{ "$schema": "https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema", "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "ItemList", "name": "UK Marketplace Scam Patterns 2026", "description": "Machine-readable list of UK marketplace scam patterns with detection signals, victim guidance, and product mitigations. Sources: TSB, Cifas, UK Finance, Action Fraud. Updated 2026-04-29.", "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/", "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "SILENTSALE LTD", "url": "https://www.silentid.co.uk", "sameAs": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q139583132" }, "datePublished": "2026-04-28", "dateModified": "2026-04-29", "spatialCoverage": { "@type": "Place", "name": "United Kingdom" }, "itemListElement": [ { "id": "deposit-before-viewing", "name": "Deposit-before-viewing", "platforms": ["Facebook Marketplace", "Gumtree"], "targetVictim": "buyer", "summary": "Fraudster lists a high-demand item below market value, fakes urgency, demands a Faster Payment deposit before viewing. Once paid, listing deletes and seller blocks buyer.", "warningSignals": [ "Item priced 30-50% below market", "Account under 30 days old", "Same listing across multiple cities", "Insistence on bank transfer", "Refusal to use any escrow", "Pressure to send a deposit", "Off-platform move to WhatsApp" ], "uk_data": { "TSB_daily_loss": "£160,000", "share_of_uk_purchase_fraud": "73%", "recovery_rate": "18%", "source": "TSB 2025, Cifas" }, "ifVictim": [ "Call your bank fraud team immediately (number on back of card)", "Report to Action Fraud at 0300 123 2040 or actionfraud.police.uk", "Submit APP fraud reimbursement claim (up to £85,000 since Oct 2024)", "Report listing and profile on Facebook" ], "mitigation": "SilentID PIN Pickup - escrow held until 6-digit PIN confirmed at physical handover", "url": "https://www.silentid.co.uk/scam-pattern/deposit-before-viewing" }, { "id": "fake-courier-overpayment", "name": "Fake courier overpayment", "platforms": ["Facebook Marketplace", "Gumtree"], "targetVictim": "seller", "summary": "Fraudulent buyer agrees full price, sends fabricated bank screenshot showing 'overpayment', asks seller to forward 'extra' to courier account. Original payment never exists.", "warningSignals": [ "Buyer agrees full price without negotiating", "Insists on sending a courier", "Fake bank/PDF payment screenshot", "Request to forward overpayment", "Urgency around courier arrival", "Off-platform communication" ], "uk_data": { "category": "advance fee fraud", "common_targets": ["vehicles", "electronics", "white goods", "designer items"] }, "mitigation": "SilentID PIN Pickup - exact amount held by Stripe, no overpayment possible, no third-party courier account", "url": "https://www.silentid.co.uk/scam-pattern/fake-courier-overpayment" }, { "id": "collection-code-phishing", "name": "Collection code phishing", "platforms": ["Facebook Marketplace"], "targetVictim": "buyer", "summary": "Fraudster sends fake 'Facebook Marketplace verification code' link harvesting Facebook login or banking credentials. Facebook Marketplace has no such collection code system.", "warningSignals": [ "Link claiming to be a Marketplace verification code", "URL is not facebook.com", "Asks for Facebook login or one-time bank code", "Sent via WhatsApp after off-platform move", "Urgency: 'code expires in 10 minutes'" ], "ifVictim": [ "Do not click the link", "Forward phishing link to report@phishing.gov.uk (NCSC SERS)", "Change Facebook password if entered", "Call bank fraud team if banking credentials entered" ], "mitigation": "SilentID PIN Pickup - 6-digit PIN exchanged in-app at handover, no external links", "url": "https://www.silentid.co.uk/scam-pattern/collection-code-phishing" }, { "id": "fake-vinted-payment-email", "name": "Fake Vinted payment email", "platforms": ["Vinted"], "targetVictim": "seller", "summary": "Phishing email impersonating Vinted 'payment received' notification. Click leads to fake login page harvesting bank/card