Is an online seller who insists on using their own shipping company a scammer?
Frequently yes. Insisting on a specific shipping company is a classic element of online purchase fraud, particularly for high-value items.
Last reviewed: 1 August 2026
Explanation
In online purchase scams for items such as vehicles, heavy machinery, electronics, or pets, the seller insists on using their own 'trusted' shipping or transport company. This company is controlled by the scammer. The buyer pays the purchase price and then receives additional invoices from the shipping company for insurance, customs, or storage. Each payment is absorbed by the scammer with no item ever delivered. Real sellers use verifiable, independently chosen carriers. If a seller will not allow you to arrange your own transport or insists their carrier must be used, treat this as a serious red flag and do not pay anything until you have physically seen the item.
The fake shipping company is the engine of this fraud because it converts one payment into a sequence. Each new invoice arrives with an official-looking explanation — insurance that was 'mandatory', a customs hold, a storage charge accruing daily — and each is framed as the last obstacle before delivery. Victims keep paying because walking away means losing everything already spent, which is precisely the pressure the scam is built on. The sunk money is gone either way; the only decision you control is whether to add to it. Treat the second invoice as final confirmation of fraud and stop all payment immediately.
Common red flags
- Seller insists on using a specific, previously unknown shipping company
- Additional invoices arrive from the shipping company after the initial payment
- Seller cannot let you view or collect the item in person
- Item is priced significantly below market value
- Shipping company website was registered very recently
What to do now
- Insist on viewing the item in person or arranging your own verified carrier
- Do not pay additional shipping company invoices
- Check the shipping company's registration and reviews independently
- Report the listing to the platform and your consumer protection service
Frequently asked questions
What if the seller shows photos and videos of the item?
Photos and videos are easily faked or stolen from other listings. Physical viewing remains the only reliable verification for high-value items.
I already paid the first shipping invoice. Should I pay the customs fee to get the item?
No. There is no item. Additional fees are how the scam extracts more money — stop paying, contact your bank about recovering what was sent, and report the fraud.