Scam Library

Marketplace and Payment App Scams

In an online marketplace transaction, a buyer 'accidentally' overpays and asks you to refund the difference, or sends a fake payment confirmation screenshot before you've actually received the money.

Warning signs

What to watch for

A buyer sends more than the asking price and asks for the difference back
A payment screenshot that you can't independently verify in your own account
Pressure to ship an item or refund money before payment has actually cleared
Requests to move the conversation off the marketplace's own messaging system

Stay safe

How to verify

Confirm funds have actually arrived in your own account or app before shipping anything or issuing any refund
Be cautious of any 'overpayment' request — it's a near-universal sign of this scam

Already sent money or shared a password?

Contact your bank using the number on the back of your card, or the official number on your statement — not any number from the suspicious message.

Not sure if something you received matches this pattern?

Check a Message