Ever stumbled upon a deal on OfferUp that seemed too good to be true? You’re not alone. This article will shed light on the common OfferUp scams, helping you navigate the platform safely.
By reading, you’ll learn how to spot these scams before they can trick you, what signs to look out for, and the steps to take if you encounter a scam. Understanding these scams will empower you to use OfferUp confidently. So, let’s get to it!
Most Popular Scams On Offerup
To know What Is Offerup Scams, let’s first understand what is offer up. Offer Up is a mobile-driven regional marketplace that is the same as Facebook Marketplace, eBay, and Craigslist. It was established in the year of 2011 To allow people across the world to buy and sell items. It is even a commission or fee waiver to list any entities for sale.
When it comes to money, anything can be possible, including scams. People out in the world can do anything to have money. As people have decided that if there’s money, there’s everything. So some of them find an easy way to get it. To have more money, they do scams on various mediums like Scams On Offerup.
So I have mentioned some of them you should keep your eyes on. Some contain Duplicate pay, fake IDs, phony mirror sites, requests for untraceable pay modes, fake OTP schemes, and fake fees. So after reading this, you must think, Is Offer up Legit or not?
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Most Popular Scams
1. Fake mirror website
One of the commonest Offerup Scams is the Fake mirror website. It is called phishing in a scientific way. The scammer makes a duplicate website with the exact layouts and logo of the fair OfferUp site. Then they put its link on everywhere on sale ad, which will take you to the payment page.
There is no security for buyers. They will deduct your money and never send the item you paid for. So yes, there’s a way to ignore this type of scam.
One of the finer ways is to avoid clicking on fraudulent sites outside of the Offerup websites to complete any money transaction. The simple site helps you counter typical OfferUp fraud by proposing to buy a security for your credit or debit cards if things are delivered straight to the actual OfferUp website.
2. Fake check or cash
I would love to explain this Scams On Offerup with a suitable example. If you post an ad on your Xbox, you get a text saying you decide to purchase it for your asking price. And then, Voila! You’ve made a sale! Appeared.
Then you meet to give your Xbox and take dollars in return, but you only discover belatedly that you were already allocated with the fake check or duplicate online money. Yes, it is heart broking Offer up Scams.
However, you can save yourself from this Offerup Shipping Scam by only going with the cash. You can pick Moneymaker to alert you when you get bogus cash invoices. In addition, you can be familiar with anti-counterfeit elements of invoices over $5 that include color-altering links once listed.
3. Fake account
Fake IDs are now everywhere, and so on Offerup. It is part of the Offerup Scams now. You can notice it when you find something particular you can see that there are multiple things with the same photos but with different seller names.
You can find out that there’s zero feedback or any history. However, there are still numerous same things recorded or objects that appear equivalent in images to many different listings. So it is your Offer Up Red Flags.
If a new newly made account wants you to spend for the trade, then OfferUp, it’s another Offer Up Red Flag! If that account has adverse feedback, be alert to possible poor incidents that many other buyers may find.
4. Paying by other means
If anybody demands payment through any other mode, then Offerup is also the Offer up Scams. For example, dealers might urge you to send or get paid through certified checks, gift cards, prepaid cards, or wire transfers.
These ways never give buyers any protection or methods to regain your dollars if they don’t give you the item you have paid for. As a purchaser or seller, you should go for the Pay on-delivery or the verified electronic payment methods.
5. Overpayment scam
This is also one type of Offerup Shipping Scam. It is accomplished by pleading with the concept of creating extra income on your sale. For example, one seller is selling a laptop for just $1,000.
Then when you buy it, you get a text that you will have to pay an extra $100 for the shipping, knowing it will not cost you that amount. However, it’s excellent to boost your earnings through additional action.
In actuality, you have dropped the target to one of the typical Offerup Scams that will persuade you to have the chance of a bad check. Instead, what you will get is bounced statement after the shipping only. In addition, you have to pay the fees for a bounced check.
6. Code verification scam
We used to hear about these Scams On Offerup and other internet media. This Offerup Shipping scam has been striking multiple social media modes. Mostly the buyers and sellers will ask you for the contact number and will ask you for the code to verify that it’s you.
When you get that google verification code, a scammer will ask you for it; then, they will hijack your phone with the hell of it,. It is used for identity theft or sometimes to make a fake profile for fraud and scams. They can make new IDs and then access everything.
So to avoid this, you should not give strangers or unknown people your contact number. And never send any OTP on a phone call until it’s not what you have asked for.
7. Additional shipping
We all know that Offerup provides links in its transaction process so that shipping can be done. This is how you can protect your purchase that needs to be shipped. Sellers demanding that a thing has extra shipping costs are part of Offerup Scams.
All the charges and options are well listed on the OfferUp site. Sellers mailing a bill through any other app to bill for “extra fees” are possible scammers, and there is a good possibility that you will not see your funds or your selected thing!
8. Offerup Email Scams
As we have seen, Offer up Scams are now standard. You all must get the fraud emails, also. Some of them automatically go into spam. That are usually Offerup Email Scams. Commonly, Offerup Email Scams affect somebody attempting to fool you into revealing private data. It’s a risky Offerup scam. It is often ended as identity theft.
