BusinessFinancials

You are selling on Mercari, Depop, or Facebook. The "buyer" wants to pay outside the platform or sends a fake payment screenshot.

How it works

You're selling something on Mercari, Depop, eBay, or Facebook Marketplace.

Pattern A: Pay-outside-the-platform

"Hey! I'll pay you on Cash App / Zelle / Venmo if you ship to me directly. We can skip the platform fee."

You ship. The "payment" was a fake screenshot. There's no protection because you're outside the platform.

Pattern B: Fake overpayment

"Oh sorry, I sent you $700 instead of $70. Can you send me $630 back?"

The original payment is a forged check or pending PayPal that gets reversed. The $630 you sent was real money out of your account.

Pattern C: Fake "buyer" sends a "shipping label."

"Use this label so it goes faster."

The label is fraudulent. Either the package gets lost in a redirect chain, or you get charged $80 in shipping fees.

Why people fall for it

You're motivated to make the sale.
Skipping the platform fee sounds like a win.
A "buyer" who's nice and chatty feels safe.
Cash App / Venmo / Zelle look like real payments.

Red flags

Wants to move the conversation off the platform. Stop right there.
Wants to pay via Cash App / Zelle / Venmo / wire / gift card. No buyer protection on those.
Suddenly "overpays" and asks for a refund.
Sends you their own shipping label.
In a hurry, lots of urgency, won't answer normal questions about the item.

How to stay safe

Always sell, ship, and get paid through the platform. That's why the fees exist.
Never accept payment from a stranger via Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, or wire. Those are like sending cash — non-recoverable.
If the "payment" arrives as a screenshot, treat it as zero money. Real payments show up in your actual app.
Use only labels generated through the platform for shipping.
Keep all communication on the platform — that's your record if something goes wrong.

Related lessons

Profit vs revenue
Glossary: Cash flow

Sources & further reading

Better Business Bureau — Online marketplace scams
Federal Trade Commission — Mobile payment app scams

Educational only — not financial, legal, tax, or investment advice. If you think you've been scammed, tell a trusted adult immediately and report it to the FTC and the BBB Scam Tracker.