Automating direct messages (DMs) on Facebook, especially for scraping and sending in bulk, comes with significant risks and is generally against Facebook's (Meta's) platform policies. Relying on "free methods" often involves tools that violate these policies, leading to potential account suspensions or permanent bans.

Why it's problematic and risky:

Facebook's Policies: Meta (Facebook's parent company) strictly prohibits automated mass messaging, unsolicited messages, and scraping user data without explicit permission. Their aim is to maintain a genuine and safe user experience.

Spam Classification: Sending unrequested DMs to a large number of users will quickly trigger Facebook's spam filters.

Account Suspension/Ban: Repeated violations or suspicious activity will almost certainly lead to your personal Facebook account or your Facebook Page being temporarily suspended or permanently banned. This can be devastating for any legitimate business or personal presence.

Poor User Experience: Receiving unsolicited DMs is generally annoying and can damage your brand's reputation.

Security Risks: Many "free" scraping and automation tools are third-party browser extensions or software that may compromise your account security, steal your data, or contain malware.

Therefore, I cannot provide a "free method" that involves scraping and sending automated Facebook DMs in a way that is likely to be effective, safe, or compliant with Facebook's terms of service.

What is generally acceptable (and often paid) for Facebook Messenger automation:
Facebook does allow and encourage automation for customer service, lead generation, and engagement on Facebook Pages (not personal profiles), but this is done through approved APIs and tools. These methods focus on responding to users who have initiated contact, or sending messages to people who have explicitly opted in.

Here's what legitimate Facebook Messenger automation usually looks like:

Chatbots for Facebook Pages:

Purpose: To automate conversations with users who message your Facebook Page.

How it works: You build "flows" that respond to keywords, answer FAQs, guide users through a sales funnel, collect information, or provide customer support.

Tools:

ManyChat: One of the most popular and robust platforms for building Messenger bots, also for Instagram and WhatsApp. They often have a free tier for basic features (limited subscribers, flows), but advanced automation and broadcasting usually require a paid plan.

Chatfuel: Another well-known chatbot builder for Messenger.

Meta Business Suite Inbox: Facebook's own integrated inbox allows for setting up basic automated greetings, instant replies, and FAQs directly from your Page settings. This is free but very limited in functionality compared to dedicated chatbot platforms.

"Scraping" & "Sending" (Legitimate Context): These tools collect user data (like their name, if they allow it) as they interact with your bot and allow you to send follow-up messages within Facebook's allowed messaging windows (e.g., 24-hour rule for non-promotional messages, or using specific Message Tags for approved use cases like purchase updates). You're not "scraping" in the illicit sense; you're building an opt-in audience.

Automated Replies to Comments on Posts:

Purpose: Engage with users who comment on your organic posts or Facebook Ads.

How it works: When someone comments on a specific post, the automation tool can automatically send them a DM. This is often used for lead generation (e.g., "Comment 'INFO' to receive a DM with details!").

Tools: ManyChat, NapoleonCat, and other social media management tools offer this feature. ManyChat allows for some basic functionality on its free plan.

Click-to-Messenger Ads:

Purpose: Drive ad clicks directly into a Messenger conversation with your bot.

How it works: Users click your Facebook Ad and it opens a pre-set automated conversation flow in Messenger. This is a very effective lead generation strategy.

Tools: Set up directly within Facebook Ads Manager, often integrated with a chatbot platform like ManyChat for managing the conversation flow.

Regarding "Scraping" User Data:

Any method that involves automatically extracting (scraping) Facebook user IDs, names, or contact information from groups, profiles, or public posts without their explicit consent is a severe violation of Facebook's Terms of Service. This is highly unethical and illegal in many jurisdictions (e.g., GDPR, CCPA). Free tools claiming to do this are likely to get your account banned.

Alternative, Ethical Ways to Engage on Facebook:

If your goal is to generate leads or connect with people on Facebook, focus on:

Creating Valuable Content: Post engaging content that encourages comments and shares.

Actively Engaging in Groups: Participate genuinely in relevant Facebook Groups (read the rules first!).

Running Facebook Ads: Target your ideal audience with compelling ads. Use lead forms or send them to a landing page, or leverage legitimate Click-to-Messenger ads.

Facebook Live: Interact directly with your audience.

In conclusion, for "free" methods of "scraping and sending automated Facebook DMs," you're entering a high-risk zone that is almost certainly against Facebook's policies and can lead to severe penalties. Instead, explore legitimate chatbot platforms and Facebook's built-in automation features for Pages, which are designed for ethical and compliant engagement.