Scam School: How to Spot and Avoid the 5 Most Common Marketplace Scams

Introduction: The Cost of a Free Platform

The openness and accessibility of local online marketplaces are their greatest strength and their most significant vulnerability. These platforms connect millions of honest people, but they also create a fertile hunting ground for scammers who exploit trust, urgency, and technological ignorance. Falling victim to a scam means more than just losing money—it’s a violation of trust that can sour you on the entire experience.

The key to safety is not paranoia, but education. By understanding the specific mechanics of the most prevalent scams, you can develop a keen eye for red flags and build an impenetrable personal protocol. This guide is your enrollment in “Scam School.” We will dissect five of the most common marketplace cons, explain exactly how they work, and arm you with the definitive rules to avoid them. Knowledge is your best shield.

Scam #1: The Overpayment / Fake Check Scam (Targets Sellers)

• The Con: A “buyer” agrees to your price instantly, often without negotiating. They then explain they can only pay via a cashier’s check, business check, or digital payment from their “assistant” or “company account.” Miraculously, they send you a check for more than the asking price (e.g., $500 for a $300 item). They urgently request you deposit it and wire the “extra” $200 back to them for shipping, a courier, or as a gift. Days later, their check bounces as a forgery, and you’re out the $200 you wired, plus potential bank fees.
• The Red Flags:
  • Immediate agreement without questions.
  • Inability to pay with standard, local methods (cash, Venmo, PayPal).
  • The check is for an over-amount with a convoluted reason.
  • Extreme pressure for you to send money back before their payment clears.
• The Ironclad Rule: NEVER, EVER wire money or send gift cards to someone who is ostensibly paying you. A legitimate buyer will never overpay and ask for cash back. Only accept cash or secure, peer-to-peer digital payments in person, after inspecting the item. For checks, funds must fully clear your bank (which can take weeks, not days) before the item changes hands.

Scam #2: The “Can You Ship It?” / Distant Buyer Scam (Targets Sellers)

• The Con: A buyer expresses passionate interest in your local-only listing. They have a perfect backstory: they’re buying it for a sick relative, a deployed son, etc. They plead with you to ship it and promise to pay extra for your trouble via PayPal or Zelle. Once you agree, they may use a variant of the fake payment scam (sending a fake “PayPal payment received” email) or, if they do send real money, it’s often from a stolen account. The payment will later be reversed, and you’ll have no item and no money.
• The Red Flags:
  • A buyer for a local-pickup item who is suddenly far away.
  • A overly emotional or complex personal story designed to manipulate your sympathy.
  • Insistence on using only one specific payment method (often because they’ve compromised it).
  • Asking for your email address or phone number early to move “off-platform.”
• The Ironclad Rule: Stick to your “Local Pickup Only” policy. If you didn’t plan to ship, don’t be swayed. A genuine out-of-town buyer will use a freight service or have a local friend pick it up. Never communicate or transact outside the platform’s official messaging and payment systems.

Scam #3: The Fake Payment / Screenshot Scam (Targets Both)

• The Con (For Sellers): After agreeing on a price, the “buyer” says they’ve sent the money via Zelle, Cash App, or PayPal. They then send you a fabricated screenshot or email that looks like a payment confirmation. They pressure you to release the item or meet up immediately, claiming the money is “pending” in your account. No money ever arrives.
• The Con (For Buyers): A seller pressures you to pay via a non-reversible method (wire transfer, gift cards) upfront, promising to ship. They disappear after payment.
• The Red Flags:
  • Pressure to act quickly before you can verify funds in your own banking app.
  • Reliance on screenshots instead of direct verification.
  • Requests for payment via irreversible methods (wire transfers, gift cards, cryptocurrency).
• The Ironclad Rule: Always verify payment in your own, official bank or payment app. Do not trust screenshots. For digital payments, wait until you see the funds cleared and in your account before considering the item sold. As a buyer, never pay with gift cards or wire transfers.

Scam #4: The Bait-and-Switch / Parking Lot Ambush (Targets Buyers)

• The Con: An item is listed with gorgeous, stolen photos at an amazing price. You message, and the seller is eager to meet. At the last minute, they cancel the original safe location (e.g., a coffee shop) and insist you come to a different, more secluded address, often under a pretext like “the item is in my car.” Upon arrival, the item is either not as described, broken, or doesn’t exist. In the worst case, the setup is for robbery.
• The Red Flags:
  • Prices that are too good to be true.
  • Photos that look professional or stolen (reverse image search can reveal this).
  • Last-minute location changes to a private or secluded spot.
  • Refusal to meet at a safe, public place you suggest.
• The Ironclad Rule: You control the meetup location. Insist on a Safe-Swap Spot (police station, bank lobby). If the seller refuses or tries to change it, walk away immediately. No deal is worth your personal safety.

Scam #5: The Phishing Link / Account Takeover Scam (Targets Both)

• The Con: You receive a message from what seems like the marketplace platform (e.g., “Facebook Security” or “OfferUp Support”) or a “buyer” claiming they need to “verify your account.” The message contains a link. Clicking it takes you to a flawless fake login page designed to steal your username and password. Once compromised, scammers use your account to list fake items or scam your contacts.
• The Red Flags:
  • Unsolicited messages about account verification or problems.
  • URLs that are close to, but not exactly, the real website (e.g., “faceb00k-login.com”).
  • Urgent language threatening account suspension.
• The Ironclad Rule: Never click links in marketplace messages. Legitimate platforms will never ask for your password via message. If you’re concerned about your account, open your web browser or app directly—don’t use provided links. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your marketplace accounts.

Conclusion: Empowerment Through Skepticism

The goal of Scam School isn’t to make you fearful, but to make you formidable. Scammers rely on urgency, emotion, and ignorance. By slowing down, verifying independently, and adhering to a strict set of personal rules (cash/local meetups, verified payments, safe locations), you remove yourself as a target. Your skepticism is not rudeness; it’s your first and most effective line of defense. Share this knowledge. A safer marketplace benefits every honest user, turning the community’s collective awareness into a scammer’s biggest obstacle.