Marketplace Scams
Marketplace scams happen on buy-and-sell platforms and classified sites. A fake buyer may send a screenshot of a 'payment' that never arrives, ask for a shipping or verification fee, or try to move the conversation to email or text. A fake seller may take a deposit for an item that does not exist. The common thread is pressure to act quickly and to step outside the platform's protections.
Common red flags
- A buyer or seller who wants to move the chat off the platform immediately
- Payment 'screenshots' instead of money actually arriving in your account
- Requests to pay or refund a fee before you receive funds
- Overpayment followed by a request to send the difference back
- Pressure to ship or pay before you have confirmed details
Marketplace scam guides
Facebook Marketplace Buyer Email Scam
A fake buyer claims to have paid through an email service and asks you to confirm a fee or send the 'difference' before any real money arrives.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Google Voice Verification Code Scam
On a marketplace, a supposed buyer or seller asks you to share a verification code texted to your phone to 'prove you are real'. The code is actually used to set up a Google Voice number linked to you, which the scammer then uses for further fraud.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Concert Ticket Scam
Scammers advertise resale tickets for sold-out or popular events on social media and marketplaces. After you pay, often by a method that is hard to reverse, you receive no valid ticket, or a duplicate that will not scan at the door.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Puppy Sale Scam
This scam advertises pets at attractive prices, then asks for a deposit before you can meet the animal and keeps adding fees for shipping, crates, or insurance, while the pet does not actually exist.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Car Deposit Scam
This scam uses an underpriced vehicle listing where the seller claims to be away and asks for a deposit or full payment through gift cards, wire transfer, or a fake escrow service before you can inspect the car.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Fake Escrow Scam
In a high-value marketplace deal, the other party insists on a specific 'escrow' or 'secure payment' website to hold the funds, but the site is fake and simply collects your money or card details.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Vehicle History Report Scam
When buying or selling a vehicle, the other party insists you first get a history report from one specific website, which is set up to harvest your card details or charge hidden fees.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Electronics Deposit Scam
This scam advertises a cheap phone, games console, or laptop, then asks you to send a deposit to 'hold' or 'reserve' the item before you can meet or before it ships. After you pay, the seller disappears.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Marketplace Gift Card Payment Scam
This scam involves a buyer or seller on a marketplace insisting on paying or being paid with gift card codes. Once the codes are shared they are drained almost instantly and are extremely difficult to recover.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Fake Shipping Label Scam
This scam targets sellers when a 'buyer' sends a prepaid shipping label or claims to have overpaid for shipping and asks for the difference back, or sends a fake label so the parcel is redirected. The underlying payment is usually fake or later reversed.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Bait and Switch Listing Scam
This scam uses an attractive, underpriced listing as bait. Once you enquire, the seller says the item is gone and pressures you toward a different, inferior or overpriced item, or to pay a deposit on a 'similar' one.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Online Car Shipping Scam
This scam advertises an underpriced vehicle from a seller who claims to be out of state or abroad. They arrange payment through a fake shipping or escrow service that supposedly holds your money and delivers the car, but the vehicle never arrives and the money is gone.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Liquidation Pallet Scam
This scam advertises cheap pallets of returned, overstock or electronics goods for resale. Buyers pay upfront through a fake liquidation website, but the pallets never arrive or contain near-worthless items rather than the valuable stock that was promised.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Moving Company Scam
This scam uses a low quote to win your booking, then demands a large deposit or sharply raises the price once your belongings are loaded. Some movers hold your items hostage until you pay sudden extra fees that were never mentioned at the start.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
eBay Second Chance Offer Scam
After an online auction ends, scammers send a fake second chance offer claiming the winning bidder backed out and that you can now buy the item. The email looks official but pushes you to pay off-platform by bank transfer or another irreversible method, bypassing the marketplace's buyer protection. The item usually does not exist, and once the money is sent it is very hard to recover. Genuine offers stay within the platform's own checkout and messaging.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Fake Supplier Scam
A fake wholesale or B2B supplier advertises bulk goods at prices that beat the market, then asks for payment by bank transfer. Some vanish after the first order, while others build trust with small, genuine deliveries before disappearing on a large one. Because bank transfers offer little recourse, recovering the money is often very difficult.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Penny Auction Scam
A penny or bidding-fee auction site charges a fee for each bid placed, regardless of whether you win. Prices rise in tiny increments, and timers reset with every new bid, so auctions can run far longer than expected. Bots or shill bidders may extend the action, and most users spend far more on non-refundable bids than the item is worth, often winning nothing.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Land Sale Scam
