Online Shopping and Marketplace Scams: Warning Signs and What to Do

An online shopping scam usually looks like a real store or a real seller with a price that is hard to pass up, and it ends with you paying for something that never arrives, arrives fake, or looks nothing like the picture. The Federal Trade Commission's short version of the warning: "if the seller says you can only pay with a gift card, wire transfer, payment app, or cryptocurrency, it's probably a scam." On Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist and similar sites, the trick often runs the other way, against the person selling: a fake payment notice, an overpaying check, or a request for a "verification code."

If you already paid: contact the company you paid through (your card issuer, bank, or the payment app) right away, using the number on your card or its official app, and ask it to stop or reverse the payment. Keep every message, receipt and screenshot, then report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.IC3.gov. How much you can get back depends mostly on how you paid.

Information last verified on October 3, 2026. This article has not been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.

Jurisdiction scope: This article covers United States federal law and federal agency guidance: the federal wire fraud statute (18 U.S.C. § 1343), the FTC's Mail, Internet, or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule (16 C.F.R. Part 435), and published warnings from the FTC and the FBI. It does not cover state consumer protection laws, state criminal laws, or the buyer and seller protection policies of Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist or other platforms. Refund rights by payment method are covered on our money-back guide.

How online shopping scams work

The FTC describes the most common version in a November 2025 consumer alert. Scammers "sometimes impersonate real companies and run ads for brand-name products at unusually low prices. But if you click the link in the ad, it could send you to a scammy website designed to take your money in exchange for a counterfeit item, something that looks completely different from the picture in the ad, or nothing at all."

Social media is the main doorway. In an April 2026 Data Spotlight, the FTC reported that "More than 40% of people who lost money to a scam on social media said it started when they ordered something they'd seen in an ad," naming everything "from clothes and makeup to car parts and even puppies." It added that "Most people said they paid for things that simply never arrived," and that when orders did show up, the items were often counterfeit or very different from the ad. The FTC also noted the products "were often shipped from China, with high return shipping costs making returns unworkable."

The FBI groups these cases under non-payment/non-delivery fraud. Its 2025 IC3 annual report defines the category this way:

"Non-Payment/Non-Delivery Fraud: Goods or services are shipped, and payment is never rendered (non-payment). Payment is sent, and goods or services are never received, or are of less quality (non-delivery)."

The numbers

The FTC notes that it did not collect reports during the 2025 government shutdown, so its 2025 figures leave out that period. The FTC and IC3 numbers come from different reporting systems that measure different things, so they should not be added together or compared directly. The $2.1 billion social media figure covers every kind of scam that started on social media, not only shopping.

Warning signs when you are buying

None of these signs proves a scam on its own. Two or three together is a reason to stop.

The price is far below everyone else's

The FTC warns: "If expensive brand-name items are offered for bargain prices, they could be counterfeit or stolen." The same pattern drives puppy and ticket scams, covered below.

You found it through a social media ad or a shopping search

In a 2020 public service announcement on fraudulent retail websites, the FBI said victims "were led to these websites via ads on social media platforms or while searching for specific items on online search engines' 'shopping' pages." An ad on a platform you trust is not a sign the seller behind it is real.

The website looks copied or the contact details don't fit

The same 2020 FBI announcement listed what it saw on the fake sites it reviewed at the time: "Websites used content copied from legitimate sites and often shared the same contact information," the sites "provided valid but unassociated U.S. addresses and telephone numbers under a 'Contact Us' link," and many web addresses "were registered recently (within the last six months)." Those were the FBI's observations in 2020; treat them as things to check, not a complete list.

A 2023 FBI announcement on holiday shopping scams added two more:

• "Online retailers who use a free email service instead of a company email address."
• "Sellers posting online under one name but requesting funds to be sent to another individual"

A padlock or "https" in the address bar does not settle it. The FTC says the "s" after http "means the site is encrypted," but "it doesn't mean it's a legitimate site."

The seller wants a payment method you cannot dispute

This is the clearest tell. The FTC's online shopping guidance says: "Never buy anything from online sellers that insist you can only pay with gift cards, by wire transfers through companies like Western Union or MoneyGram, with a payment app, or with cryptocurrency."

