Marketplaces & classifieds scams

On Facebook Marketplace the signature scam is the verification code: a "buyer" asks you to confirm you are real by reading back a code they sent. That code creates a Google Voice number in your name or takes over one of your accounts. No genuine buyer ever needs a code from you.

eBay scams target both buyers and sellers. Buyers face fake listings, non-delivery of items, and counterfeit products. Sellers deal with false "item not received" claims and overpayment schemes. Always use eBay's official checkout and payment system. Never pay outside the platform.

Craigslist scams concentrate in rentals and high-value sales. The pattern is nearly always the same: the person cannot meet, has a reason they are away, and needs a deposit or payment before you see anything. Never send money for a place or an item you have not stood in front of.

Etsy scams include fake shops selling mass-produced items as "handmade," non-delivery of custom orders, and sellers requesting off-platform payments. Etsy will never ask you to pay outside their checkout system. Always pay through Etsy and check seller reviews before ordering.

The signature OfferUp scam is the verification code: a "buyer" asks you to confirm you are real by reading back a code they have sent. That code creates a Google Voice number in your name, or takes over one of your accounts. No genuine buyer ever needs a code from you.

Mercari scams happen when a trade leaves the app. Mercari holds a buyer's payment until delivery is confirmed, so anyone asking you to pay or be paid outside the app is asking you to give up the only protection in the transaction.

Poshmark scams almost always involve leaving the app. Posh Protect covers buyers for items that never arrive or are not as described — but only for orders paid for inside Poshmark. A seller or buyer asking to complete the deal elsewhere is asking you to give that up.

Nextdoor scams work because the platform is built on the assumption that your neighbours are who they say they are. Fake contractors, fake rentals and compromised neighbour accounts all exploit that. Verify a licence and pay by a disputable method before any work or any deposit.

AliExpress scams almost always involve leaving the platform: a seller who asks you to pay by bank transfer, PayPal Friends & Family or crypto, and then does not ship. AliExpress Buyer Protection only covers orders paid for and disputed inside AliExpress.

Tesla scams include fake vehicle sale listings offering below-market prices, phishing emails about Tesla account issues, and fraudulent QR codes placed on charging stations. Tesla will never ask you to wire money for a vehicle purchase, pay through third-party apps, or click a link to verify your Tesla account.