By early December, holiday wish lists are getting serious. A sold-out toy, a last-minute gift, or a lower price may send shoppers to online marketplaces. These sites can be useful. Before money changes hands, buyers and sellers should know what help and protections the site offers.
The FTC tells shoppers to read the site's rules, check sellers, and use payment methods with protections. Be careful if someone wants to move payment outside the site's normal system.
Marketplace scams buyers may see
The item that does not exist
A seller may post a popular item with real-looking photos and ask for payment before pickup or shipping. After you pay, the listing may vanish. Check the seller and recent reviews. Be careful when you have no good way to confirm the item is real.
Counterfeit or misleading listings
A very low price on a designer item, phone, sneakers, tickets, or a popular toy can be tempting. Compare prices and ask questions. If the seller avoids simple questions or rushes you to pay, slow down.
The holiday puppy scam
A puppy can feel like the perfect holiday surprise. That emotion is why fake pet listings can work so well. The FTC warns that scammers may use stolen, changed, or AI-made pet photos and videos. Check the seller or group. Ask to meet the animal. Do not rush to pay before you know the pet is real.
Marketplace scams sellers may see
Fake payments and overpayment requests
A fake buyer may send a false payment notice. They may also claim they paid too much and ask you to refund the money. Check the payment inside the real payment app or marketplace. Do not rely on a screenshot, email, or message from the buyer.
Requests to leave the platform
A buyer or seller may push you to text in private or use another payment service. Leaving the site can mean losing some of its protections. Read the site's rules before you agree to a different process.
How to buy and sell with more confidence
- STOP when a deal depends on acting immediately or paying before you can verify the item.
- CHECK the seller or buyer history, recent reviews, listing photos, and the platform's refund or purchase-protection rules.
- PROTECT yourself by keeping messages and payments inside the platform when possible.
- For local exchanges, meet in a public, well-lit place and consider a designated safe-exchange area if one is available in your community.
- Keep records of the listing, messages, payment, and shipping details until the transaction is complete.
- If you are buying a pet, research the seller or organization carefully and verify the animal before sending money.
If the deal goes wrong
If you think you paid a scammer, contact the marketplace and payment service as soon as you can. If an ABB account or card was used, contact Anderson Brothers Bank. We can help explain the next steps that may apply to your payment and timing.
Marketplace shopping can still be part of a fun holiday season and a smart budget. A little checking keeps the focus on finding the right gift, not dealing with the wrong sale.
Fraud prevention content is educational and does not guarantee prevention, recovery, or reimbursement. Customers should contact Anderson Brothers Bank directly through a trusted phone number, the official website, or a local branch if they believe an account, card, online banking access, or personal information may be at risk. Resolution timelines, provisional credits, reimbursement, and consumer liability depend on the facts, payment type, timing, and applicable law.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I avoid scams on online marketplaces?
Research the seller, review marketplace protections, keep communication and payments within the platform when possible, and be cautious of pressure or unusual payment requests.
What is an overpayment scam?
A fake buyer may claim they paid too much and ask you to refund part of the money. Verify the original payment directly before sending any refund.
How can I avoid a puppy scam?
Research the seller or organization, verify the animal, avoid rushed payment demands, and be cautious if you cannot meet the pet or independently confirm the listing.
Related Reading:
Don’t Fall for Fraud: Common Holiday Scams to Watch This Season
Before You Give: How to Spot a Charity Scam
Black Friday Fraud: Shop Smart This Holiday Season
Harvesting More Than Pumpkins: How Scammers Collect Your Information