Criminal buyers on an online marketplace cannot collect the goods and suggest a courier service instead. They send you a link to explain this supposed service. This service requires the payment to be processed on a payment platform. You will also receive a link for this. Be careful: this is a scam. Do not provide credit card or banking information. Our partners at Watchlist Internet warn and explain this scam.
How does buyer fraud work on an online marketplace?
You advertise a product on an online marketplace such as willhaben, Facebook Marketplace or laendleanzeiger.at. A person gets in touch and wants to buy the product. She asks you for your phone number. You now continue writing on WhatsApp.
After a short exchange, the person explains to you that he cannot pick up the goods. She suggests you make the purchase via a courier service. The fraudulent buyer sends you a link to a website that explains the courier service.

Fake courier service page
The links lead to a fake post office website. However, other parcel services such as DHL or GLS are also very often abused for this scam. The fake website explains the courier service.
Fake payment platforms
If you agree to sell via the courier service, you will receive a link again. This time to a fake payment platform. The product, address and purchase price are already created there. All you have to do is click a button to receive your money.

In the screenshot above you can see an example of how the criminals fake payment of the purchase price via a fake post payment platform. the payment platform can also look different . Criminals very often fake PayLivery – the real payment service from Willhaben. Below is an example of a fake PayLivery transaction:

PayLivery is a legitimate service from the Willhaben online marketplace that is faked by criminals. On the Willhaben website you will find a lot of information on how you can use PayLivery safely. ( HERE )
Moment of truth: Submitting account information
When you click on the button, which may say “Receive Funds” or “Get Funds,” you will be asked to enter your bank or credit card details. These are transmitted to the criminals.
In the background, the criminals then use your bank details to make a transfer in the amount of the purchase price. In order for the transfer to work, you must approve it. The criminals explain to you via WhatsApp or in an integrated chat on the payment platform that you have to approve the payment in order to receive the purchase price. When you release the payment, a transfer is actually made from your account and you lose money.
Have you approved the payment?
Tips for selling safely on an online marketplace
Conclusion
In an online marketplace, fraudsters are not only found on the seller's side. Customers can also be fraudulent! Check very carefully which pages you are directed to and whether they are reputable. A look at the URL often helps.
Source: Watchlist Internet
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