How to spot and avoid marketplace scams
Updated 9 November 2026
Almost every marketplace scam needs you to do one of two things: pay before you see the item, or send something before you have been paid. Refuse both and most scams fail.
Scams aimed at buyers
- Too-cheap item, seller "abroad", courier will deliver after payment — no item exists.
- Rental deposit requested before viewing — the property is not theirs.
- Pressure to pay now "because others are interested".
Scams aimed at sellers
- A buyer "overpays" and asks for the difference back — the original payment reverses days later.
- A link to "receive your payment" that asks for card or bank login details.
- A request to verify yourself by reading back a code sent to your phone — that code is access to your account.
If it happens
Stop replying, report the ad on BidBuy, and contact your bank immediately if money has moved. Report fraud to An Garda Síochána.
