Safe buying and selling: 7 signs of a scam and how to stay safe

Most classifieds deals go smoothly. Scammers, though, use the same few tricks over and over. Learn them and you avoid almost all of the risk.

7 signs of a scam

1. The price is too good to be true. A car or apartment at half the market price is usually bait.
2. The "I'm overseas" story. The seller can't show the item but will ship it or mail the keys.
3. Money first. A deposit, holding fee or "reservation fee" before you've seen anything.
4. Gift cards, crypto or wire transfers. Money sent this way can't be recovered.
5. An overpayment check. The buyer sends a check for more than the price and asks you to refund the difference. The check bounces days later.
6. A verification-code request. "Tell me the code sent to your phone to prove you're real" is an attempt to take over your account or number.
7. Pressure and moving the chat. "Decide now" or "let's talk on another app."

If you're selling

• Never share a verification code sent to your phone.
• Don't accept overpayment checks or "refund the difference."
• Don't hand over the item until you're sure you've been paid.

If you're buying

• Don't pay for anything you haven't seen.
• For rentals, never pay a deposit before signing a lease.
• For cars, check the title and VIN history.

Meeting safely

• Meet in daylight in a busy place. Many police stations have a "safe exchange zone."
• Bring someone along and tell a friend where you'll be.
• For expensive items, meet at a bank and pay there.

About payment apps

Zelle, Venmo and Cash App are fast, but money sent through them often can't be recovered. Use them only with people you know, and only once you have the item.

See a suspicious listing?

Tap Report on the listing or message. Our team reviews it, removes the listing if needed and blocks the user. Every listing is checked before it goes live, but staying alert is always smart.