Filed under: Consumers

The deal is fine. The seller is the scam.

Fake marketplace sellers, parcel-fee texts, “your account will be suspended,” rental and travel deposits, scams that exploit a normal purchase. Check the message before you pay.

Add Hunch to Chrome, free

Check a message

Or try a real one:

The exhibit

EXHIBIT · MANIPULATION / MONEY TRAP

Received via: SMS EN

Your parcel is on hold. A small delivery fee is required to release it. Pay here to avoid return: track-parcel.example/pay

Illustrative example of the pattern, not a real message someone received.

Is this “pay a small delivery fee to release your package” text a scam? →

EXHIBIT · CHECK BEFORE YOU ENTER YOUR PASSWORD.

Received via: WhatsApp EN

Hi, the item is still available! I have other buyers, so verify your details and send a 20% deposit within 24 hours to hold it: market-hold.examplenot Whatsapp's real domain (whatsapp.com). We can continue on WhatsApp.

Illustrative example of the pattern, not a real message someone received.

Is this marketplace seller who wants to move off-platform a scam? →

The deal is fine. The seller is the scam.

Questions people ask