How to Report Someone on Facebook Marketplace (Step by Step)

Most people on Facebook Marketplace are perfectly decent. But if you do run into someone who's rude, evasive or clearly breaking the rules, you want to know how to report them quickly, and which kind of report to use. Facebook splits it into three: reporting a seller, reporting a listing and reporting a buyer.

I'll walk through each using the steps in Facebook's help centre. If you sell as part of a side business, the buyer and listing routes matter just as much as the seller one.

Reporting a seller on Facebook Marketplace from a computer

Facebook says you can report a seller who doesn't follow its Commerce Policies or Community Standards. On a computer:

1. Log into Facebook.
2. From your Feed, click Facebook Marketplace.
3. Click a listing from the seller you want to report, then click the seller's name below Seller information.
4. Click Options, then click Report.
5. Follow the on-screen instructions.

Reporting a Facebook Marketplace seller in the iPhone or Android app

The route is the same up to the last two taps, and this is where iPhone and Android differ:

1. Open your Facebook app and tap Menu in the top left, then tap Facebook Marketplace. If you don't see it, tap See more.
2. Tap a listing from the seller and tap the seller's name below Seller information.
3. On iPhone, tap Options, then tap Report. On Android, tap More, then tap Report.
4. Follow the on-screen instructions.

If you can't find an option with exactly that name, look for three dots or a similar menu on the seller's page. Labels can vary by app version.

Reporting a single Facebook Marketplace listing

Sometimes the seller seems fine but the item itself is the problem. Facebook has a separate route for that. On a computer:

1. From your Feed, click Facebook Marketplace in the left menu.
2. Click the listing you want to report.
3. Click Options.
4. Click Report listing, then follow the on-screen instructions.

Facebook says it reviews listings when its systems spot a possible violation or when someone reports them, and listings that don't comply are rejected. If you see similar listings still up, you can report the ones you think break the rules.

Reporting a Facebook Marketplace buyer as a seller

If you're the seller and a buyer is the issue, Facebook's buyer route runs through your own listing. On a computer:

1. From your Feed, click Facebook Marketplace in the left menu.
2. Click Selling, then click Seller dashboard.
3. Click Your listings and open the listing the buyer purchased.
4. Click the message between you and the buyer. If you can't find it, click See More.
5. Click Options, then click Report buyer.
6. Follow the on-screen instructions.

That route is built around a buyer who bought the item. For someone who only messaged you and never bought, you can still report their profile from their page, and you can block them so they can't contact you again.

Choosing the right Facebook Marketplace report

It helps to match the problem to the report, because Facebook has separate routes and they send different information:

The problem	Which report to use
The person is rude, evasive or breaking the rules	Report the seller from their listing, under Seller information
The item itself isn't allowed or looks wrong	Report the listing with Options, then Report listing
A buyer behaves badly after buying from you	Report the buyer from your Seller dashboard
A seller's review looks unfair	Facebook has a separate route for reporting a seller review

If you only want to stop someone contacting you, blocking is quicker than reporting, and you can do both. I cover the block steps on another page, and the key point from Facebook is that blocking a Facebook Marketplace contact blocks that profile on Facebook itself.

What happens after you report on Facebook Marketplace

Facebook doesn't promise a particular outcome in these articles, but it does say something useful: it may suspend or ban sellers who go against its Commerce Policies. It also warns that buyers who file fraudulent claims are subject to consequences under its Purchase Protection policies. So report honestly and keep it factual.

It's also worth knowing why a listing might vanish on its own. Facebook says it may reject a listing that doesn't follow its Commerce Policies or Community Standards, and a seller who breaks the rules can have their access limited or suspended.

If the person blocked you on Facebook Marketplace

Facebook's pages for reporting sellers, listings and buyers each include a pointer for the situation where the other person has blocked you: there is a separate help route for reporting something you can't see. Search the help centre for that title if it applies. Facebook also has a dedicated help page called Report a Facebook Marketplace scam, which is worth reading if a deal went wrong outside Facebook's own tools.

Staying safe while dealing with people on Facebook Marketplace

• Keep conversations inside Messenger so there's a record of what was said. If you're curious how seen messages work, my explainer on Facebook read receipts covers it.
• Meet in a public place and tell someone where you're going. If you wonder what Facebook knows about your whereabouts, my piece on whether Facebook tracks your location explains it.
• If you ever feel in danger, contact the police first. Reporting to Facebook is not a substitute for that.
• Take screenshots of concerning messages before you report.

If the Report option is missing on Facebook Marketplace

1. Make sure you're on the seller's page or the listing page, not the main browse screen.
2. On the phone, remember iPhone shows Options and Android shows More.
3. Try the computer route if the app hides the option.
4. Update the Facebook app, as menus differ between versions.
5. If nothing works, report the problem inside Facebook using the help centre.

For the rest of the series, see the Facebook Help: 80 Guides to Pages, Groups, Ads, Stories and Fixes.

Frequently asked questions

How do I report a seller on Facebook Marketplace?

Open one of their listings, tap or click their name under Seller information, then choose Options (or More on Android), then Report, and follow the on-screen instructions.

How do I report a listing rather than the seller?

Open the listing, click Options, then Report listing, and follow the prompts.

Can I report a buyer on Facebook Marketplace?

Yes. Facebook's route is Facebook Marketplace, Selling, Seller dashboard, Your listings, the listing the buyer purchased, the message, Options, then Report buyer.

Will the person know I reported them?

Facebook's help pages for these steps don't say the other person is told who reported them, so I wouldn't promise anything either way. Block them if you want no further contact.

What if someone is threatening me?

Report it to Facebook, but if you're in danger, contact the police straight away.