How to Spot and Avoid Scams on Online Marketplaces

Online marketplaces make buying and selling fast and convenient, but that convenience also attracts scammers looking to take advantage of unsuspecting buyers and sellers. Knowing the common warning signs can save you from losing money or receiving nothing at all.

Common scam patterns

• Prices that are too good to be true. A brand-new phone or car listed at half the market price is a red flag, not a bargain.
• Pressure to move fast. Scammers often claim "someone else is interested" to push you into paying before you've verified anything.
• Requests to pay outside the platform. Bank transfers to unknown accounts, gift cards, or crypto sent directly to a stranger's wallet are very hard to reverse.
• Sellers who avoid calls or video. If a seller refuses to speak or show the item live, be cautious.
• Fake shipping or tracking links. Never click links sent privately that ask you to "confirm" a delivery outside the platform's own messaging system.

How to protect yourself

Always keep communication and payment inside Kaubaplats whenever possible. Check the seller's profile, account age, and feedback history before committing to a purchase. For higher-value items, use RahaKaitse escrow protection so your funds are only released once you've confirmed the item matches the listing.

If something feels off, trust that instinct. A legitimate seller will not mind answering questions, providing extra photos, or agreeing to a safer payment method.