Online sellers & buyers

Scammers may use online buy and sell platforms, like Facebook Marketplace, Instagram selling accounts, Trade Me and third party websites like Viagogo to deceive both buyers and sellers.

Common online marketplace scams

Non-delivery scams

This is when the buyer pays for goods or services that are never delivered.

Sellers may list items that they either don't have, have no intention of selling, or are counterfeit. They'll send payment instructions, but never send the item. This is especially important to be aware of when you're buying tickets online, that aren't purchased from a verified site.

Overpayment scams

An overpayment scam is where a scammer pretends to be a buyer and claims to have paid more than the asking price for an item. They might claim that the extra money is for shipping or that they made a mistake when making the payment.

They may send you a screenshot of their overpayment and ask you to refund the excess amount. However, the initial payment or proof of payment will turn out to be fake, leaving you without the money and possibly without the item you were selling.

Fake payment scam

The scammer sends a fake payment confirmation to trick you into sending the item for sale. You are left without both the money and the item you were trying to sell.

Phishing scams

Scammers pose as legitimate buyers or sellers to steal personal information. This information might be used to target you in future scams or for other illegal purposes. Find out more about email and text phishing scams.

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    Be suspicious of

    • Buyer or seller profiles that look new or incomplete. This could be a sign that the account may have been set up to scam people.
    • Requests for personal information. Never disclose your banking customer number, passwords, PINs or one-time codes.
    • Buyers or sellers who send you links to confirm purchase or postage. These can direct you to fake websites that ask you to submit your personal and banking details.
    • Unfamiliar purchasing platforms or websites. Use regulated or official websites, as they are more likely to have measures in place to protect you.
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    Do your checks

    • Verify the buyer or seller as much as possible. Ask them questions about the transaction, check their online profile and read through reviews from previous transactions. If purchasing through Facebook, look for blue or grey ‘ticks’ which are given to verified pages or profiles. If anything seems off reconsider proceeding with the deal.
    • Check the listing details for an accurate description and real photos of the item for sale. If something on the listing is not clear, it's a good idea to ask.
    • If a buyer sends you a confirmation of payment, log into your own accounts and check you have received the money.
    • When searching for buyer or seller websites using a search engine, always check the web address (URL) link to make sure it looks legitimate and that there are no typos or spelling mistakes. Sometimes scammers create paid ads designed to direct you to fake websites.
    • Know your rights. The Citizens Advice Bureau outline your consumer rights when buying and selling goods on Facebook Marketplace and other buy and sell platforms.
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    Act with confidence

    • Don't provide personal details beyond what is required to complete the transaction.
    • Never click on links sent by buyers or sellers.
    • Only use trusted payment methods. If someone asks for alternative payment method, say no.
    • If selling an item, don’t rely on screenshots or videos as proof of payment. Log in to online banking to check the money is in your account before handing over the item.
    • If the item is being sent, ask for tracked shipping.
    • When buying event tickets, purchase through the official ticket seller where possible.
    • When making payments online, use Confirmation of Payee to check the account owner name matches the account number of the person or business you're paying. If it comes back as 'Not a match', we strongly encourage you to consider whether you know and trust the payee. If you continue with the payment, you could send money to the wrong place and it might not be recoverable.

Scammers change their tactics regularly

Visit latest scams to stay across current risks and tips to protect yourself.

Helpful resources

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