How to Spot Marketplace Fraud

Common Red Flags

• Price is significantly below market value — If it looks too good to be true, it often is.
• Seller refuses in-person meetup or inspection — Legitimate sellers of high-value items typically allow inspection before payment.
• Only accepts Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, or cryptocurrency — These methods offer little to no buyer protection.
• New or empty profile — Account created recently, few friends, no history, stock photos.
• Seller claims to be "out of town" or "overseas" — A classic setup for not meeting in person.
• Pressures you to decide quickly — "I have three other buyers interested" is a common manipulation tactic.
• Asks you to pay via shipping/escrow link — Fake escrow or shipping services are commonly used in vehicle and equipment scams.
• Listing photos look like stock images or are watermarked by another site — Reverse image search the photos to check.

Instagram & Social Media Shop Scams

Instagram shops and DM-based sellers have become a common fraud vector. Scammers create convincing-looking shop pages with reposted product photos, collect payment via Venmo or Cash App, and either send counterfeit goods or nothing at all. Accounts may disappear or go private after collecting funds.

Before You Pay Anything

• Search the seller's phone number, name, or username on ScamAlertDB
• Reverse image search the listing photos using Google Images or TinEye
• Ask for a live video call showing the item
• Meet in person in a safe, public place for in-person transactions
• If possible, use a payment method with buyer protection (e.g., PayPal Goods & Services)
• Never pay a deposit before seeing and verifying the item exists

What To Do If a Listing Seems Suspicious

Don't engage further. Report the listing to the platform (Facebook, Instagram, etc.) and move on. If you've already sent money, report it to your bank, the payment platform, and local law enforcement. You may also submit a report on ScamAlertDB to help warn others.