Has a marketplace buyer sent you proof that they've paid?

Common warning signs of a fake-payment scam

• The buyer says payment has been made, but you cannot see it in your account. Do not rely on a screenshot, receipt or email as proof that funds have actually arrived.
• You receive a PayPal or PayID email you were not expecting. Scammers may create fake payment messages that look as though they came from a real payment provider.
• You are told to upgrade your account to receive the money. A scam message may claim you need to pay a fee, activate a business account or send money before the buyer's payment can be released.
• The buyer says they accidentally overpaid. They may ask you to return the extra money even though the original payment never actually reached your account.
• The buyer wants the item immediately. Be cautious if someone is pressuring you to hand over or ship an item before you have independently confirmed the payment.
• The buyer is unusually eager to purchase without inspecting the item. Scamwatch warns that buyers offering to purchase expensive goods without viewing them can be a warning sign.

Check your own bank or payment account

The safest way to confirm payment is to open your banking or payment app yourself and check whether the funds are actually there.

Do not trust a screenshot supplied by the buyer. Do not trust a link inside an unexpected email or message claiming that money is waiting. Open the real service independently.

Never send money back unless you can verify the original payment

A common scam involves a buyer claiming they sent too much money and asking you to refund the difference.

If the original payment was fake, any money you send back comes from your own funds. Verify the payment directly inside your real account before taking any action.

If you already handed over the item or sent money

Contact your bank or payment provider as soon as possible if you sent money, exposed financial information or believe a payment account has been compromised.

Save the buyer's messages, profile details, payment receipts and any other evidence. Report the account to the marketplace and use the appropriate official scam-reporting service in your country.

What ScamAssessor looks for

ScamAssessor checks combinations of warning signs including fake payment confirmations, account-upgrade demands, overpayments, refund requests, suspicious payment links, urgency and impersonation.

ScamAssessor provides a risk assessment, not proof. A low-risk result does not prove that a buyer, payment, receipt or marketplace account is genuine. Always verify the money directly in your own account.