A purchase scam happens when you pay for goods or services that don't exist, are never delivered, or aren't what the seller claimed. These scams are common on marketplaces, social media, classified sites, and fake online shops.
How it happens
You find an item at an unusually attractive price — a phone, car, ticket, piece of furniture, pet, holiday rental, or another high-demand product. The seller asks you to pay quickly, skip the platform's normal payment process, or pay by bank transfer or money transfer instead. Once you send the money, the seller disappears or makes excuses.
PayPal and Revolut both list purchase and marketplace scams among the most common online fraud risks. PayPal warns against paying suspicious invoices or opening suspicious links, and Revolut cites examples like cut-price tickets or half-price phones found through social media.
Warning signs
Be cautious if: the price is unusually low, the seller avoids payment methods with buyer protection, the seller's profile is new or has little activity, the photos look copied from elsewhere, or you're pushed to pay before you can check the item. This includes ticket scams — concerts, sporting events, and festivals are common targets.
Common examples: the seller won't meet in person, the seller refuses a video call, the seller will only accept a bank transfer, the seller creates urgency to pay fast, the seller suddenly changes the payment method.
How to protect yourself
- Use reputable platforms and payment methods that offer buyer protection where possible.
- Don't move the conversation or payment outside the platform without checking the seller carefully first.
- Where you can, inspect the item in person or arrange safe collection.
If you think you've already sent money
- Save the advert, seller profile, messages, payment details, and any delivery information.
- Report the seller to the platform.
- Contact us, if an Xe transfer was involved.
- Contact your bank or payment provider.