A July 2026 FTC alert explains why the method matters: "Last year, people reported the largest losses," "more than $4 billion in total," "to scams where they paid with bank transfers and cryptocurrency." That figure covers all scam types, not only shopping. Its advice: "Pay by credit card whenever possible. Credit cards offer more protections and give you the option to dispute charges."

If the seller asks for a gift card, see our page on gift card scams. If you are asked to pay a stranger through Zelle, Venmo, Cash App or PayPal, our guide to Zelle and payment app scams explains why those payments are hard to reverse.

The seller won't let you see the item first

For pets, the FBI's 2023 announcement flags "Advertisements for pets from sellers who are unable to confirm through in-person visits, video chat, etc. that the pet is real." The same logic applies to anything expensive bought from a person rather than a store: if the seller will not meet in a public place, show the item on a live video call, or answer basic questions, you have no way to know it exists.

How to check before you buy

The FTC's November 2025 alert gives a simple test: "Before you buy, search online for the seller's name and the website URL the ad sends you to, plus words like 'review,' 'complaint,' or 'scam'". Its online shopping guidance also says to keep a record of the company's name and website, what you bought, when and how you paid, the return policy, any shipping promise, and every message and statement. Those records are what a card issuer, bank or investigator will ask for.

Warning signs when you are selling on Marketplace or Craigslist

The FTC put it plainly in a 2022 alert for people selling online: Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace and other sites "attract a lot of buyers," and scammers along with them. These are the scripts it and the FBI describe.

A fake payment notification

The FTC: "A scammer posing as a buyer says they want to buy the thing you have for sale. When it comes time to pay, they insist on paying through a mobile payment app. They send you a fake payment notification and hope you send the item before you realize it's a scam."

The FBI's 2023 list of seller red flags includes the email version: "E-mails purporting to be from an online money transfer company claiming the funds have been sent by the buyer, without verification that funds have been received in the seller's account." Check the balance in your own app or bank account, opened directly, not through a link in the message.

"I accidentally paid you twice"

The FTC warns that a scammer posing as a buyer "might say they accidentally paid you twice and ask you to refund one of the payments." Before sending anything back, check your own app or bank account directly.

A check for more than the price

The FTC: "The scammer offers to give you a check for more than the selling price. They tell you to deposit the check and send the difference back to them." It adds: "When a bank says the check cleared, that doesn't mean it was a good check. It can take weeks for the bank to figure out the check was fake."

The FBI lists the same move as a seller red flag: "Buyers who overpay for an item and want the difference sent to a third party." Why the bank can take the money back from you, and the risk of becoming a money mule when you forward funds for someone else, are covered in our guide to fake check and money mule scams.

A request for a verification code

The FTC describes a buyer who "says they've heard about fake online listings and wants to verify that you're a real person. They send you a text message with a Google Voice verification code and ask you for that code." With it, the FTC says, "they'll use it to create a Google Voice number linked to your phone number," which they can then use to scam others. The FTC's rule is not to share "your Google Voice verification code," or "any verification code," with "someone you don't know." Other code and link tricks are covered in our guide to phishing, smishing and vishing.

A third-party "escrow" or guarantee service

Fake escrow is a long-documented trick. In a 2003 press release about one of its cases, the FTC said defendants "set up a fraudulent online escrow service," "insisted the transaction be processed by their own bogus firm," and sellers "shipped their merchandise to the scammers and never heard from them or premier-escrow.com again." The FTC's tip from that case: "If the seller insists on using a particular escrow or online payment service you've never heard of, check it out."

A 2018 post from the FBI's Portland field office warned that "a fraudster may send you an official-looking, but fake, e-mail from what purports to be a third-party company offering to guarantee that the sale is legit. Don't fall for it." Its advice: "Watch for buyers who offer an online escrow service. Don't do it. Again, meet in person and deal in cash." It also said: "Be concerned if the buyer won't talk to you on the phone."

A refund request without a return

The FBI's seller red flags include "Buyers who receive the merchandise and ask for a refund, but do not send the original merchandise back."

Safer ways to sell

The FTC's 2022 alert says: "Don't accept a mobile payment from someone you don't know. Never deposit a check for more than the selling price." It also notes that "Many sites recommend selling your stuff to a local buyer you can meet in person and only accepting cash payments." That is the platforms' recommendation, as the FTC reports it, not a guarantee that any payment is safe.

