Real Online Marketplace Shipping vs Label or Overpayment Scam
How to tell a genuine buyer's shipping request from a scammer using fake payment screenshots or overpaid cheques to steal money from online sellers.
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Online marketplace sellers are targeted by scammers who pose as buyers, then use fake payment confirmations, overpaid cheques, or requests to use a 'specific shipping service' to extract money. By the time the fraudulent payment reverses, the seller has already sent the item or paid for the shipping label.
Side-by-side comparison
| Legitimate marketplace buyer | Shipping label or overpayment scammer | |
|---|---|---|
| Payment confirmation | Payment confirmation from PayPal Goods and Services, platform escrow, or direct bank transfer is verifiable within the platform or your bank account | Fake payment confirmation screenshot showing a transfer 'pending release'; or a cheque for more than the asking price |
| Shipping request | Buyer accepts whatever standard courier service the seller uses; shipping is arranged and paid by the seller as standard | Buyer insists on using a specific shipping company (often one recommended via a link) or provides a 'prepaid label' that is fraudulent |
| Overpayment scenario | Payment matches the agreed price exactly; any genuine overpayment is managed within the platform's dispute system | Buyer claims to have accidentally sent more than agreed and asks the seller to send back the difference before the original payment clears |
| Communication | Communication stays within the marketplace platform where messages are logged and disputes can be escalated | Buyer pushes communication off-platform to WhatsApp or email to avoid the platform's fraud detection and buyer-seller protections |
| Item dispatch timing | Seller dispatches after confirmed receipt of cleared, verified funds — within the platform's seller protection timeframe | Scammer creates urgency to dispatch before payment has actually cleared, often with a plausible personal story |
Common red flags
- Buyer sends a payment confirmation screenshot rather than the payment itself arriving in your account
- Buyer requests a refund of an overpayment before you have confirmed the original payment has fully cleared
- Buyer insists on a specific shipping company or provides a shipping label outside normal platform processes
- Buyer asks you to move communication off the marketplace platform
- Buyer pays by cheque for a high-value item from a private online sale
Verification steps
- Verify payment in your actual bank account or PayPal account — not from a screenshot or email confirmation
- Do not dispatch any item until payment is confirmed as cleared and settled in your account
- Stay within the marketplace platform's messaging system for all communications and payments
What not to do
- Do not treat a PayPal payment confirmation email or screenshot as proof of cleared funds — verify it in your PayPal account
- Do not refund any portion of an overpayment until the original payment is fully cleared
- Do not use a shipping label, courier link, or service suggested by the buyer rather than your own verified provider
A safe response
If you suspect a buyer is using a payment or shipping scam, do not dispatch the item and report the account to the marketplace platform. If you have already dispatched goods or sent a refund based on a fraudulent payment, contact your bank immediately and report to the platform's fraud team.
Frequently asked questions
PayPal says my payment is 'pending' — should I still send the item?
No. A pending PayPal payment is not a cleared payment. Only send goods once the payment is showing as completed and the funds are available in your PayPal balance. 'Pending' can mean the payment has not yet gone through or that it is under review.
The buyer sent me a prepaid shipping label — is it safe to use it?
Treat any shipping label provided by a buyer with caution. Fraudulent labels may be stolen, invalid, or associated with a fraudulent account — the item may be intercepted or the label may fail in transit, leaving you liable. Always generate your own labels through a verified courier account.