Medium riskSocial Media

Page Purchase Offer Scam

In this scam, someone offers to buy your social media page, account, or username, then uses the 'transfer' or 'verification' process to gain access and hijack it without paying.

Quick verdict

Risk level
Medium risk
Scam type
Account takeover (fake purchase)
Main red flag
A buyer wants login access or codes to 'verify' or 'transfer' your page before paying.
What to do first
Never share login details or codes; keep control of your account.

Understanding this scam

In this scam, someone offers to buy your social media page, account, or username, then uses the 'transfer' or 'verification' process to gain access and hijack it without paying.

Social media scams spread through direct messages, ads, hacked friends' accounts, and fake profiles. They range from account-takeover phishing and fake giveaways to investment and romance fraud, exploiting the trust and reach of your own network.

If you take one thing from this guide, make it this: A buyer wants login access or codes to 'verify' or 'transfer' your page before paying. Never share login details or codes; keep control of your account.

If your message looks slightly different, check the Account Ransom Scam or the Buy Followers Scam, both are close cousins of this pattern. Every related guide lives in the Social Media Scams guides, and the scam checker can scan the text you received.

A typical example

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'I'll pay well for your page. Just share your login (or the code I send) so I can verify and transfer it, then I'll send payment.'

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.

The tell here: A buyer wants login access or codes to 'verify' or 'transfer' your page before paying.

What the data shows

$1.4B
reported lost to fraud that began on social media in the US in 2023
Source: US Federal Trade Commission
Top channel
social media was among the most common ways scams reached people in 2023
Source: US Federal Trade Commission

Warning signs

  • A request for your login or verification codes
  • A promise to pay only after you grant access
  • Pressure to act quickly on a 'great offer'
  • A buyer who avoids platform-supported transfers
  • An offer that seems too generous

Your safest response

  • Never share login details or codes with a buyer
  • Use only platform-supported transfer methods where they exist
  • Enable two-factor authentication on your account
  • Report and block suspicious buyers

If you have already engaged

  • If you shared a login or code, change your password immediately
  • Enable two-factor authentication and remove unknown sessions
  • Check and restore recovery email and phone
  • Report the takeover to the platform

What to avoid

  • Do not share login details or codes to 'sell' a page
  • Do not grant access before any payment
  • Do not trust an unusually generous offer

You might also see

High risk Social Media

Account Ransom Scam

In this scam, an attacker takes over your social media account, locks you out by changing the details, and demands payment, often in crypto or gift cards, to return access, which they rarely honour.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Social Media

Buy Followers Scam

This scam promises thousands of cheap followers, likes or views, then takes your payment and delivers fake or no followers. Some ask for your account password directly, and the bought engagement can get your account flagged or banned by the platform.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
High risk Social Media

Hacked Friend Help Scam

A message arrives from a friend's account asking for money, a verification code, or to click a link. In reality the friend's account has been taken over, and the scammer is using your trust in them to reach you.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team

Questions people ask

How does this scam work?
The 'buyer' uses the transfer or verification step to get your login or codes, then takes over the account and never pays.
Can I safely sell a page or account?
Many platforms prohibit it, and sharing credentials risks takeover. Never hand over logins or codes, and use only platform-supported methods if they exist.
I shared my login. What now?
Change your password immediately, enable two-factor authentication, remove unknown sessions, restore your recovery details, and report it.
Why is a generous offer a red flag?
An unusually high offer is bait to make you lower your guard and share access before any payment, which never comes.

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.