Ticket scams

The FTC's March 2026 alert about the World Cup describes the pattern: "Fraudsters use paid search results or social media to drive you to their scam websites. These hucksters may advertise fake tickets or sell the same seat to many people." Writing about World Cup tickets specifically, the FTC added that "Someone selling paper tickets or a screenshot is likely a scammer." How tickets are delivered differs by event, so check what the official seller uses.

Before buying from any reseller, the FTC suggests asking: "How will I get my tickets? When will I get my tickets? If something goes wrong with my tickets, will they help me get replacement tickets or give me a refund?"

Pet and puppy scams

Pet sales follow the same non-delivery pattern, with the added pressure of a deadline. The FTC's December 2024 alert says scammers sometimes advertise "purebred puppies for a few hundred dollars when they often cost thousands," "pushing you to act fast before they've gone to other homes." Then "they'll insist you pay for it up front. But if you pay, not only will you never see that puppy (who might not even exist), but you might also never see that money again."

The FBI's 2023 announcement describes what usually follows: "Often, additional money is requested for various reasons that were not initially disclosed. After funds are sent, the pet never arrives." A new fee after you have paid is a reason to stop paying. The FTC suggests another route: "Consider a local rescue or animal shelter."

What to do right now if you were scammed

1. Stop paying. Do not send more money for a new fee or a promised refund.
2. Contact the company you paid through, today. The FTC's guidance by payment method: for a payment app, "Report it to the payment app immediately. Ask them to reverse the payment and refund your money." For Zelle or a bank transfer, "Report it to your bank or credit union immediately. Ask them to reverse the payment." For a credit card, report it to the issuer immediately and "Ask them to refund your money." For a debit card, "Report it to your bank or credit union immediately." For a gift card, contact the company that issued it and "Keep the gift card and the receipt."
3. If you paid in cryptocurrency, the FTC warns: "Cryptocurrency payments don't have the same legal protections as credit and debit cards do, so it can be hard to get your money back." Still report it.
4. If you mailed cash, the FTC says to "Contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service at 1-877-876-2455 immediately."
5. Save everything: the listing or ad, the website address, screenshots of messages, the seller's profile, receipts and statements.
6. Report it (details below).

The FTC's wording is "ask." For most of these methods, asking is what you can do; whether the law gives you a right to the money back depends on the payment method, covered next.

Getting your money back: it depends on how you paid

The FTC says credit cards "offer more protections." Its online shopping guidance says: "If you pay by credit card and are charged twice for the same item, are billed for merchandise you never got, or get the wrong item or a defective item, you'll be able to dispute the charge." It adds that to use that right, you should "call immediately and send a letter" to the card company, and the letter has a deadline.

The steps, the deadlines and the statutes behind card disputes, debit card and bank transfer claims, and what is realistic for gift cards, wires and crypto are on our guide to how to get money back after a scam. If you paid through Zelle, Venmo, Cash App or PayPal, the payment app guide covers those companies' policies. Act quickly either way.

The FTC rule on shipping and refunds (for stores and merchants)

When you order from a business by mail, online or by phone, a federal FTC rule sets the shipping and refund duties. The FTC's summary: "An FTC rule requires sellers to ship items as they promised in their ads. If a seller doesn't promise a time, it has to ship your order within 30 days after it gets your name, address, and payment, or permission to charge your account."

The rule is the Mail, Internet, or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule, 16 C.F.R. Part 435. It applies to sales "in which the buyer has ordered merchandise from the seller by mail, via the Internet, or by telephone, regardless of the method of payment or the method used to solicit the order" (§ 435.1(a)). Under § 435.2(a)(1), a seller may not solicit an order unless, at the time, it has a reasonable basis to expect it can ship:

"(i) Within that time clearly and conspicuously stated... or (ii) If no time is clearly and conspicuously stated, within thirty (30) days after receipt of a properly completed order"

The period is 50 days if, when ordering, the buyer applied to the seller for credit to pay for the order. In listed situations the seller must treat the order as cancelled and make a prompt refund, for example when "The seller has notified the buyer of its inability to make shipment and has indicated its decision not to ship" (§ 435.2(c)(4)). A prompt refund under § 435.1 means within seven working days, or within one billing cycle for credit sales. The rule declares a violation "an unfair method of competition, and an unfair or deceptive act or practice," and the FTC enforces it. Some sales are excepted under § 435.3(a), including subscriptions after the first shipment, seeds and growing plants, C.O.D. orders, and negative-option plans.

