Use this guide before buying from a website or seller you do not know, or if a deal on social media or a marketplace seems too good to be true. Have the website address, seller details and the advert in front of you.
Step by step
Check the seller is real
Look for a full postal address, a landline or proper contact details and clear returns information. Search the business name with words like scam or reviews and read recent experiences from several sources. Be wary of new sites with no history.
Look for warning signs
Prices far below everyone else, pressure to buy quickly and poor spelling or copied images are common warning signs. Be cautious of sellers who move you away from the marketplace to message or pay privately. Fake social media adverts often use real brand names and logos.
Pay the safer way
Use a credit or debit card or a trusted payment service with buyer protection. Never pay a stranger by bank transfer for goods you have not seen, as the money is hard to recover. Do not share one-time passcodes with anyone.
Protect your details
Only enter card details on secure checkout pages and never send card numbers by email or message. Use a strong unique password for shopping accounts. Be careful with texts or emails about missed deliveries that ask you to click a link and pay a fee.
Act fast if something goes wrong
If you think you have been scammed, contact your bank immediately using the number on the back of your card and ask it to stop or recover the payment. Change any passwords you may have shared. Keep screenshots of the advert, messages and payment.
Report the scam
Report fraud to Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud) and tell Citizens Advice so Trading Standards can be informed. Forward scam texts to 7726 and report suspicious emails to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service. Report fake listings to the marketplace or social media platform too.
Ready-to-use checklist
- Seller address and contact details checked
- Recent reviews searched
- Price compared with other sellers
- Card or protected payment method used
- No bank transfer to unknown sellers
- Screenshots of advert and messages kept
- Bank contacted quickly if in doubt
Practical tips
- Type a shop's web address yourself rather than clicking links in adverts, texts or emails.
- If a deal makes you feel rushed or excited, pause for a day before paying.
- Genuine delivery companies do not usually ask you to pay a small fee by text link to release a parcel.
Common problems
I paid by bank transfer and now the seller will not reply.
Call your bank straight away and tell it you have been scammed, as speed improves the chance of recovery. Then report to Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud) and keep all evidence.
I entered my card details on a site I now think is fake.
Contact your card provider immediately to block the card and check for unusual payments. Watch your statements closely and be alert to follow-up scam calls pretending to be from your bank.
Goods arrived but they are obviously counterfeit.
Contact the seller and ask for a refund, and use chargeback or the marketplace's buyer protection if they refuse. Report the seller to Citizens Advice so Trading Standards can be informed.