Facebook Marketplace is a great place to make extra cash or save a few bucks, but it pays to be careful
Buying secondhand used to come with a bit of a stigma. Well, times are changing. As Americans face economic uncertainty and younger generations, in particular, are concerned about sustainability, buying (and selling) used goods is experiencing a huge renaissance. In 2025, 93% of Americans bought a secondhand item, and 54% sold something of their own, according to the latest Recommerce Report from OfferUp—and much of that action is happening on Facebook Marketplace.
This leads to an important question: Is Facebook Marketplace safe? If you can believe it, more than 1 billion people shop on Facebook Marketplace every month, according to the latest numbers from Capital One Shopping, a research arm of the credit card giant. That’s great news for people looking for deals—and for keeping perfectly usable goods out of landfills—but it also opens up consumers to the very real possibility of getting scammed.
My household is split on the issue. I love scrolling through Facebook Marketplace for deals, and so far, only one transaction has felt a little uncomfortable. (The house was dark, and the seller wasn’t home—red flags to be sure, but thankfully I left with my settee unscathed!) My husband, on the other hand, insists that we meet sellers in public spaces and only after he has checked out their profiles.
Through my reporting on online scams and digital security, I’ve learned to be much more cautious than I used to be. And since Facebook Marketplace scams are so common, I thought it was high time to dig deeper. Ahead, I talked to four technology and security experts to find out how to avoid scams and to learn tips and tricks for avoiding fraud and identity theft. Is Facebook Marketplace safe? Read on to find out.
Get Reader’s Digest’s Read Up newsletter for more tech, travel, humor and fun facts all week long.
Is Facebook Marketplace safe?
“That’s a hard question to answer because it depends,” says ethical hacker Steven McKeon, founder and CEO of MacguyverTech. Facebook Marketplace struggles with the same problems as any other online marketplace: There’s a high volume of activity, and it’s difficult to track or stop scammers who quickly create fake accounts, trick buyers and sellers, and move on to their next target.
Meta, Facebook’s parent company, estimates that about 4% of its worldwide monthly active users (MAU) were fake in the third quarter of 2025. With more than 3 billion users, that’s a staggering 120 million that could be phony—so vigilance is key.
“If you stay within their ecosystem and use their payment methods that are built into the platform, I would say yes, Facebook Marketplace is safe,” McKeon says. “But savvy scammers that are good at manipulating people will sometimes say, ‘Oh, by the way, let’s go pay here,’ and that’s when the problems can start.”
Cybersecurity expert Zulfikar Ramzan, PhD, chief technology and artificial intelligence officer at Point Wild, agrees. “On the internet, we have to operate with different trust models,” he says. “We have to assume we can’t trust anyone. ‘Never trust, always verify’ has to be your mantra.”
How can you stay safe while using Facebook Marketplace?
In short: Don’t get complacent. The trick is to follow recommended best practices each and every time you use the site. Here are the experts’ top tips.
Do your research
Best for: Buyers and sellers
“Before you start working with a buyer or seller, do your homework to find out who is on the other side of the screen,” McKeon says. As you click through their profile, look out for details that could indicate a newly created scam account, such as:
- No profile photo
- Very few photos
- Posts with spelling or grammatical errors
- No reviews
- Many negative reviews
This goes for people you’ve worked with before, says Robert Siciliano, co-founder of cybersecurity company Protect Now. Knowing someone, even in real life, doesn’t guarantee safety. Scammers can easily make lookalike accounts, so before giving any information or deciding to meet, send a quick text message or email (to a known number or address) to ensure you’re talking to the person you think you’re talking to.
Avoid deals that seem too good to be true
Best for: Buyers and sellers
“One of the first things to look for is whether or not the deal is just too good to be true,” says Ramzan. “So for example, if you see a really popular or lucrative item being sold or offered for a very low price, that should be a pretty big red flag right there.”
On the flip side, beware of buyers who seem like they’re in a huge hurry to purchase your product, especially without even seeing it. Scammers often use a sense of urgency and dreamy offers to lure you into falling for a scam.