Two limits matter for scam victims. First, the rule sets duties for sellers; a fake store run by criminals is not going to follow it, so the rule is more useful against a real business that is slow to ship than against a scam. Second, we have not confirmed whether the rule reaches a private person selling a single item on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, or whether a buyer can sue under it directly, so do not count on it in either situation. Report a business that will not ship or refund to the FTC.

Is an online shopping scam a crime?

Schemes like these can be prosecuted as federal crimes. One federal statute that reaches fraud carried out online is wire fraud, 18 U.S.C. § 1343, which provides:

"Whoever, having devised or intending to devise any scheme or artifice to defraud, or for obtaining money or property by means of false or fraudulent pretenses, representations, or promises, transmits or causes to be transmitted by means of wire, radio, or television communication in interstate or foreign commerce, any writings, signs, signals, pictures, or sounds for the purpose of executing such scheme or artifice, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both."

The statute sets a higher maximum of 30 years and $1,000,000 when the violation affects a financial institution or is connected to a presidentially declared disaster. Whether any particular scam is charged is up to prosecutors, so the payment steps above still come first.

Where to report an online shopping or marketplace scam

• The company you paid through. The FBI says to "Report the activity to the online payment service used for the financial transaction" and to contact your financial institution "immediately... and direct them to stop or reverse the transactions."
• The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center: "Report the activity to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.IC3.gov or your local FBI field office."
• The FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, if you sent cash through the mail.
• Your state attorney general's office, which the FTC also named as a place to file a complaint in its 2003 auction fraud guidance.

Our guide on where to report a scam explains what each agency does with a report. For other scam types, start at the scams and fraud laws hub.

Related guides

• Scams and fraud laws: what to do if you got scammed
• How to get money back after a scam
• Zelle and payment app scams
• Fake check and money mule scams
• Gift card scams
• Phishing, smishing and vishing
• Where to report a scam
• Mail Theft and Check Washing
• How to Tell if Something Is a Scam

This article provides general legal information about United States federal law and federal agency guidance, verified on October 3, 2026. It is not legal advice. For your specific situation, contact your card issuer, bank or payment app, the agency named above, or a lawyer licensed in your state.

Last updated: October 3, 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I tell if an online store is fake?

The FTC suggests searching the seller's name and the website address with words like review, complaint or scam before you buy. Prices far below other sellers, a site reached through a social media ad, and a demand to pay by gift card, wire, payment app or crypto are all warning signs the FTC and FBI name.

I ordered something from a Facebook or Instagram ad and it never came. What do I do?

Contact the company you paid through right away and ask it to reverse the payment, then report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to IC3 at www.IC3.gov. If you paid by credit card, the FTC says you can dispute a charge for merchandise you never got.

Can I get my money back if I paid with Zelle, Venmo or Cash App?

The FTC says to report it to the bank or app immediately and ask for a reversal, but whether you get it back depends on how the payment was made and the company's policies. Our Zelle and payment app guide explains the rules and the companies' policies.

Is it a scam if a buyer wants to send me a check for more than my asking price?

The FTC describes that as an overpayment scam and says never to deposit a check for more than the selling price. A check that seems to clear can still turn out to be fake weeks later.

Why does a Marketplace buyer want a verification code from me?

The FTC says scammers posing as buyers ask for a Google Voice verification code so they can create a Google Voice number linked to your phone number. Do not share any verification code with someone you do not know.

How long does a store have to ship my online order?

Under the FTC's Mail, Internet, or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule (16 C.F.R. Part 435), a seller must ship as promised or, if it promises no time, within 30 days after receiving a properly completed order (50 days if you applied to the seller for credit to pay).

How much money do people lose to online non-delivery scams?

The FBI's IC3 2025 annual report recorded $503,373,587 in reported non-payment/non-delivery losses.

Where do I report an online shopping scam?

Report it to the payment company you used, the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.IC3.gov, and the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If you mailed cash, the FTC says to contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.