Facebook (FB) Marketplace, FB’s buy-and-sell platform or low-tech e-commerce service for pre-loved items, has become more than just a buy-and-sell platform; it has evolved into a space where trust, community, and sustainability intersect. 

Recently, a particularly positive experience with Marketplace prompted The Sunday Morning Brunch to take a deeper look into what makes it work so effectively. 

While the platform offers an incredibly customisable shopping experience, the inherent risks of buying from strangers remain a consideration. Despite the uncertainties, the process of trusting a seller, making a verbal agreement through Facebook Messenger, and ultimately integrating a second-hand item into daily life can be a surprisingly rewarding experience.

Beyond the convenience of purchasing used items at a fraction of the cost, Marketplace fosters connections and reduces waste. Many users have discovered that what starts off as a simple purchase – a wooden footstool or a second-hand TV stand – ends up leading to unexpected friendships, local clubs, and even small communities. 

Brunch spoke to several Facebook Marketplace users who shared incredible stories of how their interactions on the platform went beyond transactions, proving that Marketplace was not just about buying and selling. It is also about building connections in the most unexpected ways.

How FB Marketplace came to be

Facebook Marketplace was introduced on 4 October 2016. The tab was added to the Facebook app to allow users to shop with each other, and according to Deb Liu, who led the team behind FB Marketplace, the platform’s success was built on trust, engagement, and seamless integration.

Trust was key, especially for face-to-face transactions. In a post on Lenny’s Newsletter, Liu shared how her husband carefully vetted buyer profiles before selling their minivan on Marketplace. “He felt more comfortable seeing their real identities and how long they had been on Facebook, something that wasn’t possible on other platforms,” she said.

With millions using FB daily, adding a commerce feature naturally increased engagement. “People use Facebook widely and frequently. Adding a local and shipped commerce solution only extended the value of the app,” Liu explained. Real-time listings made discovering new items easy.

Integration with Facebook Messenger streamlined transactions. “It allows you to pin your location, have someone come to you, or easily send a deposit,” she noted. This direct communication made buying and selling more efficient.

Marketplace also leveraged Facebook Groups, where many users were already engaging in community-driven commerce. “I bought an entire bedroom set from someone moving down the street, who turned out to be a friend of a friend,” Liu shared. The idea of buying from neighbours and reducing waste was central to Marketplace’s mission.

By focusing on trust, engagement, and community, FB Marketplace revolutionised online buying and selling, making it a widely used and trusted platform.

User experience and building communities 

For many users, Marketplace has become more than a transactional platform; it has fostered friendships and communities built around shared interests. Menasha Padmasiri, a frequent user of the platform, shared how she and her mother started a private Facebook group dedicated to home décor tips, which has grown exponentially over the years.

“I initially started buying discarded wooden items that I could repurpose for home decorations, to maybe add value to and resell. Since it was second-hand, I assumed the cost would be reasonable even if I experimented with the items and it didn’t turn out great,” Menasha explained.

Over time, her interactions on FB Marketplace evolved into friendships with certain vendors and she began noticing familiar faces in chats and at garage sales where she picked up items. 

“We met others with the same interests and we eventually decided to create a group. We have continued adding people this way and now it has developed into a beautiful and flourishing community of home décor enthusiasts,” she said.

Menasha’s experience reflects how Marketplace not only provides affordable and sustainable shopping options but also fosters organic connections. What begins as a simple search for second-hand furniture can lead to friendships, networking, and thriving online communities centred around shared passions.

For many users, Facebook Marketplace is more than just a convenient buy-and-sell platform – it is also a way to promote sustainability and reduce waste. Deneth De Silva, who recently moved house and listed all of his possessions on the platform, shared his experience of how Marketplace made the process seamless.

“It is very convenient. My mother has had great success on Facebook Marketplace when it comes to buying and selling,” he said. 

He emphasised the value of rehoming items rather than discarding them. “It always feels great to know that your items will get a second life, as it’s not often that you use something until the end of its lifespan. Most items get discarded while they still have plenty of use left in them,” he stated.

Deneth sees Marketplace as a way to be less wasteful, while also recouping some of the value of his belongings. “This type of platform allows us to not be wasteful while also making some money back for our products, which is great,” he added. 

