The Marketplace Scams Targeting Buyers and Sellers — and How to Beat Them

Second-hand marketplaces and local selling groups make it easy to buy and sell directly with strangers. That convenience is also what scammers exploit. Knowing the common tricks — on both the buying and selling side — removes most of the risk.

Common scams targeting buyers

• Item that does not exist: a too-good-to-be-true price, payment requested upfront, and the seller disappears.
• Deposit to "hold" an item: often for cars, pets or high-demand electronics.
• Fake delivery or escrow services: a convincing link to a payment page the scammer controls.
• Counterfeit goods sold as genuine.

Common scams targeting sellers

• Overpayment: the buyer "accidentally" sends too much and asks for a refund — the original payment later bounces.
• Fake payment confirmation: an email or screenshot claiming payment was sent when it was not.
• Verification code scams: the buyer asks you to share a code sent to your phone, which is used to take over an account.
• Courier pickup scams: the buyer arranges a courier and asks you to pay a fee.

How to buy safely

1. Inspect the item in person before paying where possible.
2. Meet in a busy public place, or at a police station's safe exchange area where available.
3. Use the platform's own payment and protection features.
4. Avoid bank transfers, gift cards and cryptocurrency for purchases from strangers.
5. Check the seller's profile age, history and previous feedback.
6. For vehicles and high-value items, check ownership and documents.

How to sell safely

1. Only release the item once payment has actually arrived in your account.
2. Never refund an "overpayment" — cancel and ask the buyer to resend the correct amount.
3. Never share verification codes.
4. Meet in public, bring someone with you, and avoid sharing your home address.
5. Keep all communication on the platform.

If you have been scammed

• Contact your bank or payment provider straight away
• Report the account and listing to the platform
• Report the fraud to local police or your national fraud reporting service
• Keep screenshots, messages and payment records

Why marketplace fraud keeps happening

A scammer's account costs nothing to replace. Feedback scores disappear the moment an account is abandoned. RRSource links conduct to a verified identity through a portable Reputation Record, so honest buyers and sellers build trust that travels between platforms, and bad actors cannot simply start again.