details.", "warningSignals": [ "Sender domain not @vinted.co.uk", "Asks to click link to release payment", "Page asks for bank card or account number", "Urgency or 24h expiry" ], "uk_data": { "Vinted_bans_2024": "50,000+", "never_recover_ratings": "89%", "source": "Cifas" }, "ifVictim": [ "Forward email to report@phishing.gov.uk", "Call bank fraud team if bank details entered", "Report to Action Fraud at 0300 123 2040" ], "mitigation": "Always verify Vinted notifications by logging in directly via vinted.co.uk - never via email link", "url": "https://www.silentid.co.uk/scam-pattern/fake-vinted-payment-email" }, { "id": "fake-postage-label", "name": "Fake postage label", "platforms": ["Vinted", "Depop"], "targetVictim": "seller", "summary": "Buyer supplies forged or recycled Royal Mail/Evri label. Tracking shows movement (from real unrelated parcel) so platform releases payment. Item never shipped.", "warningSignals": [ "Buyer insists on using their own label", "Tracking shows movement but not to your postcode", "Barcode does not scan in courier app", "High-value item, easily resold", "Buyer is new with no review history" ], "mitigation": "Always use platform-generated labels. Keep proof of postage receipts. For local pickup use SilentID PIN Pickup.", "url": "https://www.silentid.co.uk/scam-pattern/fake-postage-label" }, { "id": "whatsapp-marketplace-takeover", "name": "WhatsApp marketplace takeover", "platforms": ["Facebook Marketplace", "Vinted", "Depop", "Gumtree"], "targetVictim": "either", "summary": "Scammer moves conversation off-platform to WhatsApp to bypass Facebook fraud detection. Phishing links and fake payment screenshots follow off-platform.", "warningSignals": [ "Request for phone number within first message", "Reason given is mundane ('easier to send photos')", "External link arrives shortly after move", "Refusal to discuss payment on Messenger", "Off-platform price drop" ], "mitigation": "Keep all pre-payment conversation on the platform. Use PIN Pickup so payment only moves at the in-person handover.", "url": "https://www.silentid.co.uk/scam-pattern/whatsapp-marketplace-takeover" }, { "id": "fake-bank-text-marketplace", "name": "Fake bank text after listing", "platforms": ["Facebook Marketplace", "Gumtree", "Vinted"], "targetVictim": "seller", "summary": "After posting a listing, seller receives smishing text impersonating bank with link to fake login page. Sender ID can be spoofed to appear in genuine bank message thread.", "warningSignals": [ "Bank security text arriving same day as Marketplace listing", "URL is not bank's official domain", "Asks for full card number, PIN, or one-time code", "Follow-up call from 'fraud team' using your name" ], "ifVictim": [ "Do not click", "Forward to 7726 (UK SMS phishing reporting)", "Call bank fraud team using number on back of card", "Report to Action Fraud at 0300 123 2040" ], "mitigation": "Use SilentID Trust Passport so personal contact details aren't exposed in marketplace listings", "url": "https://www.silentid.co.uk/scam-pattern/fake-bank-text-marketplace" }, { "id": "triangle-fraud-marketplace", "name": "Triangle fraud", "platforms": ["Facebook Marketplace", "Vinted", "Depop", "Gumtree", "eBay"], "targetVictim": "both buyer and seller", "summary": "Fraudster buys from genuine seller using stolen card data, resells goods to genuine buyer for cash. Original cardholder files chargeback weeks later. Seller loses goods and money; buyer may legally hold stolen property.", "warningSignals": [ "Very competitive price from thin profile", "Payment from unfamiliar card or unusual account", "Buyer rushes collection or shipping", "Chargeback weeks after sale", "Multiple high-value items in single session" ], "uk_data": { "APP_reimbursement_max": "£85,000", "since": "October 2024", "source": "Payment Systems Regulator" }, "mitigation": "SilentID Trust Passport - identity-verified parties on both sides reduces fraud surface significantly", "url": "https://www.silentid.co.uk/scam-pattern/triangle-fraud-marketplace" } ] }