Payment scams on classifieds sites: how they work and how to avoid them

The overpayment refund

A buyer "accidentally" sends more than the asking price and asks you to refund the difference. The original payment later bounces or is reversed — and your refund is gone. Never refund an overpayment; cancel the deal and let the sender's bank sort it out.

The fake payment email

You receive an email that looks like it comes from a payment service, saying funds are "pending" until you ship or send a tracking number. Payment services don't work that way. Open your own app or bank website directly — not a link in the email — and check whether the money is actually there.

The shipping agent or courier

The buyer is "out of town" and will send a courier, but you need to pay the courier's fee first, or the buyer will pay extra to cover it. Any deal where you send money to receive money is a scam.

The verification code request

Someone asks you to read back a code you just received by text "to prove you're real". That code is usually a login or account-recovery code for one of your accounts. Never share one-time codes with anyone.

The deposit for a rental or pet

A rental or puppy is offered at a low price, and the poster asks for a deposit before you can see it — often because they are "abroad". Don't send deposits for things you haven't seen in person, and be very wary of gift cards, crypto or wire transfers for any reason.

General rules that stop almost all of them

These habits cover the vast majority of cases:

• Meet in person and inspect before paying for local items.
• Confirm money in your own account, not via an email or screenshot.
• Never refund an overpayment or pay a fee to receive money.
• Never share verification codes, passwords or ID photos.
• Keep conversations on the platform so they can be reported.