Buy and sell responsibly on Facebook Marketplace

When shopping on Facebook, please make sure you are logged into the real Facebook website .

If you see any signs of suspicious activity, immediately cancel the transaction, report the listing or person and call the local authorities if necessary.

To help promote your safety, we encourage you to review the following tips for buying and selling responsibly, in addition to using your best judgment:

Meeting in-person

We suggest following the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for how to stay healthy and help prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) while buying and selling.

When buying and selling during this time, please follow local guidelines on physical distancing and staying home.

If you're meeting someone in person, we recommend arranging your meeting in a public, well-lit area. Create and share your meeting plan with a trusted friend or family member through Messenger.

Learn more tips for meeting someone in person from Marketplace .

Clean and disinfect items

Clean and disinfect any item you intend to sell.

If you buy an item, make sure to clean it before bringing it into your home.

Learn about the guidelines from the CDC on cleaning and disinfecting products.

Learn which items are not allowed on Facebook

All listings on Facebook need to follow our Commerce Policies .

Information on our ongoing COVID-19 efforts across Facebook can be found in Facebook's Newsroom .

Review the seller’s profile

Look at the seller’s Marketplace profile to learn more about the seller . On their profile, you can see friends you may have in common, review their Marketplace activity, view their other listings and see any ratings they may have received

Consider delivery options for Marketplace items

Some items on Marketplace are eligible for shipping. This means that you can buy and sell items not just near your location. The seller directly ships items to the buyer. Learn about the different ways to buy and sell .

If shipping isn't available for an item, you can use a pick-up or drop-off service that works for you.

If you are shipping an order, confirm that you have received the buyer's payment before you ship the item.

Use online payment methods

Checkout on Facebook

Instead of messaging the seller to arrange a transaction, you can purchase an item using checkout by tapping Buy now on the Marketplace listing. Eligible purchases are covered by Purchase Protection .

Eligible purchases made with checkout on Facebook are covered by Purchase Protection . Items exchanged in-person using cash or other person-to-person payment methods are not eligible. When you use checkout on Facebook, our team can mediate disputes, since we can review details about the order.

Be cautious of emails directly from the seller telling you that there was something wrong with your payment through checkout on Facebook. You can view your payment history on Facebook in Activity .

Local Pickup on Marketplace

Don't transfer money directly into a seller's bank account. Instead, offer to use a secure person-to-person payment site, such as PayPal or sending and receiving money in Messenger .

If you choose to pay electronically using wire transfer or money order solutions, avoid payment links and log in directly through the payment method's website.

Keep in mind that cashier and certified checks can be counterfeit. Transactions are between the buyer and seller only, and no third-party guarantee should be involved.

Communicate on Facebook

Avoid communicating with buyers or sellers privately outside of Facebook. Having a record of your conversations will be helpful in case there is a problem with the purchase or payment later.

Protect your privacy

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. Facebook will never ask you for your password. Learn more about what to do if you receive a suspicious email or message that looks like it came from Facebook .

If you're selling electronics, make sure you've cleared any personal information from the device.

Confirm fair pricing

We encourage buyers to compare prices before buying an item.

Don’t agree to requests to make additional payments for shipping or other previously unlisted charges from the seller after the transaction is complete.

Reject overpayments from buyers for items, especially if the buyer asks to be reimbursed for overpayment. Requests like this are often part of a counterfeit cashier's check scheme.

Be wary of gift card scams

Don’t provide gift card details (such as the claim code) for payment to someone you don’t know, and avoid sales or transactions requiring you to pay specifically with gift cards.

Don't buy gift cards on Marketplace.

Verify the item before paying or sending a deposit

If you're buying an item, we recommend that you inspect any items you buy to make sure that they're genuine. For high-value items (example: watches, luxury bags), you can request a certificate of authenticity or proof of purchase.

Do not send deposits for apartment rentals without having seen the apartment in person first.

Don't buy or sell recalled items

In many places, it's illegal to sell recalled items. If you're unsure whether the item you're buying or selling has been recalled, look on the website of the item's manufacturer for this information.

Watch out for counterfeit items

It's illegal to sell counterfeit items in most countries, and counterfeits aren't allowed on Facebook. We recommend that you review any items you buy to make sure that they're genuine. Learn more about counterfeit items and how Facebook helps protect against counterfeits.

Be cautious when buying or selling cars

Double-check deals that seem too good to be true. Scammers may try to use underpriced items to lure buyers into a scam. Before purchasing a car, you can check industry tools such as Kelley Blue Book or other trusted sites to have an idea of what you would expect to pay for a similar car.

You can also try getting a vehicle history report and arranging a car inspection before buying.

If you're a seller, be careful about bouncing checks from buyers or paying for fake transportation or insurance costs for your vehicle.

Learn more from the Federal Trade Commission (in the U.S.) or your local government agency about getting the vehicle’s history and steps for used car shopping.

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Buy and sell responsibly on Facebook Marketplace

Meeting in-person

Meeting in-person

Clean and disinfect items

Clean and disinfect items

Learn which items are not allowed on Facebook

Learn which items are not allowed on Facebook

Review the seller’s profile

Review the seller’s profile

Consider delivery options for Marketplace items

Consider delivery options for Marketplace items

Use online payment methods

Use online payment methods

Checkout on Facebook

Checkout on Facebook

Local Pickup on Marketplace

Local Pickup on Marketplace

Communicate on Facebook

Communicate on Facebook

Protect your privacy

Protect your privacy

Confirm fair pricing

Confirm fair pricing

Be wary of gift card scams

Be wary of gift card scams

Verify the item before paying or sending a deposit

Verify the item before paying or sending a deposit

Don't buy or sell recalled items

Don't buy or sell recalled items

Watch out for counterfeit items

Watch out for counterfeit items

Be cautious when buying or selling cars

Be cautious when buying or selling cars

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