Marketplace & Parcel Scams
Fake buyers/sellers and shipping fraud
How It Hooks You (Psychology)
- •Offer too-good-to-be-true deals
- •Create urgency: "many people interested"
- •Exploit trust in familiar platforms
- •Use fake tracking numbers and shipping documents
- •Request payment outside platform protections
Red Flags to Watch For
- Price significantly below market value
- Seller/buyer wants to move conversation off platform
- Request for payment via wire transfer, crypto, or gift cards
- Shipping to address that doesn't match buyer details
- Fake payment confirmations or shipping notifications
- Overpayment scams ("I accidentally sent too much")
- Fake parcel delivery messages with links
- Requests for personal information beyond what's needed
Common Examples
- •Fake buyer sends fraudulent check, asks you to refund "overpayment"
- •Seller never ships item after payment
- •Fake tracking numbers that lead nowhere
- •Phishing emails claiming parcel held at customs
- •Rental scam: fake landlord collects deposit for property they don't own
- •Text message about parcel delivery fee to claim package
What To Do Now
- Stop all communication
- Do not send money or items
- Report the user to the platform
- If you paid, contact payment provider immediately
- Save all messages and transaction records
- File a police report
- Report to platform (eBay, Facebook Marketplace, etc.)
- Leave a warning review if possible
If You Already Paid
- •Contact your payment provider immediately
- •For platform payments, file a dispute through the platform
- •For direct bank transfers, contact your bank
- •For items already shipped, try to recall the package
- •Document everything: listing, messages, payment proof
- •File a report with IC3 or Action Fraud
- •Check if you have buyer/seller protection coverage
- •Warn others by reporting the scam publicly if safe to do so
⚠️ Avoid Round-Two Scams
Be cautious of anyone offering to help you get your money or item back in exchange for a fee. Legitimate dispute resolution happens through the original platform or legal channels, not through third-party "recovery" services.