Marketplace scam guide
Marketplace buyer fraud
Marketplace buyer fraud targets sellers with fake payment screenshots, QR codes to receive money, courier pickup fees, military/official impersonation, and refund or chargeback tricks.
Risk signal
Fake buyer
Severity
medium
Group
Marketplace
Common identifiers
Add identifiers that can be matched safely across reports, profiles, payments, and evidence without exposing unnecessary private data.
Buyer phone
Use the exact buyer phone shown by the scammer so CheckKaroo can link repeat signals and avoid weak matches.
UPI request
Use the exact upi request shown by the scammer so CheckKaroo can link repeat signals and avoid weak matches.
Courier link
Use the exact courier link shown by the scammer so CheckKaroo can link repeat signals and avoid weak matches.
Marketplace chat
Use the exact marketplace chat shown by the scammer so CheckKaroo can link repeat signals and avoid weak matches.
Evidence to preserve
Keep proof in original form where possible. Screenshots help, but transaction IDs, URLs, timestamps, and chat context make moderation stronger.
Buyer messages
Capture buyer messages with date, time, sender, URL, or transaction context visible where possible.
QR/collect request
Capture qr/collect request with date, time, sender, URL, or transaction context visible where possible.
Fake receipt
Capture fake receipt with date, time, sender, URL, or transaction context visible where possible.
Pickup claim
Capture pickup claim with date, time, sender, URL, or transaction context visible where possible.
First response
These steps reduce further loss and keep your report useful for review, banking escalation, platform reporting, and official complaints.
Do not scan QR to receive money
Do this early: do not scan qr to receive money helps reduce repeat contact, preserve proof, and keep escalation options open.
Verify funds in bank
Do this early: verify funds in bank helps reduce repeat contact, preserve proof, and keep escalation options open.
Keep platform chat active
Do this early: keep platform chat active helps reduce repeat contact, preserve proof, and keep escalation options open.
Urgent money loss
If money was recently transferred, call 1930 first and raise a bank or payment-app dispute. Speed matters for fund-freeze attempts.
Privacy boundary
Do not upload OTPs, passwords, full card numbers, full Aadhaar, private documents, or unrelated intimate media. Use masked, relevant evidence whenever possible.
Related categories
Similar fraud patterns
Store clone
Instagram store scam
Fake Instagram shops collecting advance payments for products that never arrive.
Fake seller
Marketplace seller fraud
Sellers who take advance payment, ship fake goods, or disappear after order confirmation.
Refund trap
E-commerce refund scam
Fake refund or order support links that steal payment credentials or trigger transfers.
Vehicle listing
Vehicle sale scam
Fake vehicle listings, army officer claims, transport fees, booking deposits, or RC misuse.