Legitimate Marketplace Buyer vs Fake Buyer Scam
How genuine buyers on online marketplaces behave versus scammers who target sellers.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Sellers on online marketplaces are just as much at risk as buyers. Fake buyer scams work by creating convincing 'overpayment', fake payment confirmation, or phishing checkout scenarios that steal goods or account details. Scammers are often the first to respond to a listing, they create urgency, and they steer communication and payment off the platform where its protections apply. Understanding what a genuine buyer does — and what a scammer does — protects your goods and your bank account.
Side-by-side comparison
| Legitimate buyer | Fake buyer | |
|---|---|---|
| Payment method | Pays via the platform's supported, traceable methods | Pushes off-platform payment: bank transfer, crypto, or gift cards |
| Overpayment | Pays the listed price; no cheque or excess transfer | Sends a cheque or transfer for more than the price; asks you to refund the difference |
| Urgency | Reasonable timeline; no extreme pressure to ship immediately | Needs the item shipped today before 'payment clears' |
| Communication | Communicates via the platform's messaging system | Steers you to email, WhatsApp, or a link outside the platform |
| Payment confirmation | You can verify payment in your account before shipping | Sends a fake payment screenshot or email claiming funds are held |
| Shipping | Uses standard shipping; doesn't insist on a specific courier with a 'special code' | Insists on a specific courier or shipping agent that is part of the scam |
Common red flags
- First contact steers you to communicate off-platform
- Request to accept payment outside the platform's supported methods
- Overpayment with a request to refund the difference
- Urgent pressure to ship before payment is verified in your account
- Fake payment confirmation email or screenshot
- Insistence on a specific courier or shipping agent you've never heard of
Verification steps
- Verify payment is in your actual bank or platform account before shipping anything
- Keep all communication within the platform's own messaging system
- Be suspicious of offers significantly above your listed price
- Check the buyer's profile history, reviews, and account age
- Report suspicious offers to the marketplace before engaging further
What not to do
- Don't ship before you can independently verify payment in your own account
- Don't refund any 'overpayment' — a genuine buyer won't overpay
- Don't communicate via personal email or messaging apps to close a sale
- Don't use a shipping agent or courier the buyer insists on
A safe response
Keep all communication and payment within the platform's official systems. Only ship once payment is confirmed in your own account — not based on a screenshot or email. Report any off-platform payment requests or overpayment scenarios to the marketplace as a scam.
Frequently asked questions
What is the overpayment scam and why does it work?
The scammer 'overpays' via a bouncing cheque or reversible transfer and asks you to refund the difference. You send real money; their payment later reverses. You lose the difference and potentially the item too.
Is it safer to sell on platforms with buyer/seller protection?
Yes, but only if you stay within the platform's ecosystem. Scammers specifically try to move transactions off-platform to bypass those protections. Insisting on in-platform payment is the core defence.
What should I do if I've already shipped after a fake payment?
Report it to the marketplace and to your national fraud authority. Contact your bank if you sent any refund or made any payment. Recovery is difficult once goods are shipped, but reporting helps prevent the scammer targeting others.