Can a seller on an online marketplace ask me to pay outside the platform?
No legitimate seller on a reputable marketplace needs you to pay outside its protected checkout. Off-platform payment requests are a hallmark of marketplace fraud.
Last reviewed: 10 June 2026
Explanation
Established online marketplaces provide buyer protection, escrow services, or dispute resolution systems that cover transactions made through their official checkout. These protections do not apply to payments made outside the platform — by bank transfer, PayPal Friends and Family, Venmo, gift card, or any other channel the marketplace did not facilitate.
Scammers who post fake listings need you off the platform because their listing would be flagged or removed if an official transaction is attempted. Common pretexts include a broken payment system, saving on platform fees, preferring a faster method, or claiming the official system does not work for international buyers.
Once you pay outside the platform, you have no recourse through the marketplace's buyer protection. If the item does not arrive or is not as described, the platform cannot refund you. Bank transfers and peer-to-peer payments are also very difficult to reverse.
Always complete transactions through the marketplace's official checkout and never share personal contact details with a seller before a transaction is established through the platform.
Common red flags
- Seller asks you to pay via bank transfer, gift card, or peer-to-peer app
- Claims the marketplace payment system is temporarily broken
- Offers a discount for paying outside the platform
- Asks you to communicate via personal email or messaging app before any transaction
- Listing price is significantly below comparable items
- Seller has few reviews or a newly created account
What to do now
- Decline any off-platform payment request
- Complete all transactions through the marketplace's official checkout
- Report the seller and listing to the marketplace
- If you already paid outside the platform and did not receive the item, report to the platform and your payment provider
- Report the fraud to your national consumer protection authority
- Leave a review warning other buyers if the platform allows it
Frequently asked questions
What about paying a seller on Facebook Marketplace by bank transfer?
Facebook Marketplace has buyer protection for purchases made through Facebook Checkout. Payments by private bank transfer are not covered. For high-value items, meet in person and pay cash, or use the platform's protected checkout.
Is PayPal Goods and Services safer than PayPal Friends and Family?
Yes. PayPal Goods and Services covers eligible purchases through PayPal's Purchase Protection. Friends and Family is intended for personal payments and has no buyer protection — which is why scammers request it.