Second-Chance Offer Scam
Fraudsters impersonate auction sellers to contact losing bidders with a private 'second chance' deal, collecting payment without delivering anything.
Also known as: second chance auction scam, underbidder fraud
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Second-chance offer scams exploit the common and legitimate practice of auction platforms sending secondary offers to under-bidders when a winning buyer fails to complete a purchase. Fraudsters monitor high-value auction listings, identify the losing bidders, and send them convincing fake messages that appear to come from the original seller or the platform, offering the item at the losing bid price.
Because losing bidders expect the possibility of a second-chance offer and the message references real auction details, many fall for it. The fraudster instructs the victim to pay outside the official platform—via wire transfer, payment app, or gift cards—to avoid 'additional fees.' No item is delivered, and the payment is unrecoverable.
Legitimate second-chance offers always flow through official platform messaging and are processed using the platform's normal payment system. Buyers who receive second-chance offers should verify them through their official account dashboard, not by replying to an email or external message.
Examples
- A losing bidder on a vehicle auction received a convincing email appearing to come from the seller, offering the car at the losing bid price via a wire transfer outside the platform.
- Fraudsters scraped watch auction results and contacted all under-bidders with fake seller messages, collecting advance payments before the scheme was reported.