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Refuses to meet in person
Wants wire transfer or gift cards
Pressure to act fast
Stock or reverse-image photos
Way below market price
Wants to text instead
Pre-trade checklist
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Safety Center
Most transactions on Sofiaslist go smoothly because they're local and in person. But scams do happen. This guide covers everything you need to know to protect yourself, your money, and your personal information.
Just got scammed or feel unsafe right now?
Jump straight to the recovery steps. The faster you act, the better your chance of getting money back.
If any of these are true, slow down. Multiple flags at once is a near-certain scam.
Knowing the playbook is the best defense. These are the scams we see most often on local marketplaces.
A 'buyer' offers to pay by cheque or money order, often for more than the asking price. They ask you to deposit it and wire back the difference. The cheque bounces days later, after you've already sent real money.
Scammers steal listing photos from real rental sites and repost the property at a below-market price. They claim they're overseas and can't show it in person. They ask for a deposit or first month's rent up front, then vanish.
A fake employer contacts you about a job (sometimes one you never applied for). After some back-and-forth, they ask you to buy equipment, software, or gift cards for the role, promising reimbursement that never comes.
A buyer insists on using a specific 'escrow service' for safety. They send a link to a convincing but fraudulent website. You send the item (or the seller sends their banking info), the 'escrow' disappears.
A 'buyer' or 'interested party' asks to verify you're real by texting you a code and asking you to read it back. They're actually setting up a Google Voice number in your name to use for future fraud.
A buyer says they're too busy to meet but will send a courier or mover to collect the item. They'll pay after pickup. The mover collects the item; the payment never arrives.
Someone sends a link claiming to be a shipping label, payment confirmation, or verification page. The site looks real but steals your login credentials, payment details, or installs malware.
Items are advertised as brand-name, authentic, or in better condition than they are. Common targets: electronics, designer goods, concert tickets, collectibles.
How you pay matters as much as what you pay. Some methods offer chargeback protection; others are final the moment you send.
| Method | Safety | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cash (in person) | Best for local | Inspect the item and count the cash before handing over anything. Meet in public. |
| Credit card | Good | Offers chargeback protection. Best for shipped items via a proper checkout page. |
| PayPal Goods & Services | Good | Buyer protection applies. Never use Friends & Family for strangers; it waives protection. |
| Bank / wire transfer | Risky | Irreversible once sent. Only for people you know personally. |
| Zelle | Risky | No buyer protection. Transfers are instant and permanent. Use only with people you trust. |
| Venmo | Risky | Friends & Family has no protection. Goods & Services option exists but isn't universally available. |
| Cash App | Risky | No buyer protection. Transactions cannot be reversed. |
| Cryptocurrency | Risky | Irreversible, anonymous, and a favorite of scammers. Avoid for marketplace transactions. |
| Gift cards | Never | No legitimate seller or buyer ever needs gift cards. This is always a scam. |
| Cheque / money order | Never | Can be forged. Banks may credit funds before the cheque clears, then days later it bounces. |
| Fake escrow sites | Never | If a buyer recommends a specific escrow site, assume it's fake. Only use Escrow.com directly. |
Most local transactions involve meeting a stranger. These steps lower the risk to almost nothing.
Shipping introduces more risk than meeting in person. Both sides need to take extra care.
Every category has its own common scams. Here's what to watch for in each.
Act quickly: the sooner you report and contact your bank, the better your chances of recovery.
First 24 hours matter most. Banks can sometimes recall a wire if you call within hours, but the window closes fast.
No matter what the scammer says (that they can get your money back, that they're from law enforcement, that you just need to pay one more fee), stop.
Screenshot all messages, the listing, any payment confirmations, email addresses, and phone numbers. Don't delete anything.
If you paid by card or PayPal, request a chargeback. If you wired money, call your bank's fraud line: some wire recalls are possible in the first 24 hours.
Use the report link on the listing page so we can remove it and protect others. For urgent help, email safety@sofiaslist.com.
Contact your local police (especially if there was an in-person element), then report to the FTC and FBI below. Reports help investigators build cases even when individual recovery isn't possible.
Scammers sometimes re-contact victims posing as 'recovery agents' who charge a fee to get your money back. They won't, and this is another scam.
When something serious happens, these are the agencies to contact. Bookmark them.
Tap through these before you commit. If any item gives you pause, slow down.
