High riskMarketplace

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.

Quick verdict

Risk level
High risk
Scam type
Marketplace deposit scam
Main red flag
A seller asking for an upfront deposit to reserve an underpriced item before you have seen it.
What to do first
Do not send any money. Insist on inspecting the item in person and paying only on collection.

How this scam works

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.

Marketplace scams target both buyers and sellers on platforms like Facebook Marketplace and classified listings. Fraudsters fake payments, send bogus "buyer protection" emails, push deals off-platform, or use overpayment tricks to make you ship goods or send money for nothing.

In short, the giveaway is usually simple: A seller asking for an upfront deposit to reserve an underpriced item before you have seen it. Do not send any money. Insist on inspecting the item in person and paying only on collection.

Scammers rotate tactics constantly, the same operation may also run the Facebook Marketplace Buyer Email Scam and the Car Deposit Scam. See the full Marketplace Scams guides hub, or test a suspicious message with the scam checker.

How to spot this scam

  • A price well below what the same phone, console, or laptop normally sells for
  • A request for a deposit to 'hold' or 'reserve' the item before you meet
  • Pressure that other buyers are waiting, so you must pay quickly
  • The seller refusing to meet in a public place or show the item working first
  • A push to pay by bank transfer, e-transfer, or gift card rather than on collection

What the message looks like

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'Loads of people are interested in the PS5, so I can only hold it if you send a $50 deposit now. Once I get it I'll save it just for you and we can meet tomorrow.'

This is a fictional, anonymised example used to illustrate the pattern. It is not a verified real message, and any names are used only to show how the scam typically reads.

What gives it away: A seller asking for an upfront deposit to reserve an underpriced item before you have seen it.

The scale of it

$1.4B
reported lost to fraud that started on social media in the US in 2023
Source: US Federal Trade Commission
Top category
online shopping is consistently among the most-reported fraud types to the FTC
Source: US Federal Trade Commission

How to protect yourself

  • Keep all conversation and payment inside the marketplace platform where possible
  • Arrange to inspect the item in person and test that it powers on and works
  • Pay only when you have the item in hand, ideally in a safe public location
  • Search the listing photos online to check they were not copied from elsewhere

Already responded? Do this now

  • If you sent a deposit, contact your bank or payment provider right away to report it
  • Save the listing, messages, and any payment receipts as evidence
  • Report the seller and listing to the marketplace so the account can be reviewed
  • Report the loss to your national anti-fraud centre or local police

Mistakes to avoid

  • Do not send a deposit for an item you have not seen in person
  • Do not pay by gift card, crypto, or irreversible transfer to a stranger
  • Do not let urgency or 'other buyers' pressure you into paying early

Related scams to know

High risk Marketplace

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
High risk Marketplace

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
Medium risk Marketplace

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

Common questions

Is it ever normal to pay a deposit for a second-hand item?
For casual marketplace sales it is unusual, and a deposit request for an underpriced gadget is a common scam pattern. Genuine private sellers are usually happy to meet and let you pay on collection.
The seller sent photos of the item, so is it real?
Photos prove very little. Scammers often copy images from other listings or the internet. Insist on seeing the actual item working before any money changes hands.
What if I already sent a deposit and the seller went quiet?
Contact your bank or payment provider immediately to see if the payment can be stopped or disputed, then report the seller to the marketplace and to your anti-fraud centre.
How can I buy electronics on a marketplace more safely?
Meet in a public place, test the device, keep payment on the platform where possible, and never pay upfront to reserve an item you have not inspected.

Last reviewed June 2026 · Written & reviewed by the

Disclaimer: This page provides educational information only to help you recognise common scam patterns. It is not legal, financial, cybersecurity, or law enforcement advice, and it does not confirm whether any specific message, company, or person is genuine or fraudulent. When in doubt, contact the official organisation directly and report concerns to your local authorities.