A fake listing offers cheap land or a plot at a tempting price. The seller is often 'abroad' or relies on a fake agent or escrow service, and pushes for a deposit or full payment before you can verify ownership. The land may not exist, may belong to someone else, or may not be for sale at all, leaving buyers with nothing.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Timeshare Resale Scam
Timeshare owners are often contacted out of the blue by a company claiming it already has a buyer lined up, or that it can sell or rent the timeshare quickly. The catch is an upfront payment dressed up as a 'listing fee', 'transfer fee', 'closing cost', or even foreign 'taxes'. Once the money is paid the promised sale stalls, and the buyer turns out not to exist. This pattern is commonly used to target people who already feel stuck with ongoing maintenance fees and are keen to offload the property.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Wedding Vendor Scam
Planning a wedding often means booking several vendors months ahead, which is exactly what makes this scam work. A fake or fraudulent photographer, venue, planner, or caterer advertises online with an attractive portfolio and a competitive price. They ask for a deposit by bank transfer to 'secure the date', then go quiet, never deliver, or disappear entirely. Some use stolen portfolio photos and fabricated reviews to look established, and the loss is often only noticed close to the wedding.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Rogue Trader Scam
A rogue trader is a doorstep or online 'tradesperson' offering driveway, roofing, gardening or repair work at a tempting price. They press for a large cash deposit upfront, then carry out poor or unfinished work, 'discover' extra problems that were never there, and inflate the final bill. Older homeowners are often targeted. Taking time to get the offer in writing and to compare quotes can reveal the pressure tactics for what they are.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Blocked Phone Sale Scam
A blocked phone sale scam involves a second-hand handset that looks fine but is stolen, blocklisted by its IMEI, or still tied to the previous owner's account. After you pay, the phone may lose network service, refuse to activate, or stay locked behind someone else's login. Checking the IMEI status and confirming any account lock is removed before handing over money is the key protection.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Car Leasing Scam
A car leasing scam advertises a brand-new lease or a 'lease takeover' with eye-catching low monthly payments. Once you are interested, the bogus dealer or broker asks for an upfront deposit or an 'admin', 'processing' or 'reservation' fee by bank transfer. After the money is sent, no vehicle and no proper contract ever arrive, and the contact goes quiet. Verifying that the dealer or broker is genuinely registered is the most reliable safeguard.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Counterfeit Cash Pickup Scam
In this scam, a buyer meets a marketplace seller for a local cash pickup and pays with counterfeit notes or a folded 'cash stack', taking the item before the seller notices the money is fake.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Counterfeit Designer Goods Scam
In this scam, a seller lists counterfeit designer items as authentic at tempting prices, often with stock photos, and ships a fake, a lower-quality copy, or nothing at all.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Free Pet Rehoming Scam
In this scam, a 'free' or low-cost pet is advertised for adoption, but once you are attached the scammer demands escalating fees for shipping, a special crate, or insurance for a pet that does not exist.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Item Not Received Chargeback Scam
In this scam, a buyer receives an item but falsely claims it never arrived or was empty, then files a dispute or chargeback to get their money back while keeping the goods.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Sneaker Resale Scam
In this scam, a seller advertises sought-after or sold-out sneakers at a good price, takes payment by an irreversible method, and then sends a counterfeit pair or disappears entirely.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Marketplace Shipping Insurance Scam
In this scam, a marketplace 'buyer' insists on using their own courier and asks the seller to pay a refundable shipping insurance or handling fee upfront, promising reimbursement that never arrives.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Test Drive Theft Scam
In this scam, someone responding to a private car listing takes the vehicle for a test drive and never returns, or swaps keys for a fake set, driving off with your car.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Damaged Item Refund Scam
In this scam, a buyer falsely claims an item arrived damaged, broken, or not as described, demanding a partial or full refund while keeping the item, sometimes using photos of a different product.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Trade-In Swap Scam
In this scam, someone offers to trade goods, such as phones or electronics, then swaps the agreed item for a fake, broken, or lower-value one during the exchange, leaving you with something worthless.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Discounted Gift Card Resale Scam
In this scam, a seller offers gift cards at a discount, but the cards are empty, already spent, or fake, so the balance is gone by the time you try to use them.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Storage Unit Auction Scam
In this scam, fake online listings advertise abandoned storage units full of valuables up for auction, then take a deposit or full payment for a unit and facility that do not exist or are not theirs to sell.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Copycat Listing Scam
In this scam, a fraudster copies a real seller's photos and details to create a duplicate listing or profile, intercepts buyers, and takes payment off-platform for an item they do not have.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Trading Card Scam
In this scam, a seller offers valuable trading cards or graded slabs at tempting prices, then sends counterfeits, resealed or altered cards, or nothing at all, often using stock photos and irreversible payment.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Memorabilia Forgery Scam
