Before you pay a seller on Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Craigslist, OfferUp, or another resale app, check the price, the pressure, and the payment route. Check all three.
If one piece feels off, pause. This guidance is for U.S. buyers. Protections vary by item, account, platform, and transaction type. A marketplace name alone doesn't guarantee a refund.
The seller red flags worth taking seriously
One odd detail may have an innocent explanation. A cluster of warning signs is different.
Real sellers can be new, busy, or disorganized. Their listing, answers, and payment terms should still make sense together. These signals are good reasons to slow down:
| Warning sign | Why it matters | Safer response |
|---|---|---|
| The price is far below comparable listings | The item may be counterfeit, stolen, misrepresented, or nonexistent | Check completed or sold listings before offering money |
| The seller pushes you to act immediately | Pressure can make you skip basic checks | Ask for time to verify the item |
| Payment must happen outside the platform | You may lose marketplace records and buyer-protection options | Use the platform's checkout when it covers the transaction |
| Photos look copied, blurry, or inconsistent | The seller may not have the pictured item | Request a fresh photo of the actual item |
| The profile and listing do not fit together | The listing may be copied, or the account may be compromised | Check the location, account history, wording, and other listings |
| The seller sends a sign-in link or requests a one-time code | This may be a phishing or account-takeover attempt | Open the app yourself and never share a security code |
| Tracking appears before the package moves | A label or fake number does not prove shipment | Enter the number on the carrier's official website |
| The terms change at the last minute | A new fee, deposit, account, or delivery story changes your risk | Stop and review the deal before paying |
Price is only one signal. A new seller may be genuine, while an established account may be compromised. Reviews help, but they shouldn't end your check.
A five-minute listing check
Give the listing five minutes before you commit. Higher-priced items deserve more verification. A $40 appliance gets the same basic checks as a $2,000 camera, although the camera warrants closer scrutiny.
- Search the exact brand, model, and condition. Compare sold prices, not just asking prices.
- Reverse-search one or two distinctive photos. If the same image appears in several cities, ask for new proof.
- Read the complete listing. Confirm the location, condition, quantity, accessories, shipping terms, and return language.
- Request a fresh photo of the actual item beside a handwritten date or a detail you choose. For an expensive purchase, ask for proof of purchase with private information covered.
- Keep questions and answers in the marketplace messaging system. Preserve that record.
- Confirm the final price, payment route, pickup or shipping plan, and way to report a problem. Don't send a deposit for a local item you haven't inspected.
A video call can help. It can't authenticate the deal. The seller could briefly borrow the item or use a stolen video.
Questions that reveal a shaky listing
Ask where the item came from and how long the seller has owned it. Ask why they're selling it. The answers don't need to sound polished, but they should agree with the photos and description.
This is fussy. It also beats finding the problem after payment.
Don't ask for a full driver's license or another sensitive identity document as your main proof. A current photo, a clear transaction record, and an on-platform payment route offer more useful safeguards.
Payment choice changes what help you have
Turns out, the payment method can matter more than a friendly profile. The listing itself doesn't promise a refund, and a seller's assurance is not platform protection.
Choose the payment route before you send money:
| Payment method | What to understand | Safer move |
|---|---|---|
| Marketplace checkout | The platform's buyer-protection terms may apply, subject to item, timing, and evidence requirements | Read the current policy and keep the order inside the platform |
| Credit card | Your issuer may provide a billing-dispute process, but a refund is not automatic | Contact the issuer promptly about a missing, misrepresented, or unauthorized purchase |
| Debit card | The FTC says to report an unauthorized debit or a scam debit payment to your bank or credit union immediately | Call the bank through its official number and ask about its fraud process |
| Peer-to-peer app, bank transfer, or wire | Moving off the marketplace can remove its oversight, and recovery may be limited | Don't use one for a deposit unless you understand the provider's process |
| Gift card | A seller requesting gift cards is a major warning sign | Never pay this way; if you already did, contact the card issuer immediately |
| Cryptocurrency | Recovery can be difficult after a transfer | Contact the exchange or wallet provider immediately and preserve the transaction details |
| Cash for local pickup | Cash avoids some payment-link scams but doesn't make a bad item safe | Inspect first, meet in a public place, and pay only after the deal checks out |
The FTC's guidance on what to do if you were scammed identifies which provider to contact for card, gift card, and cryptocurrency payments.
For eBay, the current eBay Money Back Guarantee policy controls eligibility and the dispute process. Read it before buying. If something goes wrong, use the order's official issue flow. Not every item, payment, or seller promise qualifies.
