5 Tips For Paying On Facebook Marketplace Without Getting Scammed
Last Updated on by Bree
This post will show you tips for paying on the Facebook marketplace without getting scammed.
Recently I avoided getting scammed on the Facebook Marketplace by a slim chance.
So I was trying to buy some Tupperware from a Facebook Marketplace seller.
After discussing the size of the containers with the seller, we finally agreed on the price, etc.
Now it’s time to ship.
But the seller won’t ship on the Facebook marketplace.
And they also refused to accept payment on the platform.
The final straw was when they asked me to send $17 on PayPal to ship the containers.
And I told them I can’t send money on PayPal for shipping.
That they should ship on the Facebook selling platform, and I’d pay for everything there.
Still, they refused.
And I didn’t buy the containers.
I can imagine many buyers must have had the same experience as I.
So let’s discuss paying on the Facebook marketplace without getting scammed.
How do you pay on Facebook Marketplace without getting scammed? – 5 Top tips
Because the Facebook marketplace is like a community selling platform, most buyers are unaware they can pay on the platform.
Also, some sellers are used to selling locally and getting cash.
So they’re inflexible about accepting payments on the Facebook marketplace.
It’s not because they don’t know how to.
I think it’s because they don’t want to pay the Facebook selling fees.
So they pressure you to do things you’re uncomfortable with for their convenience.
And I’m telling you today not to let it happen.
So here’s how to pay on Facebook Marketplace without getting scammed.
1. Never pay outside the Facebook marketplace platform.
The first and most crucial tip to pay without getting scammed on Facebook Marketplace is to only pay on the platform.
The tax, shipping, etc., will be added when you buy an item on the marketplace.
And you’d see an invoice for your payment.
And when you receive your purchase, Facebook Marketplace sends the seller their funds.
So you and the seller never exchange information except for the shipping label.
The seller never gets your credit card information, phone number, email, and address.
But they only get your information when they print the shipping label from the Facebook marketplace.
2. Keep the messaging within the platform
Another way to pay on the Facebook marketplace without getting scammed is to keep your messages on the platform.
Never exchange phone numbers for texting each other outside of the platform.
No seller needs to get your phone number.
And even if you’re meeting locally to get your item, keep chatting with them on the Facebook marketplace messenger.
3. To avoid getting scammed when paying on Facebook Marketplace, never send money directly to the buyer for shipping
When I was trying to buy the Tupperware containers, the seller said they would ship with Ship Station and PayPal.
So they calculated the shipping and told me the total.
Then they said I should send them the shipping cost before they ship the items.
And I told them I preferred shipping through Facebook Marketplace, and I’d pay there.
Well, they claimed not to know how to ship and get paid on the marketplace.
Anyway, I ended the transaction because I wasn’t comfortable sending money outside the platform, let alone for shipping.
And the seller kept going on and on about how their plan was the best option.
But I wasn’t interested anymore.
Because in all my years selling and buying on the Facebook marketplace, I’ve never heard of paying shipping separately and directly to the seller.
My point is that honest sellers never ask you to send them money on PayPal to ship an item you haven’t received.
Also, if the seller wants to ship outside the platform, they would add the shipping cost to the listing price.
And they’d be okay with you paying them on the platform.
Whether the seller was legit or not, isn’t my business.
But they were unwilling to pay for shipping from their pocket even if I would still pay for it eventually.
That’s the part that didn’t sit well with me.
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4. Never be so fixated on an item and be taken advantage of
Don’t be fixated on the product to avoid getting scammed when shopping on the Facebook marketplace.
If a scam seller thinks you can’t do without the product, they will try to sway you.
And easily scam you.
The seller I was talking about knew I wanted the Tupperware container.
Because I told them I had similar ones and needed more.
So they acted on it.
And I wanted the containers to store flour and other food items in the kitchen.
And because they noticed I was interested in them, they became stiff with pricing.
Still, I agreed to pay the listing price because I wanted the containers.
So even if you want the product badly, act like you can do without it.
Or, like, you have options.
So sellers don’t play on your need for the item or even scam you.
Because they’d believe you’d do anything to get that item.
5. Also, don’t fall for the seller’s pity party to avoid getting scammed when paying on Facebook Marketplace.
Some sellers would guilt trip you to make it easier to scam you.
When the seller told me the shipping cost on PayPal through Ship Station was $17, I felt it was too much to ship two empty containers.
So I told them I couldn’t afford the shipping.
And they kept going on and on about how they wouldn’t ship on the marketplace.
And being someone who sells on Facebook Marketplace, I know shipping on the platform is way cheaper than other marketplaces.
As far as I know, Facebook Marketplace shipping is cheaper than Mercari, Poshmark, etc.
So it was weird for the seller to ask for $17 to ship empty containers.
So I told them I wasn’t buying the product anymore because the shipping was too expensive.
And they went on and on about how they spent hours talking to me about the product.
Then I felt terrible and decided to pay $17 for shipping.
Then they pushed for me first to send them the shipping money.
That’s when I decided I no longer needed the containers.
And the seller claimed I didn’t trust them to send me the product.
Anyway, my point is, don’t let them guilt trip you and then scam you.
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FAQs about scams when buying on Facebook Marketplace
Should I give someone my address on Facebook Marketplace?
Yes and no.
If you’re buying locally and the seller wants to deliver the item, they’d need your address.
Also, some sellers can help bring bulky items to your place if you don’t have the right vehicle to transport them.
A couple once brought an entertainment center to my place when it couldn’t fit in our car.
And they were moving and wanted it gone.
So they offered to bring it down, which was nice of them.
But it would be best to have someone with you when a seller comes to your place.
Otherwise, please don’t give a seller your address when they can get a shipping label on Facebook Marketplace and ship the item to you.
Can I get my money back if I get scammed on Facebook Marketplace?
If you pay on the platform, it’s highly unlikely that you’d get scammed.
But once you take the transaction outside Facebook Marketplace, you’re no longer covered by buyer protection.
So I highly doubt that you’d get your money back.
Because the Facebook marketplace is unaware of the transaction.
There is no record of payment whatsoever that they can use to make a case for you.
Also, they can’t prove that you paid money to the seller because, again, you paid outside the platform.
So make sure to keep messages and make payments only in the marketplace.
Conclusion on how to pay on Facebook Marketplace without getting scammed
So the best way to avoid getting scammed when buying on the Facebook marketplace is to transact on the platform.
Never pay directly to a seller for shipping.
Unless you’re buying locally, and offering a token for the seller to bring a bulky item to you.
Otherwise, keep your business on the marketplace, and you can avoid scams.
I hope this helps.
If you find this post helpful, please share it.
Thanks for reading.
See you in the next post.
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