7 Peer-to-Peer Scams Hitting Australians Right Now
Scammers don't just target buyers. Sellers get hit too. And these scams aren't limited to one platform. They're happening on Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, buy/sell groups, uni marketplace pages, and anywhere Australians trade peer-to-peer. Here are seven scams that are actively circulating right now, how they work, and how to spot them before you lose money.
Scams That Target Buyers
You find a great deal. You message the seller. They seem legit. They ask you to pay by bank transfer or PayID so they can "post it today." You send the money. Then silence. No item. No reply. Account deleted.
The scammer creates a listing using stolen photos, sets a price low enough to attract quick interest, collects payment through an irreversible method, then disappears. Some run this across dozens of listings at the same time.
New account with no history. Stock photos or images that show up on other listings. Urgency to get paid quickly. Refuses any form of buyer-protected payment.
The listing shows a brand new iPhone in perfect condition. What arrives is a scratched-up older model, a counterfeit, or sometimes just an empty box. By the time you realise, the seller has your money and has blocked you.
The seller uses photos of a higher-quality or newer item than what they actually have. Once you pay and they ship, there's no mechanism to get your money back if you used a bank transfer or PayID.
Ask for photos with their username written on a piece of paper next to the item. Request a video showing the item working. If they refuse or get defensive, that's your answer.
"Just send a $50 deposit to hold it and I'll post it tomorrow." You send the deposit. Tomorrow never comes. The seller vanishes with your money and the item gets "sold" to someone else (or never existed).
Scammers create a sense of urgency by claiming multiple people are interested. The deposit amount feels small enough that buyers let their guard down. But $50 across 20 victims is $1,000 in a day.
A genuine seller won't pressure you for a deposit before you've even seen the item. If they claim it'll be "gone by tonight," let it go. If the deal is real, they'll still be there tomorrow.
Scams That Target Sellers
A buyer messages you saying they've paid. They send a screenshot of a bank transfer confirmation. It looks real. You ship the item. But the payment never actually hits your account. The screenshot was faked.
Scammers edit screenshots or use fake banking apps to generate realistic-looking payment confirmations. They pressure the seller to ship quickly before the seller has time to verify the funds have actually arrived.
Never ship until the money is confirmed in your actual bank account. A screenshot is not proof. If the buyer is rushing you to ship before you've verified, that's a red flag.
A buyer "accidentally" sends you more than the agreed price and asks you to refund the difference. The original payment later bounces or gets reversed, and you're left out of pocket for the amount you refunded.
The scammer uses a stolen credit card, fraudulent bank transfer, or bad cheque to overpay. They pressure you to refund the "extra" quickly. Days later, the original payment is reversed by the bank, but your refund is already gone.
No legitimate buyer overpays on purpose. If someone sends you more than the agreed amount and immediately asks for a partial refund, do not send anything back. Contact your bank first.
You get a message that looks like a payment notification or shipping confirmation. It includes a link. You click it, enter your details, and you've just handed your login credentials or banking info to a scammer.
Scammers send links disguised as legitimate payment platforms, courier tracking pages, or marketplace notifications. The pages look real but are designed to steal your personal or financial information.
Never click links sent in direct messages. If someone says they've paid, check your account directly. If they send a tracking link, go to the courier's website yourself and enter the tracking number manually.
A "buyer" asks for your bank details, full name, date of birth, or even a photo of your ID to "verify you're a real seller." They then use that information for identity theft or to access your accounts.
The scammer pretends to be cautious and safety-conscious. They frame the request as protecting themselves. In reality, they're collecting enough personal information to open accounts, apply for credit, or access your banking.
A buyer never needs your date of birth, ID, or full banking details. If someone asks for personal information beyond what's necessary for the transaction, end the conversation immediately.
How to Make These Scams Impossible
Every scam on this list relies on one thing: the buyer or seller having to trust a stranger with their money before the deal is done. Bank transfers, PayID, and cash all require one side to hand over money with no guarantee the other side will follow through.
Dela removes that blind trust. The buyer's payment is processed securely by Stripe and isn't sent to the seller until the item arrives and the buyer confirms it matches the description. The seller can see the payment has gone through before they ship. Neither side can ghost, scam, or disappear with the other person's money.
Scammers target both buyers and sellers across every peer-to-peer platform in Australia. The common thread? They all rely on someone trusting a stranger with their money. Ghost sellers, fake payment screenshots, overpayment tricks, phishing links, and identity requests are all active right now. The safest way to transact is through a platform that secures payment until the item is delivered and confirmed.
Stop trusting strangers with your money
Payment is secured until the item arrives. Sellers are verified. Shipping is tracked. Both sides are protected on every deal.
Try Dela. It's Free for Sellers