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    Facebook Marketplace

    Local sales. Senior safety first.

    What sells well locally

    • Furniture — too expensive to ship.
    • Lawn equipment.
    • Exercise equipment.
    • Patio furniture.
    • Children's items.
    • Tools.

    List for free

    • Free Facebook account required.
    • Tap Marketplace icon.
    • +Sell button.
    • Add photos + description.
    • Set price + radius.
    • Done in 2 minutes.

    Senior safety rules

    • Meet in public — Walmart, police station.
    • Day light only.
    • Tell family member.
    • Bring spouse or friend.
    • Cash only — no checks.
    • Many police stations have "Safe Trade" spots.

    Don't allow these

    • Don't let strangers in your home.
    • Especially if living alone.
    • Don't accept Zelle/Venmo from buyers (scams).
    • Cash only or in-person card payment.
    • Refuse buyers who want to ship.
    • Local-only is the safer rule.

    Common scams

    • Buyer overpays + asks refund difference (fake check).
    • Asks for your phone number to text — phishing setup.
    • Wants to ship — usually scam.
    • Pays via gift cards.
    • Send fake Zelle email pretending paid.
    • Ignore + report all suspicious.

    For senior buyers

    • Inspect before paying.
    • Check seller's profile + ratings.
    • Ask questions in chat first.
    • Bring spouse or friend.
    • Cash + receipt.
    • Know what fair price is.

    Police safe trade spots

    Many police stations now have designated "Safe Trade" areas in their lot — under camera surveillance. Use these for Marketplace transactions. Free + safe. Search "safe trade location near me." Combined with cash-only + bring-a-friend rules, Facebook Marketplace becomes a safe + valuable tool for seniors.