How to spot a fake listing

Seven warning signs of a fake or scam listing, and what to do when you see one. Simple checks that protect your money.

Most people who sell on classified sites are honest. A small number are not, and their listings share the same patterns. Learn these seven signs and you will avoid almost every scam.

The price is far too good

A new phone for half the shop price, or a car well below its market value, is a classic bait. Before you get excited, search for similar listings. If the price is far lower than all of them, ask yourself why.

The photos look wrong

Scammers copy photos from other sites. Warning signs include professional catalogue photos, a photo that looks different from the description, or the same photo in several listings. Ask the seller to send a new photo of the item, for example with a piece of paper showing today’s date. A real seller can do it in a minute. You can also run a photo through a reverse image search to see where else it appears.

They want payment first

Never pay a deposit, a “reservation fee”, a “shipping fee” or a “holding fee” for something you have not seen. Honest sellers let you look at the item first. If someone says another buyer is waiting and you must pay now, treat it as a red flag.

They will not meet or show the item

A seller who is always “abroad”, “travelling” or “using a courier” and will not show the item on a video call is usually not a seller at all. Ask for a short live video of the item, and do not buy anything you cannot see.

They send links or codes

Be careful if someone asks you to click a link, log in to another site, scan a code, or share a code you received by SMS or email. Real buyers and sellers do not need any of these to complete a deal. Never share a one-time code with anyone.

They offer to overpay

In this scam, a “buyer” sends more than your price and asks you to return the difference. The first payment later turns out to be fake or reversed, and you have lost the money you sent back. Accept only the exact price, and only when it is in your account.

The details do not add up

Small mismatches are often the clue: a location that changes, a phone model that is described differently in the title and the text, a story that keeps shifting, or very poor spelling in a message that claims to come from a business. Trust your instincts. If it feels wrong, stop.

How ExpatsDeals helps

• Every new listing is reviewed before it goes live.
• Phone numbers, emails and links are not allowed in titles or descriptions, which stops many scam tricks.
• Posting limits and duplicate checks stop people from flooding the site.
• You can message a seller through the site, so you do not have to share your details first.
• Any logged-in member can report a listing, and listings with several reports are hidden until we check them.

These steps help, but no website can check everything, so keep using your own judgement.

What to do if you spot one

Use the Report button on the listing, and choose the reason that fits best. Do not reply to the seller, do not pay, and do not click any link they sent. If you have already lost money or shared bank details, contact your bank straight away and report it to the police.

See our Safety Tips for advice on meeting buyers and sellers.