Safety & Scams

How to Spot a Fake Seller Online

Ten warning signs of a fake online seller: prices too good to be true, new accounts, stolen photos, off-platform payments and pressure tactics, plus what to do.

By Online Buying & Selling Editorial TeamPublished 2 min read

A hand holding a phone showing a suspiciously cheap listing with a warning glow
Illustration: Online Buying & Selling / AI-generated.

Key takeaways

  • Prices far below market, brand-new accounts and stolen photos are classic warning signs.
  • Never pay off-platform by bank transfer, gift cards or crypto.
  • Use reverse image search and check reviews before buying.
On this page

Fake sellers post listings for items they don’t have, take your money and disappear. They’re common on marketplaces, social media and fake websites. Here’s how to spot them.

10 warning signs

  1. The price is far too good to be true for the item’s condition and brand.
  2. The account is brand new, with no reviews or history.
  3. The photos appear elsewhere online. Run a reverse image search.
  4. They won’t meet in person or video call to show the item.
  5. They insist on payment outside the platform: bank transfer, gift cards, crypto; DCoining’s crypto scam red flags explains why crypto is a favourite.
  6. They pressure you to act fast: “Someone else wants it, pay now.”
  7. They ask for a deposit to hold the item.
  8. The story keeps changing about location, condition or shipping.
  9. They send you to a lookalike website or payment link.
  10. Vague or copied descriptions without specifics.

How to check a seller

  • Read reviews and look at account age and other listings.
  • Ask specific questions only the owner would know.
  • Request a photo with today’s date or a specific angle.
  • Check websites against official domains and look for reviews outside the site itself.

How to pay safely

Use platform checkout or payment methods with purchase protection. Our guide to buyer protection: PayPal vs card vs bank transfer explains which methods can be reversed.

Local deals

Meet in public, inspect first and pay on the spot; see Facebook Marketplace safety.

If you’ve been scammed

  1. Contact your bank or payment provider immediately.
  2. Report the seller to the platform.
  3. Report to your national fraud authority, such as the FTC in the US or Action Fraud in the UK.

For more scam types, see online shopping scams to watch.

Frequently asked questions

How can I tell if an online store is legit?

Check the domain, contact details, reviews on independent sites and payment options. Be wary of new sites with huge discounts.

Is it safe to pay a deposit to a seller?

Generally no, especially to someone you haven’t met. Deposits are a common scam tactic.

Can I get my money back from a fake seller?

Possibly, if you paid with a protected method. Contact your provider quickly.

Sources

  1. US Federal Trade Commission — online shopping scams
  2. UK Action Fraud

Every article is edited by a human and checked against our editorial policy. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.

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