Marketplace scam guide
How to buy and sell safely on Facebook Marketplace, Carousell, TikTok Shop, and group-buy pages.
Online selling groups are full of great deals — and the most common place Filipinos get scammed. Here’s exactly how marketplace scams work and how to protect yourself on both sides of a sale.
How marketplace scams work
A seller posts an in-demand item at a tempting price, then steers you away from any buyer protection. They insist on a direct GCash/Maya transfer “para mabilis,” promise to ship right after, and then block you once the money lands.
Some run it in reverse: a fake “buyer” sends a screenshot of a payment that never actually arrives, or “accidentally” overpays and asks you to refund the difference.
“Reserved na po sa inyo. Send the full amount via GCash today, ship ko bukas with tracking. Trusted seller naman po ako, check my feedbacks.”
Red flags before you buy
- Wants payment outside the platform’s protected checkout
- Price is suspiciously low for the item
- Account is new, or reviews look copied/recent
- GCash/Maya account name doesn’t match the seller
- Pressures you with “last stock,” “many buyers,” or a countdown
- Refuses COD, meet-up, or a video of the actual item
How to buy safely — step by step
- 1Check the profile: account age, real reviews, and post history.
- 2Ask for a live video or extra photos of the actual item (not stock images).
- 3Prefer COD or a meet-up in a public place; for shipping, use the platform’s protected checkout.
- 4If paying by GCash/Maya, confirm the recipient name matches the seller’s real name.
- 5Run the number, link, or seller name through TsekMuna before you send.
- 6Keep screenshots of the listing, chat, and payment in case you need to report.
Safer for sellers too
Scams cut both ways. Protect yourself when you’re the one selling.
- Confirm the payment actually landed in your app — never trust a screenshot alone
- Be wary of “overpayment, please refund the difference” requests
- Don’t ship to a different address than the verified buyer’s
- Use the platform’s checkout so both sides are protected
If you’ve already paid a scammer
- 1Stop all further payments immediately — don’t send “one more fee.”
- 2Report the transaction to GCash (Help) or Maya (Report a problem) right away; speed matters.
- 3Capture evidence: listing, full chat, the payment receipt, and the recipient number/name.
- 4Report the seller on the platform so the account gets reviewed.
- 5Submit a TsekMuna community report so others are warned.
- 6For larger amounts, file a report with the PNP Anti-Cybercrime Group (ACG) or the NBI Cybercrime Division.
Acting within minutes gives the best chance of a freeze or recovery — report to your e-wallet before doing anything else.