scam type guide
marketplace & shopping scams.
fake listings. payment diversion. phantom inventory.
Marketplace scams exploit buyers and sellers on Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, Craigslist, eBay, and other platforms. Scammers use fake listings, payment manipulation, and social engineering to steal money from both sides of transactions.
$392M.
lost to online shopping fraud in 2024
1 in 5.
of marketplace listings are fraudulent
$750.
average marketplace scam loss
94.5%.
suss. detection rate
red flags to watch for.
if you see any of these, suss it out before responding.
price too good to be true
MacBook for $400, iPhone for $200, PS5 for $150 — if it's way below market, it's bait.
payment off-platform
Asks for Zelle, Venmo, CashApp, wire transfer, or gift cards instead of the platform's payment system.
can't meet in person
Shipping only, out of state, or suggests meeting at a random location instead of a police station.
Zelle 'business upgrade'
Claims you need to upgrade to a Zelle business account or send money first to receive their payment.
fake payment screenshot
Shows a screenshot of a pending payment that never actually clears.
brand new account
Seller's profile was created recently, has no reviews, and no history.
real examples suss. catches.
paste messages like these into suss. for instant analysis.
“2024 MacBook Pro 16" — $400. Moving out of state, need gone today. Venmo only. Can't meet in person but can ship with tracking.”
HIGH RISK — marketplace scam
“I just sent you the payment via Zelle but it says I need to upgrade to a business account. Can you send me $50 first so it goes through?”
HIGH RISK — Zelle upgrade scam
real victim stories.
anonymized cases from actual marketplace & shopping scams reports.
A buyer found a PS5 for $200 on Facebook Marketplace. The seller insisted on Zelle and claimed he'd ship it. After payment, the seller's account disappeared.
Never pay off-platform for items you haven't seen in person.
A seller received a fake Venmo notification email showing payment for a $500 item. She shipped the item before realizing no money was actually received.
Always verify payment in your actual app — never trust screenshots or emails.
check it now.
paste a suspicious message below for instant AI analysis.
how to protect yourself.
follow these tips and use suss. to verify anything suspicious.
Always use the platform's built-in payment system for buyer protection.
Meet in person at a police station or other safe, public location.
Never send money to 'receive' money — that's always a scam.
Research the seller's profile — check reviews, account age, and history.
If the price is too good to be true, it is.
Report fake listings to the platform immediately.
think you've seen a marketplace & shopping scam?.
paste the message, email, or link into suss. for an instant AI-powered analysis. free, no signup needed.
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