In this scam, a seller offers signed memorabilia, such as sports or music items, with forged autographs and fake certificates of authenticity, selling worthless items as genuine collectibles.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Jewellery Sale Scam
In this scam, a seller advertises gold, diamond, or gemstone jewellery as genuine and valuable, but the items are fake, plated, or far lower grade than claimed, sold at prices that seem like a bargain.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Cash for Gold Scam
In this scam, a 'cash for gold' mail-in or pop-up service offers to buy your gold, then underpays drastically, undervalues items, or fails to return them, exploiting that you have already sent your valuables.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Equipment Hire Scam
In this scam, tools, machinery, or event equipment are advertised for hire at low rates, but the lister demands a deposit before collection for items that do not exist or are not theirs to rent.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Appraisal Fee Scam
In this scam, a buyer or 'specialist' offers to purchase or sell your valuable item but first requires an upfront appraisal, certification, or listing fee, then takes the fee and disappears.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Stolen Goods Sale Scam
In this scam, a seller offers goods, often electronics, bikes, or tools, at suspiciously low prices because they are stolen; if traced, the items can be seized and you lose both the goods and your money.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Refurbished Electronics Scam
In this scam, a seller advertises phones, laptops, or consoles as 'refurbished' or 'certified', but the devices are faulty, counterfeit, locked, or far lower grade than claimed, with no real warranty.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Car Clocking Scam
In this scam, a seller winds back or alters a used car's odometer to show lower mileage, making the vehicle seem less worn and worth more, hiding wear and inflating the price.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Write-Off Car Scam
In this scam, a car that was written off, salvaged, or rebuilt from damaged vehicles is sold as a clean, accident-free car, hiding structural damage and safety risks to inflate the price.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Rare Coin Scam
In this scam, a seller offers 'rare' or collectible coins as valuable investments, but the coins are counterfeit, altered, common, or wildly overpriced, sometimes with fake grading certificates.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Art Sale Scam
In this scam, a seller offers paintings or prints as valuable originals or limited editions, but the art is forged, misattributed, mass-produced, or never delivered, often with fake provenance documents.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Vending Machine Business Scam
In this scam, a 'business opportunity' sells vending machines or an ATM route promising passive income and prime locations, but the machines are overpriced, locations never materialise, and support disappears after you pay.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Franchise Opportunity Scam
In this scam, a fake or misrepresented franchise or 'business in a box' charges upfront franchise and setup fees with promises of proven systems and support, then provides little of value and no real business.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Website Sale Scam
In this scam, a seller offers a website, domain, or online business claiming strong traffic and revenue, but the figures are faked, the assets are not theirs to sell, or nothing is transferred after payment.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Horse and Livestock Sale Scam
In this scam, a horse, pony, or other livestock is advertised at a good price, but the 'seller' demands a deposit, vetting, or transport fee before any viewing for an animal that does not exist or is not theirs.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Counterfeit Parts Scam
In this scam, counterfeit or substandard spare parts, such as car components, phone batteries, or appliance parts, are sold as genuine at low prices, risking safety and failure as well as wasted money.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Seized Goods Auction Scam
In this scam, fake listings advertise 'police, customs, or government seized' goods, cars, or electronics at bargain prices, then take a deposit or full payment for items and auctions that are not genuine.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Device Buyback Scam
In this scam, a device buyback or trade-in service offers a great price for your phone or laptop, but after you post it they slash the offer citing 'faults', underpay drastically, or keep the device entirely.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
We Buy Any Car Scam
In this scam, an online 'instant car valuation' or buyer lures you with a high quote, then drastically cuts the price at inspection over minor 'faults', or harvests your vehicle and personal details for fraud.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Counterfeit Toy Scam
In this scam, counterfeit or unsafe toys, often popular branded or in-demand items, are sold as genuine at low prices, risking safety and disappointment as well as wasted money.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Shipping Container Sale Scam
In this scam, shipping or storage containers are advertised at attractive prices, but the seller demands a deposit or full payment before viewing or delivery for containers that do not exist or are not theirs.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Mobility Equipment Scam
In this scam, mobility scooters, wheelchairs, or disability aids are advertised cheaply to target older or disabled buyers, taking a deposit or full payment for equipment that never arrives or is faulty.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Caravan Sale Scam
In this scam, a caravan or motorhome is advertised at a good price, but the seller demands a deposit before viewing, often claiming to be away, for a vehicle that does not exist or is not theirs.
Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Frequently asked questions
Why do scammers want to move off the platform?
Is a payment screenshot proof that I was paid?
How can I trade more safely on marketplaces?
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