How to Buy Safely on Facebook Marketplace in Australia
Buying second-hand in Australia is massive. Facebook Marketplace alone has millions of active listings at any given time. But for every genuine seller, there's someone trying to take your money and disappear. Whether you're buying your first item or your fiftieth, this checklist will help you spot the fakes, protect your money, and actually get what you paid for.
Before You Message
Before you even message a seller, look at their profile. How old is the account? Do they have friends, photos, and activity that looks real? A brand new account with no history and one listing is a red flag.
- Account created in the last few weeks
- No profile photo or a stock image
- Zero friends or connections
- Only one listing with an unusually low price
Does the listing use stock photos or images that look like they've been pulled from Google? Do a reverse image search (right click the photo, search Google for image). If the same photo shows up on other sites or listings, it's likely a scam.
- Multiple photos from different angles
- Photos taken in someone's actual home, not a studio
- Detailed description including condition, brand, and size
- Reasonable pricing (if it seems too good to be true, it probably is)
Scammers tend to keep descriptions vague on purpose. A genuine seller will include details like the brand, model, condition, reason for selling, and any flaws. If the description is one sentence or just "message me for details," be cautious.
When You Message
A genuine seller won't have a problem sending you extra photos or a quick video of the item working. If they refuse, get defensive, or send you the same stock photos again, walk away.
This is the biggest one. If a seller pushes you to pay by bank transfer or PayID before you've received anything, you have zero protection. Once that money leaves your account, it's gone. There's no dispute process, no refund, no undo button.
- "Just send a bank transfer and I'll post it today"
- Refusing any form of protected payment
- Asking for a deposit before you've even seen the item
- Sending a fake "payment received" screenshot and asking you to ship first
- Asking you to pay through PayPal Friends & Family (no buyer protection)
A seller doesn't need your full name, home address, date of birth, or ID. All they need is a way to get you the item. If someone starts asking for personal details beyond what's needed for the transaction, end the conversation.
When You Pay
The safest way to pay someone you don't know is through a service that protects your money until you actually receive the item. That way, the seller can't take your money and disappear, and payment only goes through once you've confirmed the item is what they said it was.
Bank transfers and PayID are free but give you zero protection. If the item never arrives or isn't what was described, your money is gone.
When you pay through Dela, your payment is processed securely by Stripe. It doesn't go to the seller until you've received the item and confirmed it matches the description. If something goes wrong, Dela steps in.
The seller ships using Dela's in-app shipping or their own tracked courier. Both sides can see where the item is at all times. No blind trust required.
After You Receive
When the item arrives, check it against the listing. Does it match the photos? Is it the right model, size, and condition? If anything is off, document it with photos straight away. If you used a protected payment method, you'll need this evidence if you need to raise a dispute.
If everything went well, great. If the seller tried something shady, report them. On Facebook Marketplace you can report the listing and the profile. If enough people report the same seller, the account gets removed. You're not just protecting yourself, you're protecting the next person.
Check the seller's profile before messaging. Look for real photos, not stock images. Ask questions and request extra photos. Never pay by bank transfer or PayID to someone you don't know. Use a payment method that protects your money until the item arrives. Inspect the item as soon as it's delivered. Report dodgy sellers so they can't scam the next person.
Buy with confidence on any marketplace
Your payment is secured until the item arrives and you confirm it's all good. Sellers are ID verified. Shipping is tracked. And if something goes wrong, Dela has your back.
Try Dela. It's Free for Sellers