Medium riskMarketplace

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.

Quick verdict

Risk level
Medium risk
Scam type
Wholesale goods scam
Main red flag
Cheap pallets of valuable goods sold upfront through an unfamiliar liquidation website or social media ad.
What to do first
Be careful before paying. Research the seller and avoid upfront payment to sites you cannot verify.

How this scam works

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.

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: Cheap pallets of valuable goods sold upfront through an unfamiliar liquidation website or social media ad. Be careful before paying. Research the seller and avoid upfront payment to sites you cannot verify.

Scammers rotate tactics constantly, the same operation may also run the Fake Online Store Scam and the Dropshipping Scam. See the full Marketplace Scams guides hub, or test a suspicious message with the scam checker.

How to spot this scam

  • Pallets of high-value goods offered for a fraction of their claimed worth
  • A brand new or unverifiable website taking payment upfront
  • Stock photos and vague 'manifests' that cannot be checked
  • Pressure to pay quickly before pallets 'sell out'
  • No clear company details, address or genuine reviews

What the message looks like

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'Amazon return pallets! Each pallet contains electronics worth over $2,000, yours today for $150. Limited stock, pay now to reserve: [unfamiliar link]'

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: Cheap pallets of valuable goods sold upfront through an unfamiliar liquidation website or social media ad.

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

  • Research the seller and look for genuine, independent reviews before paying
  • Be cautious of valuable pallets sold far below their claimed value
  • Use a payment method with buyer protection where possible
  • Buy from established liquidation companies you can verify

Already responded? Do this now

  • Contact your bank or card provider if you paid and received nothing
  • Keep the order confirmation, advert and any messages as evidence
  • Report the website to the marketplace or platform that hosted the ad
  • Watch your statements for any further unexpected charges

Mistakes to avoid

  • Do not pay upfront to a liquidation site you cannot verify
  • Do not trust a manifest or photo as proof the goods exist
  • Do not send payment by wire transfer or gift cards

Related scams to know

High risk Online Shopping

Fake Online Store Scam

This scam sets up a convincing but fake store with very low prices, takes payment, and delivers nothing, a counterfeit, or a cheap substitute.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Low risk Online Shopping

Dropshipping Scam

A store, often advertised on social media, sells cheap overseas goods at a large markup and ships them slowly from a low-cost supplier. Items can arrive late, look nothing like the photos, or be poor quality, with refunds made difficult.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Online Shopping

Social Media Shopping Ad Scam

This scam uses eye-catching, heavily discounted product ads in social media feeds to lure you to fake or dishonest online stores that take your payment and deliver nothing, or send a cheap counterfeit instead.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team

Common questions

Are liquidation pallets ever a real business?
Genuine liquidation sellers do exist, but scammers copy the format. The key is verifying the company and being wary of prices that seem far too good for the goods promised.
Why is the pallet so cheap for such valuable items?
An unusually low price for high-value stock is often the bait. It is commonly used to rush buyers into paying before checking whether the seller is genuine.
The site showed a manifest. Doesn't that prove it's real?
A manifest or photo can be copied or made up. It is not proof on its own, so verify the seller through independent reviews and company details.
What if I paid and nothing arrived?
Contact your bank or card provider to report the payment, keep all evidence, and report the seller to the platform and your national anti-fraud centre.

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.