This scammer will ask you for your bank account information, credit card numbers, passwords, PINs, or anything else and then use it as a masquerade for you online. Then, they will ask you so innocently as you can believe them and give you the details.
Here I have mentioned the Quick method they use for Offerup Email Scams
- You will get an email
- You Answer it and Click on a Link, Email Back Information, or Call a Phone Number.
- The Scammer will Steal Your Data.
9. Offerup Car Scams
In past years, Offerup has been going great and has taken an excellent place to buy and sell items. So people also buy and sell used cars on it. Indeed, it has attracted scammers who prey on people who want to purchase expensive things.
Falling for Offerup Car Scamsis expensive and may cost you thousands of dollars without any automobile. So be careful about Offerup Car Scams when buying a car from Offerup.
Since Offerup Scams of cars could arrive in numerous forms, I have mentioned the most common ones to watch here.
- VIN Cloning
- Cars don’t exist in actuality
- Fake titles
- Gift Cards and Other Unknown Payment Modes
- Very cheap rates
But you know, you can ignore Offerup Car Scams by following some steps below.
- Do research about the Car and Seller
- Do a Reverse Image Search on google
- Complete the Transaction at the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles)
- Confirm VIN Numbers
- Check Cars live
- Ask for a Mechanical Review
- Bypass the Alternative pay modes
- Crystle clear of “Too Good To Be True” Car Listings
Offerup Buyer Protection
As a buyer, You can have Offerup Buyer Protection. You can also file any complaint with your shipped items and claim your issue. But as we know, a refund is a better option every time. So before you make any complaint or claim, try the refund directly from the seller. It will be an even faster process for you too.
If you cannot pick the option of a refund, then you can go with the 2-day Offerup Buyer Protection. What is covered and what not are with the Offerup Buyer Protection are given below.
Covered Things
- The buyer has never accepted the thing.
- The thing is damaged when the buyer gets it.
- The thing is wrong or absent.
- The thing the buyer accepts is not as represented in the ad.
NOTE: If, after five days of payment, the thing is still not shipped, then the transaction will automatically be canceled, and the refund will automatically be processed.
Not Covered Things
- Things that don’t match.
- Things the buyer doesn’t want after ordering.
- Anything that OfferUp restricts.
- Buys are completed in cash or with a live payment.
- Buys are achieved via pay or shipping methods other than OfferUp.
7 Offer-Up Red Flags You Need to Check
We all know the oldsters and their saying. Whatever they say is accurate, and their advice comes from a good experience. So they say,” If something is so good to be true, it probably is” It applies to many fraudulent online transactions.
So to help you avoid some of the common Offer Up scams, here are 7 Offer Up Red Flags to know.
- Excellent discounts on costly items(a brand new iPhone just for $20!)
- Postings that only contain manufactory or stock-type of photos
- New ID with nil record or trades
- Containing links to buy from outside of the actual OfferUp website or official application
- IDs with adverse reviews
- Ask for pay in wire transfer, prepaid cards, certified checks, etc.
- Billing for added fees or costs outside of the OfferUp site or app
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Is Offer up Legit?
Today’s generation is all about reselling and online shopping. And this time, Offer up has taken a great place to do so. Since OfferUp presents self-dependent dealers and not particular brand’s things or authorized shops, you might wonder if that Is Offer up Legit.
The good thing is that Offerup is trying its best to protect buyers and sellers from fraud. So ten crucial things that prove it Is Offer up Legit are given below.
- Identity Confirmation
- User Profiles
- User Ratings
- In-App Messaging feature
- Community Gatherings spots
- Buyer Tips
- Law Enforcement Partners
- Prohibited Items
- The “Be Neighborly” Code Of Conduct
- The “Be Ethical” Code Of Conduct
Conclusion
To conclude the article, I would like to say that we know how good Offerup is, but now we understand how expert Scammers are doing Scams On Offerup. So we have to become a little extra expert so that no Offerup Shipping Scams can fool us and we can’t be a part of any fraudulent behavior. Now let me complete the article on Offerup Scams.
FAQs
Can you get scammed from OfferUp?
Yes, fraud people are on offer who are committing fraud with innocent. If you want to save yourself from them, use the OfferUp app for shipping transactions.
Are There Scams On Offerup?
Yes, many types of sums are done on the online platform Offerup. But you can prevent yourself if you be alert.
Is it safe to give your address on OfferUp?
It is a genuine request that you not share your private data like email, contact number, address, etc. Use inbuild texting to communicate with sellers. Going for Py on delivery or Offerup payment methods would be best.
Should I use my real name on OfferUp?
OfferUp is a great way to commune with your regional residents and beyond. It would be best to use your real individuality and truthfully express yourself.
Are buyers protected on OfferUp?
Yes, buyers are protected by offerup. Not only Buyers but sellers are also protected. But OfferUp does not take a guarantee if you guys choose another medium to connect other payment methods than the in-built offer-up payment methods.