take the conversation outside of Facebook Messenger.

Don't share personal information like your home address. Create a meeting plan and share it with a trusted friend or family member. You can tap Send plan in Messenger to send your meeting plan to someone in your Facebook Friends list so they know the location, time and date of when you're planning to meet.

As for payment, carrying cash, especially a lot of cash, is risky. Facebook Marketplace recommends a secure person-to-person payment method such as PayPal.

Facebook Marketplace scam red flags

Low prices for what should be high-ticket items. Refusing to meet up in person for exchanges. Moving conversations outside of Facebook Messenger. Asking for payment in the form of a gift card.

A legitimate buyer will more than likely ask for additional information about the item for sale, such as the condition of the item. Potential buyers who ask for personal information like your email address or phone number or request the funds quickly are most likely scammers.

There are no set etiquette guidelines for listing items on the Fb marketplace, other than not intentionally posting something illegal. However, some good practices will help you make more sales.

Don't share your financial information (example: PayPal login and password, bank account info) or unnecessary personal information with buyers or sellers. Don't respond to messages or emails that ask you to provide verification codes or account information, such as your email address and password.

Should I use my real name on Facebook Marketplace? ›

Authenticity. Facebook users cannot use fake names on their accounts. Always use your real name.

New and existing sellers who can provide their full 9-digits SSN or ITIN, and were successfully verified, need not worry about any additional supporting documents that may be asked during the verification process. Facebook ensures that all tax information is kept confidential and will not be shared on Facebook.

What is the safest way to accept payment? Besides cash, a certified check is the safest way you can receive a payment to your business.

The most reliable way of accepting a payment when selling something online is cash. If the item is of significant value, a cashier's check should also suffice. To avoid confusion down the road, make it clear in your ad and in your conversations with a potential buyer that you will only accept cash.

Another term used most often in Facebook Marketplace is “OBO,” which means “or best offer.” OBO usually accompanies an asking price if you are selling an item, but OBO indicates that you are open for negotiation by signaling that you would accept an offer lower than the asking price if you feel that the offer is ...

Fake payments and bogus refund requests

When it comes time to pay, they insist on paying through a mobile payment app. They send you a fake payment notification and hope you send the item before you realize it's a scam. Or they say there was an issue with the payment they sent.

Your phone number is an easy access point for scammers and identity thieves. Once scammers know your number, they can target you with phishing texts and calls, or trick you into downloading malware and giving up personal information.

From your Order details, select your most recent order. Tap Contact Facebook support. Tap Identity verification/Identity information, then tap I need to update my identification information (address, name, dob, email).

If you're selling an item, you should work with a common online payment system like PayPal, Venmo, or Zelle. And if you're new to online payments, don't accept the word of the buyer that they've made the payment (or an image of a receipt they've texted to you).

Before sending a message to a seller, check the seller info page. If you don't see a profile picture, image banner, or past Marketplace listings, the seller is probably a fake and trying to scam you on the platform.

Does Facebook Marketplace give you your money back if you get scammed? ›

If Facebook approves your Purchase Protection claim, you'll get a refund for the full purchase price of the product and any shipping costs.

We may use your mobile phone number for purposes such as: Helping you log in. If you forget your password, you'll need an updated mobile number or email address to reset it. Suggesting People you may know so you can connect with them on Facebook.

We don't ever sell personal information, including your mobile phone number, to anyone. Keep in mind that you can control who can see your phone number and who can look you up on Facebook. Learn more about how we use your phone number in our Privacy Policy.

Buyers communicate on the product profile by clicking “Make Offer” or “Message Seller.” As a seller, you'll see the message under the “Selling” screen, or you can continue the conversation on the Facebook Messenger app, but it's not required.

1234 means "1 Thing 2 Say 3 Words 4 You (I Love You)". 1234 is a form of shorthand used in texts or instant messaging with the meaning "I Love You." 1234 is typically used when the sender wishes to add emphasis to their declaration of love, often when responding to a similar expression of love or an act of kindness.

If you choose to hide a listing, it will be hidden from your friends on Facebook and Messenger in most cases but will still be visible to everyone off of Facebook and Messenger. All listings must follow our Commerce Policies.

A lot of sellers have moved to “pay to hold items,” but this is a really easy way to get scammed. Instead, tell them you can pick up immediately. Don't expect them to hold the item if you can't pay or pick up immediately. If you're selling, be cautious about accepting money before someone is there to pick up the item.

You can use a credit card, debit card or PayPal account to buy items with checkout on Facebook or Marketplace.