Guard personal details
Best for: Buyers and sellers
Questions about your working hours, whether you have a spouse who can help with moving an item or even where in your home you might put something you’re buying are often ploys to determine vulnerability. Criminals “want to understand your habits and the layout of your home so they can return and break in,” says personal safety expert Tom Patire. Never volunteer information that could help a burglar.
Another angle cybercriminals use is saying they need to verify who you are. But remember: A buyer or seller has no right to your personal information. Avoid anyone who asks for intel that’s not relevant to the sale, such as the verification code for your Facebook account, your password or your bank account information, says Ramzan.
Keep communication on Facebook
Best for: Buyers and sellers
McKeon says one of the first things scammers do is try to get you off the platform. And once you do that, it’s game on. If you do get scammed, your interaction will no longer fall under Facebook’s monitoring, tracking, dispute resolution and other protections.
Rather than giving scammers your email or phone number (personal information you want to keep private anyway), stick to communicating through Facebook Messenger so you will always have a record of your conversations.
Use secure and reliable payment platforms
Best for: Sellers
One time, I tried to sell a fairly pricey rug on Facebook Marketplace. Right away, a buyer said they wanted it and would pay for it immediately via Zelle. The speed at which they wanted to make this transaction seemed fishy to me, and not long after I started asking questions, they ghosted me.
“That’s a red flag,” McKeon says. “You’ve got to be careful because they might send you a link to something that could be malicious. I’ve had people go through a similar process, and the next thing you know, their entire Zelle and bank account was drained.”
Resist requests to use alternative payment methods like Zelle, Cash App, paper checks, wire transfers, money orders, gift cards or cryptocurrency. Ramzan says these methods might be convenient and fast, but “that immediacy does have a downside to it, which is that if something is wrong with that transaction, it’s sometimes so immediate you can’t undo it because it’s too late.”
Facebook recommends using secure online payment methods and logging in directly (never follow a link from someone you don’t know), or checking out directly on Marketplace. The company has systems in place to protect you from fraud and can reverse payments if necessary.
Just say no to overpayments
Best for: Sellers
Overpayment scams are a common problem, Ramzan says. Here’s how they work: Let’s say you’re selling an item for $500. The buyer “accidentally” overpays you, sending $1,000 instead. They request a refund for $500, but not long after that, you discover their original payment didn’t go through—and you’ve just lost $500.
While bank scams like this are painful to experience, overpayment schemes are easy to avoid. Follow this one simple rule: Never accept payments over the asking price. Take exactly what you’re owed—nothing more, nothing less. If someone tries to overpay you, stop working with them.
Protect your privacy
Best for: Buyers and sellers
When buying and selling on Facebook Marketplace, it’s sometimes convenient to meet up at someone’s house, but the experts recommend against this unless you can verify the person’s identity or they’re known to you already, like a neighbor. Whenever possible, meet in a public, well-lit place, such as a police station, fast-food restaurant or shopping mall.
“You just don’t want to be in a situation where they know where you live, and the next thing you know, you get a home invasion,” McKeon says. For heavy items like furniture, he advises renting a truck. It’s less convenient, yes, but it’s important to protect your privacy.
Enlist a buddy
Best for: Buyers and sellers
If you do meet in person, have a spouse, friend or neighbor accompany you to the meeting. If you have to make the trip alone, let someone else know your plans. Facebook allows you to create and share your meetup plan with a friend. Just follow the steps below.
- Open your Messenger thread with the buyer or seller, then tap “More options.”
- Tap “Create meetup plan.”
- Select the method, time and location for your meeting.
- Tap “Send plan” to share it with the buyer or seller.
As an added layer of protection, share your plans with a trusted friend. Here’s how:
- Open your Messenger thread with the buyer or seller, then tap “Share plan.”
- Scroll through your friends list to find the person you want to keep in the loop.
- Tap “Send” next to their name, or “Undo” to remove them.
For friends not on Facebook, share your location from Google Maps, use the Find My app on your iPhone or text them before and after to let them know you’re safe.
