Non-Delivery Fraud

Non-delivery fraud is one of the most common forms of internet-enabled consumer crime. A seller—often operating through a marketplace, social media, or a stand-alone website—lists items for sale, accepts payment, and then fails to ship anything. The seller may provide fake tracking numbers, claim the shipment was lost, or simply disappear.

Variations include advance-fee listings where payment is required before the 'seller' can release an item (common in classified-ad fraud), and seasonal scams around holidays where demand for certain products spikes and consumers become less cautious. Some operations run for months or years, collecting small amounts from many victims before disappearing.

Consumers are best protected by using payment methods that allow chargebacks (credit cards, buyer-protection payment services), verifying seller reputation before paying, and being suspicious of prices far below market. Disputes should be raised promptly within any applicable buyer-protection window.