From Account Details, you can add/update your phone number.

Tap an item you want to buy. Tap Message to send a custom message to the seller. Tap Send to send a message that says "Is this available?" You can see your conversations with sellers by tapping Inbox from the Marketplace tab, or opening the Messenger app.

How do I make my name private on Facebook Marketplace? ›

This is required by the IRS and U.S. state revenue authorities. To ensure that payment information is accurately reported, where required, please update your account information by providing a TIN to avoid any potential limitations on your Marketplace account.

Keep in mind: Anyone can see your public information, which includes your name, profile picture, cover photo, gender, username, user ID (account number), and networks (learn why). Only you and your friends can post to your profile. When you post something, you can control who sees it by using the audience selector.

Review the earnings posted to your record on your Social Security Statement and report any inconsistencies to us. Contact the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at 1-800-908-4490 or visit them online, if you believe someone is using your SSN to work, get your tax refund, or other abuses involving taxes.

Your sales may be subject to IRS tax reporting if you sell with shipping on Facebook Marketplace. Download your 2022 sales report to see your sales from 2022. When you sell with shipping on Marketplace, you may receive certain tax forms to help file your taxes.

Anybody who approaches you on the street, whether it's a cell phone company salesman offering a free T-shirt or someone running a voter registration campaign: Never, ever give your SSN. If you want an ill-fitting T-shirt festooned with corporate logos, buy one.

By and large, credit cards are easily the most secure and safe payment method to use when you shop online. Credit cards use online security features like encryption and fraud monitoring to keep your accounts and personal information safe.

What is the least secure payment method? Paying by bank transfer is one of the least secure methods. If you send money from your bank account to the wrong organisation or person, it is very difficult to claim it back from your bank.

Cash in advance means just what it says: you're paid for your products in advance of delivering your goods to the customer. Least risky form of payment for you—you get your money at the time of the sale.

What is the safest way to have someone pay you online? ›

Bumping a message can help remind others of something previously sent in a chat. You can bump your own or someone else's previous message to resurface it to the top of a chat, among the most recent messages. Similar to other messages, people in the chat will receive notifications for bumped messages.

New Fund Offer (NFO): Definition, Types, Launches, and Benefits.

ISO is typically used in text messages, online forums or websites (such as Craigslist or Gumtree) with the meaning "In Search Of." It indicates that the poster wishes to buy a specified object or is looking for a relationship with a particular type of person.

Check out buyer/seller profiles.

If they've only been on Facebook for a short time, or if they have very few friends, that could be a warning sign. Also, search on their name in Facebook; if you see more than one profile using the same name and photo, that should raise a red flag.

From your Order details, select your most recent order. Tap Contact Facebook support. Tap Identity verification/Identity information, then tap I need to update my identification information (address, name, dob, email).

Be on the lookout for these red flags: Being asked to pay money in order to receive a prize or get a job. Pressure to act immediately. Use of scare tactics, e.g. telling you a loved one is in danger, that your computer has been hacked or threatening arrest if you don't act now.

Should you give your phone number on Facebook Marketplace? ›

A legitimate buyer will more than likely ask for additional information about the item for sale, such as the condition of the item. Potential buyers who ask for personal information like your email address or phone number or request the funds quickly are most likely scammers.

The most reliable way of accepting a payment when selling something online is cash. If the item is of significant value, a cashier's check should also suffice. To avoid confusion down the road, make it clear in your ad and in your conversations with a potential buyer that you will only accept cash.

Buyers communicate on the product profile by clicking “Make Offer” or “Message Seller.” As a seller, you'll see the message under the “Selling” screen, or you can continue the conversation on the Facebook Messenger app, but it's not required.

How does refund under Purchase Protection work? Buyers are given a chance to file a refund claim within 45 days upon delivery of the item. A slightly longer period of 60 days is provided for claims about unauthorized purchases.

If you want to buy an item on the Facebook Marketplace, you must have a Facebook profile. A legitimate buyer will have a robust profile, while a scam artist likely will have a skeletal profile created recently. Some users' privacy settings may limit the amount of information you can glean from their profile.

2. Never communicate outside of the Facebook platform. Stay in messenger to handle all your purchases and sales – it protects you and your buyer! Communicating via text (again, no giving out your number OR texting their number!!), email, Whatsapp, etc. is not a good idea.

For items like watches, name-brand purses and jewelry, Facebook Marketplace recommends verifying the item's validity. It's best to ask for a certificate of authenticity or proof of purchase to avoid buying counterfeit items.