MARKETPLACE & TRADE ME
KIWISCAN • NZ SCAM CHECKER

Avoid Marketplace & Trade Me traps.

Buying or selling on Marketplace or Trade Me? These scams usually try to do one of three things:
• push you off-platform (WhatsApp/SMS/email)
• trick you into paying a fake “courier / insurance” fee
• steal card or banking details using a “payment confirmed” link

Check a message now See red flags What to do next

Common marketplace scam patterns

If you recognise any of these, stop and verify before you continue.

“Courier pickup with cash”

A “buyer” claims they’ll send a courier with cash. Then you get a link for “insurance” or “delivery booking” and they pressure you to pay first.

Real couriers don’t ask sellers to pay “insurance” to receive cash.

Fake “payment confirmed” link

They send a link claiming payment is complete and you just need to “confirm” your bank/card to release funds. The page is phishing.

Never “confirm” payment via links sent in chat messages.

Off-platform pressure

They push you to continue on WhatsApp/SMS/email, often with urgency. Off-platform chats remove safety controls, reporting tools, and buyer/seller protections.

Staying on-platform is one of your best protections.

Where these scams show up

The same tricks appear across platforms — the method changes, the goal is the same.

Facebook Marketplace

  • New accounts, vague profiles, generic messages (“Is this still available?” then pressure)
  • Courier pickup + insurance fee links
  • Requests to move to WhatsApp, Telegram, or SMS
  • “I’ll pay now” but you must “confirm” via a link

Trade Me

  • Phishing emails/texts pretending to be Trade Me messages or invoices
  • Fake “payment received” notices with a suspicious link
  • Requests to pay outside Trade Me methods or to “secure the item” via bank transfer
  • Seller impersonation: “we need your details to release payment”

Marketplace scam red flags

If you see any of these, pause immediately.

Links sent in chat

  • Any link claiming “payment confirmed”, “shipping label”, “insurance”, “release funds”
  • Shortened URLs or domains that don’t match a real brand
  • Login pages that appear after clicking
  • Forms asking for card details, bank login, or verification codes

Pressure tactics

  • “I’m sending the courier now, do it quickly”
  • “Multiple buyers, pay deposit now”
  • They won’t answer basic questions about the item
  • They avoid meeting in person or refuse safe payment methods

Pay-first traps

  • Seller asked to pay “insurance”, “courier fee”, or “verification fee”
  • Buyer asked to pay outside the platform, especially bank transfer to a new account
  • Overpayment scams (“I sent too much, refund the difference”)
  • Requests for crypto, gift cards, or unusual payment methods

Identity and profile signals

  • New profiles, low activity, strange names, copied photos
  • Message feels “scripted” or doesn’t match your questions
  • They refuse a simple phone call or video call
  • They want your email address immediately

What to do next

Simple steps to protect yourself when buying or selling.

Step 01

Keep it on-platform

Don’t move to WhatsApp/SMS/email just because they ask. If you must share contact details, do it only after you’ve verified the person and agreed on safe payment/collection.

Off-platform is where most marketplace scams finish.
Step 02

Use safe exchange methods

Prefer pickup in a public place, cash on pickup, or trusted in-app payment/escrow options where available. Avoid paying deposits to “hold” items unless you fully trust the seller.

If you can’t verify the person, don’t send money.
Step 03

If you clicked, paid, or shared details

Contact your bank immediately, cancel/replace cards if needed, change passwords if you reused them, and keep screenshots of the chat, profile, and any payment details for reporting.

Use the safety shortcuts below for step-by-step actions.
FAST SAFETY SHORTCUTS

Need immediate steps?

If you clicked a link, paid money, or shared details — these pages walk you through what to do next.

I clicked a link I paid money I shared details

Marketplace scams FAQ

Quick answers to common questions.

Is “courier pickup with cash” ever legitimate?

It can happen in real life, but the scam version is extremely common. The red line is when you’re asked to pay any fee or click a link to “book” the courier or “insure” the cash. That’s the trap.

What does KiwiScan treat as HIGH risk for marketplace messages?

Any hard indicator: a link/shortlink, a phone/WhatsApp handle, a payment request, a login/OTP request, install/download/remote-access prompts, or crypto wallet instructions.

What if the message says “payment pending” or “funds on hold”?

Treat it as suspicious until verified. Real payments don’t require you to “confirm” via a random link or provide card details to “release funds”. Verify using the platform’s official payment view only.

Not sure if the buyer is legit?

Paste the message into KiwiScan and check it before you agree to anything.

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