How to spot a fake buyer or scammer
Scam buyers follow patterns. Learn the red flags and let held payment do the rest.
Key points
- Urgency, overpayment offers, or requests to ship before payment clears.
- Pushing you to WhatsApp, email or bank transfer.
- Refusing any on-platform, held-payment method.
How SilentSale protects both sides. SilentCover is SilentSale’s shared-protection model: both the buyer and the seller contribute a small amount, and the payment is held securely until the buyer confirms the item is as described — then it is released to the seller. Both sides are protected equally. For in-person deals, PIN Pickup holds the payment until a PIN is exchanged at the meetup, so no one relies on cash changing hands.
Frequently asked questions
Why do scammers want to go off-platform?
To use untraceable payments with no protection. Staying on-platform stops this.
How does SilentSale help?
Verified accounts and held payment mean a fake buyer cannot get the item without paying.
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