Online marketplaces are great for bargains and clear-outs, and a favourite hunting ground for scammers.
Direct answer
To avoid marketplace scams: meet in a public place, inspect items in person, use payments you can verify, ignore requests to move to another app or to share verification codes, and be wary of prices far below market or buyers who overpay. If anything feels pushy, walk away.
Buying safely
- Inspect the item before paying.
- Be wary of bargains well below market price.
- Check the seller's profile age and history.
- Avoid paying in advance by transfer, gift card or crypto.
- Meet in a busy public place, in daylight.
Selling safely
- Fake payment proof: check your own bank, not a screenshot.
- Overpayment: if a buyer "accidentally" pays too much and asks for a refund, it's a scam.
- Verification codes: never share a code sent to your phone.
- Shipping to far away: be cautious with buyers who can't collect and want odd arrangements.
Messages that should worry you
- "I'll send a courier, just pay the fee."
- "Is this still available?" followed by a link.
- "Send me the code Google just sent you."
WhatsApp and other apps
Scammers often move chats to WhatsApp or other apps. That in itself isn't proof of a scam, but be careful of links and requests for money or codes.
If you've been scammed
Contact your bank at once, report the profile to the platform, keep screenshots and report to your fraud authority. See how to spot a scam.
Where Teyro fits
Teyro's How Scams and Financial Fraud Work course teaches the common traps and the first-hour response. It is free to start.
The bottom line
Meet, inspect, verify and trust your gut.
