"I've paid, click to receive your money": the fake buyer scam
A typical message
Hi, I bought your item on Bazaraki. I've already paid and arranged the courier. Click here to receive your money: [link]
How it works
You post an ad on Bazaraki, Facebook Marketplace or another site. A "buyer" writes almost at once, often on WhatsApp, agrees to your price without asking anything about the item, and says they've already paid through a "safe deal" or courier service.
The link leads to a fake payment page with the site's or a courier's logo. To "receive" the money it asks for your card number, expiry date, CVV and then a code from your bank. Those are exactly what's needed to take money from you, not to give it.
Some versions ask you to pay a small "insurance" or "delivery" fee first, which the buyer promises to refund.
How to spot it
- A link to receive money. To pay you, a buyer only needs your IBAN, or they pay in cash. Nobody needs your card details to send you money.
- No questions about the item, and a hurry to finish.
- A courier the buyer arranges and has "already paid for".
- A payment page opened from a buyer's link, even with Bazaraki's logo, isn't Bazaraki: look at the address, which won't be bazaraki.com.
What to do
- Don't click. Sell in person, or let the buyer pay by bank transfer to your IBAN and wait until the money is in your account.
- Never type your card details or a bank code to receive money.
- Already entered card details? Call your bank to block the card, and report the buyer to the site and the police on 1460.
More scams going around in Cyprus
- "Your parcel is held": the parcel fee scam
- "Your card is blocked": the fake bank message
- "Hi Mum, this is my new number"
- "I sent you a code by mistake, can you send it back?"
- Fake fines, tax refunds and government payments
- Easy money from your phone: the fake job scam
- The landlord who's abroad: the fake rental scam