You list an item for sale, a buyer pays quickly, then offers to “make shipping easy” by sending you their own prepaid label. It seems considerate — until the package goes somewhere you did not expect, or the label turns out to be stolen and your item vanishes with no trace. The prepaid shipping label scam targets online sellers. Our GetMyPassword team explains how to recognize it.
How the scam works
After buying your item, the scammer insists on providing the shipping label themselves rather than letting the marketplace generate one. That label can be trouble in several ways: it may be bought with a stolen card (so it gets cancelled and your item is lost in transit), or its destination may be quietly changed to reroute the package, or the buyer later claims it never arrived. By controlling the label, the scammer controls the proof of where your item really went — and leaves you without the platform’s protection.
Red flags from a buyer
- Insisting on sending their own prepaid label instead of using the marketplace’s shipping.
- Pushing to deal off-platform, away from seller protection and tracking.
- A shipping address that differs from the verified one on the order.
- Urgency to ship immediately before you can think it through.
- Overpayment combined with a request to use their label and refund the rest.
How to ship safely as a seller
Keep control of the shipment and the proof. Use the marketplace’s own shipping label whenever possible, and ship only to the verified address on the order — never one a buyer supplies separately. Choose tracked, signed-for delivery and keep records of the listing, messages and receipt. If a buyer refuses platform shipping and demands their own label, treat it as a warning sign, not a convenience, and keep the entire transaction on the marketplace where you are protected.
Whoever controls the shipping label controls the story of where your item went. A buyer who insists on supplying their own is not saving you a step — they are taking the steering wheel.
Protect your selling accounts too
Some of these schemes pair with account takeovers — a hijacked seller account used to reroute items or payouts. Guard every marketplace and payment account with a unique password from our password generator and two-factor authentication, so a fraudster cannot operate in your name. Combined with platform shipping and good records, that keeps a clever label trick from costing you your goods.
Frequently asked questions
What is a shipping label scam?
It is when a buyer insists on supplying their own prepaid shipping label instead of using the marketplace’s. The label may be bought with a stolen card or have its destination changed, letting the scammer reroute your item or dispute delivery.
Should I use a buyer’s prepaid label?
No. Use the marketplace’s own shipping label and ship only to the verified order address. A buyer insisting on their own label is a red flag, since it removes your tracking control and the platform’s protection.
How do I protect myself as a seller?
Use platform shipping with tracked, signed-for delivery to the verified address, keep records of the sale, and stay on the marketplace. Secure your selling and payment accounts with unique passwords and two-factor authentication to prevent takeovers.