Marketplace Seller Scams via bKash
How fraudulent sellers on Bangladeshi online platforms use bKash to collect payment for electronics and goods that never arrive.
Part of: Marketplace Seller Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Online commerce in Bangladesh has expanded rapidly alongside bKash adoption, and fraudulent marketplace sellers have followed. Facebook Marketplace, Bikroy.com, and informal trading groups on Facebook are primary venues where scammers list electronics, appliances, and motorbikes at below-market prices, request bKash payment, and disappear.
Because bKash person-to-person transfers are instant and lack a buyer-protection layer, the window for fraud detection is extremely narrow. By the time a buyer contacts their bank or bKash, the seller's number is often already deregistered.
How this scam works on bKash
A listing appears with professional-looking photos — often copied from a legitimate seller — at a price [X]% below market. The seller cites a personal reason for the discounted price (emergency, relocation, financial need) that justifies urgency. The buyer is asked to confirm the purchase with a bKash advance before meeting or before the seller will arrange delivery.
After the bKash transfer, the seller provides excuses for delays: 'logistics partner is busy', 'product is being brought from upcountry'. Eventually the number becomes unreachable. Some scams arrange in-person meetings and accept bKash just before handing over a sealed box containing a worthless substitute.
Common red flags
- Price significantly below market with a personal-hardship narrative
- Seller insists on full or partial bKash before any meeting or delivery
- Seller communicates only via a freshly registered Facebook account
- Seller avoids in-person meeting in a public place with repeated excuses
- After bKash payment, delivery timeline repeatedly extends
- Sealed product box at purported in-person exchange — insist on opening before paying
How to protect yourself
- Always meet in a busy public location before making any payment
- Inspect the actual item before any bKash transfer
- Verify the seller's phone number against online scam-warning groups and consumer fraud communities
- Use cash for small transactions and bKash only after the item is in hand
- For high-value items, use an official platform with buyer protection rather than peer-to-peer sales groups
How to report it
- Call bKash on 16247 immediately after discovering fraud with the recipient number and transaction ID
- File a report with Bangladesh Police Cyber Support for Women or the Cyber Crime Unit
- Report the Facebook listing to Meta's abuse system with screenshots
Frequently asked questions
Is there buyer protection on bKash for marketplace transactions?
Standard bKash person-to-person transfers carry no buyer protection. The bKash merchant payment product (used for registered businesses) offers slightly more accountability, but peer sales groups use personal numbers. For significant purchases, using a platform with an escrow arrangement or buyer-protection guarantee is strongly recommended over direct bKash to individuals.