Platform-specific checks for common marketplaces
The seller's instructions don't replace the platform's own process. Check the service directly before following a link or sending money.
| Marketplace | Red flags to watch | Practical response |
|---|---|---|
| Facebook Marketplace | A fresh profile, inconsistent location, copied photos, or pressure to use Cash App or another off-platform payment | Keep messages in Marketplace, inspect local items in public, and use Meta's reporting tools |
| Craigslist | Anonymous or evasive communication, a deposit request before meeting, or a sudden shipping story | Treat it as a direct transaction; inspect locally and don't assume buyer protection |
| eBay | A new account, stock photos, vague condition details, or unusual tracking | Keep payment and messages on eBay, check the order details, and follow its Money Back Guarantee process |
| OfferUp | Advance payment for a local item, suspicious links, or a request for a verification code | Don't pay in advance for local items, and never share a one-time password |
| Poshmark, Mercari, Depop, and Vinted | Off-app payment requests, counterfeit clues, or a seller who avoids close-up photos and measurements | Use the app's checkout and read its current protection or authentication terms |
| Etsy | A supposed handmade item uses generic catalog photos, or the seller can't explain materials and production | Ask specific questions and keep the purchase inside Etsy's checkout |
Meta explains how buyers can report a seller on Marketplace. OfferUp's guidance on common buying and selling scams also warns about advance payment for local items, suspicious links, and verification codes.
Counterfeit or potentially stolen items
Some items need a closer look before you buy. Be wary of a luxury product with no purchase history, an obscured serial number or label, several identical new electronics on a casual profile, or a seller who can't explain ownership.
No single clue proves theft. Look at the pattern instead of accusing the seller. Request close-up photos and a receipt with private information hidden. If the answers remain vague, leave the deal.
For electronics, compare the model, included parts, packaging, and condition with the manufacturer's information. A logo and a polished photo aren't enough. Counterfeit goods can copy both.
Fake tracking, payment pages, and account takeovers
Thing is, a tracking number only shows that someone supplied a number. It doesn't show that the carrier received the right package. Type it into the carrier's official website instead of clicking a tracking link from chat.
A seller may send a page asking you to confirm a payment, accept a refund, or verify your account. The FTC warns that scam QR codes can lead to sites built to steal money or personal information. Open the marketplace app directly, and never enter a password or card number through an unexpected message.
OfferUp warns that a requested verification code may help someone get past two-step security. The code belongs to you. Don't share it, even if the sender claims to be support.
A compromised account can look normal because the real owner built its history. A sudden low price, changed writing style, new location, or unusual payment request should send you back to the platform to check the account.
What to do if you suspect a scam
Act quickly, but don't try to fix the first mistake by paying again. Save evidence before the listing or messages disappear.
- Stop the transaction. Don't click another link, share a code, pay a release fee, or accept a new payment story.
- Capture the listing, seller profile, messages, photos, promised delivery date, payment receipt, transaction ID, and tracking details.
- Contact the payment provider immediately. Call the bank or card issuer for card payments, the gift card issuer for gift cards, and the cryptocurrency exchange for a crypto transfer. Ask which dispute or recovery steps apply.
- Report the seller through the marketplace. Use the order or message thread when possible, rather than a link supplied by the seller.
- Secure your accounts if you clicked a suspicious page or shared information. Change the password through the official app or website, enable two-step security, and contact your bank if financial details were exposed.
- Report the incident through the FTC's consumer scam resources. If the seller threatened you or the meeting feels unsafe, don't go. Contact local law enforcement about immediate safety concerns.
To be honest, a platform report may remove the listing without recovering your money. Send the evidence anyway, while the listing and messages are still available.
Questions buyers ask
Is a low price always a marketplace scam?
Not on its own. Someone may be clearing out belongings or pricing an item to sell quickly. The gap becomes more worrying when the seller also demands urgency, avoids current photos, or wants an unprotected payment.
Should I trust a seller with excellent reviews?
Not automatically. Reviews may be old, limited to another type of item, or attached to an account that was taken over. Check the current listing, location, and payment instructions.
Is cash the safest option for local pickup?
Cash can avoid fake payment confirmations. It can't protect you from a counterfeit item or an unsafe meeting. Inspect first, meet in a public place, and never pay a deposit simply to reserve the item.
Does a video call prove the seller owns the item?
No. It can provide useful evidence, but it isn't a guarantee. A fresh photo, consistent answers, sensible pricing, and a protected payment route still matter.
Before you send money
Before you press pay, write down what you're buying, who handles a dispute, and how you'll reach that provider through an official channel.
If one answer is missing, save the listing and walk away. The seller's countdown can wait.