Selling stuff online? Here’s how to avoid a scam (2024)

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FAQs

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The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about Federal Trade Commission activity, and share information to help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, scams, and bad business practices. Your thoughts, ideas, and concerns are welcome, and we encourage comments. But keep in mind, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we won’t post comments that don’t comply with our commenting policy. We expect commenters to treat each other and the blog writers with respect.

  • We won’t post off-topic comments, repeated identical comments, or comments that include sales pitches or promotions.
  • We won’t post comments that include vulgar messages, personal attacks by name, or offensive terms that target specific people or groups.
  • We won’t post threats, defamatory statements, or suggestions or encouragement of illegal activity.
  • We won’t post comments that include personal information, like Social Security numbers, account numbers, home addresses, and email addresses. To file a detailed report about a scam, go to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

We don't edit comments to remove objectionable content, so please ensure that your comment contains none of the above. The comments posted on this blog become part of the public domain. To protect your privacy and the privacy of other people, please do not include personal information. Opinions in comments that appear in this blog belong to the individuals who expressed them. They do not belong to or represent views of the Federal Trade Commission.

Linette W

July 28, 2022

This is all great information. Can you provide tips on how the transfer of money in such transactions CAN be safely accomplished or how to recognize legitimate funds? Even cash can be counterfeit. Thanks!

LAWRENCE

July 28, 2022

THANK YOU FOR THE INFO

Ree Bebetu-Klain

August 08, 2022

Thank you!!!!!!!!! Your advice is so valuable.

Selling stuff online? Here’s how to avoid a scam (2024)

FAQs

Selling stuff online? Here’s how to avoid a scam? ›

Only accept payment through approved methods

How to buy something online and not get scammed? ›

How to avoid online shopping scams
  1. Stick to retail sites you know and trust. ...
  2. Read refund and exchange policies on retailers' sites to ensure that you can get your money back if you're unhappy with a purchase. ...
  3. Be careful when searching online. ...
  4. Don't click on ads for discounted items. ...
  5. Check URLs.
Mar 21, 2024

How to make sure a seller is legit? ›

Do a quick search of the business or seller's name to make sure they are not imitating a legitimate business or individual. Check for reviews and complaints about the business on various platforms, including the seller's own profile, independent review sites and social media pages.

How do you avoid fake sellers? ›

Check how active the seller is

The easiest red flag for spotting a fake seller is by checking how active they have been on their account, if they have very recently created their profile, it can be a significant concern. Other red flags can include strange bios and few or no friends, and no reviews.

How to sell online without getting scammed? ›

How to Protect Yourself When Selling Online
  1. Protect your personal information. ...
  2. Limit communication channels. ...
  3. When selling locally, stick to in-person transactions. ...
  4. Only accept payment through approved methods. ...
  5. Take extra caution with shipping. ...
  6. Take advantage of seller protections and guidelines.

What is the best online payment method to not get scammed? ›

Secure online payment methods
  • Credit cards. By and large, credit cards are easily the most secure and safe payment method to use when you shop online. ...
  • ACH payments. ...
  • Stored payment credentials. ...
  • Credit cards with EMV chip technology. ...
  • Credit cards with contactless payment. ...
  • Payment apps.
Feb 11, 2023

How to tell if an online seller is legit? ›

Well, that's why we're here to guide you on evaluating whether a shopping website is trustworthy and authentic.
  1. Always Check Customer Reviews and Ratings. ...
  2. Website URL Speaks for Itself – Look for the Padlock. ...
  3. Verify the Validity of Payment Methods. ...
  4. Contact Through the Provided Email, Address, or Contact Number.
Jun 20, 2024

How to safely sell an item online? ›

How to Be Safe Selling Stuff Online
  1. Look at buyer profiles. ...
  2. Pay attention to details that don't add up. ...
  3. Meet at a SafeTrade Station or other well-lit, public place. ...
  4. Don't share personal information with strangers, like your address, phone number or banking information. ...
  5. Communicate through the app or selling website.
Mar 5, 2024

How do you know if a seller is scamming you? ›

Signs of seller fraud
  • Short duration listings: Fraudulent sellers often want to close a deal quickly. ...
  • Heavily discounted or sold-out items: Be wary if a seller has lots of high-value items at suspiciously low prices, or a stock of hard-to-find goods that are sold out everywhere else.

Does Amazon have fake sellers? ›

Amazon third-party sellers list items of their own for sale on Amazon's website. Most are legitimate, but there are always some scammers in the mix. Knowing the signs of a scam and how to deal with them is critical when buying from third-party sellers.

How to spot a bogus buyer? ›

Here are the signs that you're dealing with a bogus buyer.
  1. Fake Profiles. Check the buyers' profiles if they are using fake profiles. ...
  2. Communication Issue. ...
  3. Suspicious Shipping address. ...
  4. Refusal to Meet in Person or Conduct Inspections. ...
  5. Asking Unnecessary Questions. ...
  6. Only Accept COD as a Payment Method.
Apr 29, 2024

Is Amazon marketplace safe? ›

Is buying from Amazon safe? In general, Amazon is safe to use. Their site and product lines follow industry-standard security practices when it comes to handling your data. However, any time you share your personal information online, you should take extra precautions.

How to avoid getting scammed online shopping? ›

How To Shop Online Safely: 15 Easy Tips
  1. Buy from online retailers you recognize.
  2. Make sure you're on a “secure” website.
  3. Check the store's design, pricing, and details for red flags.
  4. Only use safe payment services.
  5. Learn the warning signs of a scam email.
  6. Beware of discount codes on social media.

How do I pay for something without getting scammed? ›

Follow a few simple guidelines to stay one-step ahead of the scammers.
  1. Avoid sending money to someone you've never met in person.
  2. If you feel you have to send money to someone you've never met, try to avoid sending large sums all at once.
  3. Consider paying late. ...
  4. Use a reputable and secure money transfer service.

How to avoid being scammed online? ›

Avoiding Scams and Scammers
  1. Do not open email from people you don't know. ...
  2. Be careful with links and new website addresses. ...
  3. Secure your personal information. ...
  4. Stay informed on the latest cyber threats. ...
  5. Use Strong Passwords. ...
  6. Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs.

Is there a safe way to buy something online? ›

If you're unsure if the site you're buying from is legit, look at your browser's address bar. Never buy anything online from a site that doesn't display a lock icon near the URL. The lock icon indicates that the site has SSL (secure sockets layer) encryption installed.

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