SHOPPING

Marketplace overpayment scams

A marketplace overpayment scam targets people selling items online. A fake buyer sends more than your asking price, often by check or a fake payment notice, and asks you to send back the extra. The payment turns out to be fake or reversed, and you lose both the refund and sometimes the item.

How this scam works

The buyer usually agrees to your price without questions or asks no questions about the item. They often say they are out of town and will send a mover or shipper to pick it up. Then you get a check, a cashier's check, or an email that looks like it came from a payment app showing more than your price.

The buyer then claims it was a mistake or that the extra covers the shipper, and asks you to send the difference by payment app, wire, or gift card. Since banks make deposited funds available quickly, the money may appear in your account. Weeks later the check bounces, or the payment is shown to be fake, and you are responsible for what you sent.

What it can look like

EXAMPLE · NOT A REAL MESSAGE"Hi, I'll take the dining set. I'm traveling, so my mover will pick it up. I accidentally sent $900 instead of $500. Please send the extra $400 back through [link] so the mover can be paid today."

Warning signs

The buyer agrees to your price without seeing the item.
They send more than you asked and want the difference back.
They say a mover or shipper will pick up the item.
You get an email saying payment is "pending" until you take action.
They ask you to move the conversation off the marketplace.
They want a refund by gift card, wire transfer, or payment app.

How to protect yourself

Never accept a check or payment for more than your selling price.
Log in to your actual payment account to confirm money has arrived.
Don't trust emails or texts that claim a payment is waiting.
Keep conversations and payments inside the marketplace when possible.
Meet local buyers in a safe public place and accept cash or verified payments.
Wait for your bank to confirm a check is truly good before releasing items.

If you already responded

Contact your bank or payment app right away and report the fraud.
If you deposited a check, tell your bank it may be fake before spending any of it.
Do not send any more money, even if the buyer says it is to fix a problem.
Report the buyer's profile to the marketplace and save all messages.
Report the scam to the FTC, and contact IC3 if it happened online.

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Where to report it

Common questions

Why would a buyer send me more than my asking price?

A real buyer has no reason to overpay. Scammers overpay on purpose so they can ask you to send back the difference. Their payment is fake or will be reversed, but your refund is real. If a buyer sends too much and asks for money back, cancel the deal.

I got an email saying a buyer's payment is pending. Is it real?

Be careful. Scammers send fake emails that look like they come from payment apps, saying the money is waiting until you send a fee or shipping code. Never use links in the message. Open your payment app or website yourself and check whether the money is actually there.

Is a cashier's check safe to accept from an online buyer?

Not always. Cashier's checks can be counterfeit, and it can take weeks to discover that one is fake. If it bounces, you usually owe your bank the money. Contact the issuing bank using a number you look up yourself, and never send money back from a check you received.

Important: Scammers change tactics. No single warning sign proves fraud, and the absence of warning signs does not mean something is safe. This guide is general education, not legal or financial advice.