Safety · 27 July 2026 · 8 min

Selling safely on an online marketplace

A scammer often shows little interest in the item. Instead, they immediately claim to arrange payment or a courier, then send you to an external page designed to steal banking details.

Red flags in the first message

• They ask nothing about the item but want to buy immediately.
• They send a courier or payment link.
• They urgently request your email address, phone number or card details.
• They claim the seller must pay a fee to receive money.
• The wording looks generic and refers to “the item” rather than its actual name.
• They apply pressure: “right now”, “I have paid” or “the link is expiring”.

You do not need card details to receive money

For a bank transfer, a seller normally needs to provide no more than an account number or recognised payment identifier. Never provide your card number, expiry date, security code, online-banking password or a one-time approval code in order to receive money.

Do not open a service through the message

If a courier or payment provider is mentioned, verify it through your own bookmark or by typing the official address yourself. A deceptive domain often differs from the real one by only one or two characters.

Handing over in person

Meet somewhere public, busy and well lit, and bring someone for a valuable item. Let the buyer perform a reasonable test, but keep control of both the item and payment. Count cash and verify transfers in your own banking app; a screenshot is not proof of payment.

If you have already shared information

Call your bank through its official number immediately, block the card or account access, change your password and report the profile on the marketplace. Report financial loss to the police or the appropriate national fraud service. Never call a number supplied in the suspicious message.