What to look out for 

However, some users did stress that things were not always positive, as FB Marketplace operated on a trust-based system, making it important to stay vigilant and avoid scams. While many transactions go smoothly, there are always risks when dealing with strangers online. 

To help ensure a safe buying and selling experience, we have compiled some essential tips to help you avoid scams and make secure transactions on Facebook Marketplace.

Tips to avoid getting scammed

• Check the seller’s profile: Before engaging with a seller, take a close look at their Facebook profile. Ask yourself the following: 
• Have they posted this item before?
• Is their account new or was it created on the same day they listed the item?
• Do they have a history of Marketplace activity?

A lack of prior activity or an account with very few personal details could be a red flag to look out for.

• If it seems too good to be true, it probably is: Scammers often post unbelievably good deals to lure buyers. Be wary of listings that are significantly cheaper than the usual market rate. If a seller insists on a bank transfer before pickup or refuses to meet in person, it is likely a scam.
• Use Messenger and out-of-app means for communication and verifying images: Ask for additional pictures of the item from different angles to ensure it is legitimate. Scammers often steal images from other listings.
• Avoid full payment before receiving the item: If possible, pay in person upon pickup or only transfer part of the payment upfront. If the seller insists on full payment before sending the item, it is best to reconsider the purchase.
• Use FB Groups for more trustworthy deals: Many buyers prefer FB Groups over Marketplace as a whole because:
• Groups often have rules and moderation to reduce scams.
• Some groups give away items for free – just pick them up.
• Expat and moving groups often sell items at wholesale prices due to urgent relocations.
• Remember that there are no legal safeguards: Facebook Marketplace operates on a trust-based system – once you hand over money, there are no legal protections. Make a conscious decision before paying and always transfer after verifying the item.

Expert advice on avoiding scams

While FB Marketplace offers convenience and accessibility, online scams remain a significant risk, making digital security and best practices essential. Speaking to The Sunday Morning Brunch, Delete Nothing Co-Lead of Programmes Dr. Misha’ari Weerabangsa shared key strategies to avoid scams and protect personal data when engaging in online transactions.

Dr. Weerabangsa emphasised the importance of being cautious with deals that seem too good to be true. “Look up the market value of items and make sure the seller’s price is reasonable,” she advised. If an offer is significantly lower than usual, it could be a scam.

Another red flag is unresponsive sellers or those with suspicious contact details. “If a seller does not respond to basic inquiries or avoids direct contact, that is a sign to be wary of,” she noted. She also warned against clicking on links sent by sellers to ‘online payment portals,’ as these could be phishing attempts designed to steal personal data.

Dr. Weerabangsa stressed the importance of protecting sensitive information such as ID numbers, card details, or home addresses, which scammers could use for fraudulent transactions. “Never share personal details unless absolutely necessary. Scammers often ask for unnecessary verification to gain access to your accounts,” she cautioned.

When assessing a seller’s reliability, it is essential to check their profile, reviews, and ratings. However, Dr. Weerabangsa warned that some reviews could be bot-generated. “Be mindful of fake reviews – check the profiles of reviewers to see if multiple accounts use similar language and keywords,” she explained.

What to do if you get scammed

If a scam does occur, Dr. Weerabangsa pointed out that many platforms offer refund or recovery policies. “Facebook Marketplace has Purchase Protection, while other websites have their own dispute resolution processes, but these can take time,” she noted.

From a financial security standpoint, she advised enabling fraudulent activity alerts from banks and using credit cards over debit cards for online transactions. “Credit cards offer better fraud protection and it is easier to dispute unauthorised charges compared to debit cards,” she said. In cases of suspected fraud, immediately alert your bank and provide as many details as possible.

Dr. Weerabangsa also highlighted broader digital security measures for safe online shopping. “Use secure websites with HTTPS encryption only, never reuse the same password across multiple sites, and always monitor your bank account for suspicious transactions,” she advised. She reiterated that while many more security measures existed, these were some of the most fundamental steps to protect oneself from online scams.

With digital fraud on the rise, being vigilant, verifying sellers, and safeguarding personal information are crucial steps in ensuring a safe and scam-free experience on Facebook Marketplace and beyond.