Online marketplaces connect millions of honest buyers and sellers — and a steady stream of scammers hunting both. Whether you are clearing out a closet or hunting a bargain, the same few tricks come up again and again. Our GetMyPassword team explains how to avoid scams when buying and selling online.
Scams that target buyers
As a buyer, the classic trap is a deal too good to be true on a hard-to-find item. The seller pushes you to pay outside the platform — by bank transfer, gift card or crypto — where there is no protection, then vanishes once paid. Fake listings, fake “sold out, pay a deposit” messages, and sellers who refuse normal protected payment are all warning signs the item will never arrive.
Scams that target sellers
Selling has its own traps. In the overpayment scam, a “buyer” sends a fake payment confirmation for too much, then asks you to refund the difference — real money out, their payment never arrives. Others say their “courier will collect” if you just pay a fee first, or send convincing fake screenshots of a transfer. Anyone steering you to refund, pay, or ship before genuine funds have truly cleared is running a con.
Rules that keep you safe
- Keep payment and chat on the platform, where you have protection and a record.
- Never pay or refund until real money has actually arrived in your account.
- Distrust gift cards, wires and crypto — scammers love payments you cannot reverse.
- Be wary of urgency and of anyone pushing you off the site “to save fees.”
- For local deals, meet in a busy public place and check the item in person.
Almost every marketplace scam begins with the same nudge: “let’s do this off the platform.” That sentence removes your protection and the paper trail — which is exactly why the scammer wants it.
Protect your account too
A hijacked marketplace account lets a scammer trade in your name and reach your saved details, so guard it like the rest. Give it a unique password from our password generator and turn on two-factor authentication, and never move a deal to email or a messaging app a stranger suggests. Keep everything on the platform, and most scams fall apart before they start.
Frequently asked questions
How do I avoid getting scammed as a buyer?
Be suspicious of deals that seem too good, never pay outside the platform by transfer, gift card or crypto, and avoid sellers who refuse normal protected payment or push you to act fast. Keep payment and chat on the marketplace.
What is the overpayment scam when selling?
A “buyer” sends a fake confirmation of an overpayment, then asks you to refund the difference. The refund leaves your account as real money while their payment never actually arrives. Never refund or ship until genuine funds have cleared.
Why do scammers want to move off the platform?
Because the platform’s protected payment and message records work against them. Moving to direct transfer, email or a messaging app removes your buyer or seller protection and the paper trail, leaving you exposed.