Does PayID ever require me to pay a fee to receive money?

No. PayID is a free service. Any request to pay money to 'release' or 'upgrade' your account is a scam.

What should I do if a buyer overpays me?

Do not refund them through a separate app. Wait for the money to actually clear in your bank account (not just show as 'pending'). Usually, the 'payment' was fake all along.

Is it safe to give my address for a pickup?

Generally yes, but meet in a public, well-lit place if possible. Never hand over the item until you have confirmed the funds are physically in your account or you have cash in hand.

Buyer Scam Checker

Verify Marketplace buyers before you hand over your item.

Scammers impersonate buyers to send fake payment confirmations or run 'overpayment' scams. Check the message here before you let an 'eager buyer' steal your money or your goods.

Security Insight

Buyer scams often target 'high-friction' items like furniture or electronics. Scammers use complicated stories about couriers or 'business account' limits to force you into making a 'refund' payment.

Identifies fake PayID alerts

Spots 'overpayment' fraud scripts

Protects your personal bank info

Analyze a Buyer Message Seller Safety Guide

Common Marketplace Buyer Scams

A real buyer usually wants to inspect the item or pays simply. Watch out for these complex, high-pressure scripts.

The PayID 'Business Upgrade' Scam

The buyer claims they sent the money but you need to pay a 'refund' to upgrade your account to receive it. This is a 100% fraud.

The 'Accidental Overpayment'

A buyer sends a fake receipt showing they paid $500 instead of $50, then urgently asks you to refund the $450 'difference' via a separate app.

The 'Courier Pickup' insurance fee

The buyer says they can't come in person and will send a courier, but you must pay an 'insurance fee' upfront which they claim to have added to the price.

Immediate move to personal chat

The buyer insists on moving the conversation to WhatsApp or SMS immediately to bypass Marketplace's built-in scam detection.

What IsThisSpam checks before you trust a sender

Quick verdicts are useful, but the real value is understanding why something looks safe, uncertain, or risky.

Brand-new Buyer Profile

Profiles created in the last few months with no history or friends are frequently used by automated scam bots.

Generic 'Is this available?' bots

Instant replies that use the exact title of your listing but don't ask any specific questions about the item's condition or location.

Pressure for 'Email' addresses

Buyers don't need your email for a standard marketplace deal. They only want it to send you a fake PayPal or PayID alert.

Refusal to pay in cash on pickup

If they are local but refuse to pay cash and insist on a 'bank transfer' with a 'receipt' they'll show you, be extremely careful.

Related guides

Use the checker for the fast answer, then read the deeper guidance for recurring scam patterns.

Online Seller Scam Checker

Verify the legitimacy of people selling items to you.

Read the guide

Gumtree Scam Checker

Specific guide for Australian marketplace classifieds.

Read the guide

FAQ

These are the questions people usually ask right before they click, reply, or pay.

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Analyze a Buyer Message Seller Safety Guide