Avoid rental scams by visiting properties in person
Best for: Buyers
Another common scam is when someone duplicates a legitimate listing for a rental on Facebook Marketplace only to take your security deposit and run. To avoid this scam, first review the profile of the potential landlord or roommate as you would with any other listing. Then, check the photos: Do they have watermarks from another site, like Zillow? If so, it’s likely a scam.
Ask the seller for the address so you can research it online and match the description to the actual property. If they won’t give it to you, that’s a red flag. Verify that the name of the seller matches the owner of the property on real estate sites, and always avoid too-good-to-be-true offers. Visit the property before giving any money; if you can’t go in person, have a friend take a tour and FaceTime you, McKeon suggests.
Have a mechanic check out a car before you buy
Best for: Buyers
When asked about buying a car on Facebook, McKeon is frank: He wouldn’t do it—and he’d recommend using a platform specifically dedicated to car sales, like Carvana. If you’re really determined, there are a few ways you can up your odds of making a good car purchase on Facebook.
Use tools like Kelley Blue Book to get an idea of how much you should be paying for a car before agreeing on a price. Avoid too-good-to-be-true pricing. Don’t make any payments without seeing the car in person, and ask if you can have a mechanic give it a look before you buy the car. If they balk, walk away.
Use traditional shipping methods
Best for: Buyers and sellers
A request to use a prepaid shipping label is frequently a sign of a scam, so stick with traditional shipping methods, such as FedEx, UPS or the U.S. Postal Service. Even better: “The easiest way to avoid a shipping scam is to not have an item shipped to you,” Ramzan says. “Aim toward an in-person transaction because that makes it harder for a scammer to hide behind a digital wall.”
Can’t get around shipping? Get a verifiable tracking number and monitor your item’s progress. And if you’re selling an item, don’t mail it before the buyer has paid for it. “If you don’t receive payment before shipping, you probably never will,” Ramzan says. Case in point: Nonpayment and nondelivery scams cost victims nearly $800 million in 2024 (the latest data available), according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Report.
Report scammers
Best for: Buyers and sellers
If you are a victim of an online scam, you do have options. Contact the buyer or seller. If they don’t respond within two days, file a claim or dispute with Facebook and report the buyer or seller. Call local law enforcement to let them know what happened, and file reports with the Federal Trade Commission and Internet Crime Complaint Center to help them look out for others.
Should you avoid Facebook Marketplace?
No, there’s no need to automatically reject Facebook Marketplace. There can be risks to buying and selling on the platform, but if you use diligence and follow these Facebook Marketplace rules, you can remain safe while making beneficial transactions, Patire says.
“I don’t want people to think selling this way isn’t a good idea,” he adds. “Every once in a while, you will find a person with the wrong intent. Limit what you say, have a good safety system in place.” That’s how you remain safe.
About the experts
|
Why trust us
Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of articles on personal technology, arming readers with the knowledge to protect themselves against cybersecurity threats and internet scams as well as revealing the best tips, tricks and shortcuts for computers, cellphones, apps, texting, social media and more. For this piece exploring whether Facebook Marketplace is safe, Chuck Brooks, a globally recognized expert on cybersecurity and emerging technologies, Georgetown University professor and thought leader who has briefed the G20 on cybersecurity and received two presidential appointments, gave it a rigorous review to ensure that all information is accurate and offers the best possible advice to readers. We rely on credentialed experts with personal experience and know-how as well as primary sources including tech companies, professional organizations and academic institutions. We verify all facts and data and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Steven McKeon, ethical hacker and CEO of MacguyverTech; video interview, May 2, 2024
- Zulfikar Ramzan, PhD, chief technology and artificial intelligence officer at Point Wild; video interview, May 3, 2024
- Robert Siciliano, head of cybersecurity at Protect Now; interview, September 2019
- Tom Patire, personal safety expert; interview, September 2019
- Capital One Shopping: “Facebook Marketplace Statistics”
- OfferUp: “Recommerce Report 2025”
- Meta: “Fake Accounts”
- FBI: “2024 Internet Crime Report”
- Facebook: “Buy and sell responsibly on Facebook Marketplace”
- Facebook: “Create and share your meetup plan for Facebook Marketplace sales and purchases”
- Facebook: “Report a Facebook Marketplace scam”
