Why would a buyer ask me to pay a fee?

It's a scam. No genuine buyer needs you to pay a courier or 'insurance' fee before you receive your money. The fake email pressuring you to pay is designed to look like PayPal or a courier but isn't.

Someone asked me for a code to prove I'm 'not a bot' — is that safe?

No. That code is usually a verification code for your own account or a new account they're creating in your name. Never share codes sent to your phone with anyone.

Buying & selling

Facebook Marketplace scam

Facebook Marketplace scams target both buyers and sellers with fake payment confirmations, bogus courier fees, overpayment tricks, and links that steal your bank login.

Example of a scam message

“Hi, I'd like to buy your item. I'll send my courier to collect and pay you via PayPal. You'll get an email to release the funds — just pay the £25 courier insurance first and I'll add it to the total.”

How it works

As a seller, a 'buyer' offers to pay by a courier that you've never heard of and sends a fake email saying you must pay a release fee first, or 'accidentally overpays' and asks for a refund of the difference. As a buyer, a 'seller' takes your deposit for an item that doesn't exist, or sends a fake payment-verification link that captures your bank details. Some scammers also send a code to 'verify you're real' — which is actually a way to hijack your phone number or accounts.

Warning signs

A buyer or seller who wants to move off Marketplace to text or WhatsApp immediately
Payment via an unusual courier or service, with a 'fee' you must pay first
An offer to overpay, then a request to refund the difference
A 'verification code' they ask you to read back to them
A deal that's far too cheap, or pressure to pay a deposit to 'hold' an item
A payment-confirmation email or link that doesn't come from your real bank or PayPal

What to do

Deal in person and locally where possible; for goods, pay on collection
Never pay a 'courier release fee' or refund an overpayment to a stranger
Never read out a verification code sent to your phone
Don't click payment-verification links — check your bank or PayPal app directly
Use payment methods with buyer protection, and trust your instincts on prices that are too good to be true

Frequently asked questions

Why would a buyer ask me to pay a fee?: It's a scam. No genuine buyer needs you to pay a courier or 'insurance' fee before you receive your money. The fake email pressuring you to pay is designed to look like PayPal or a courier but isn't.
Someone asked me for a code to prove I'm 'not a bot' — is that safe?: No. That code is usually a verification code for your own account or a new account they're creating in your name. Never share codes sent to your phone with anyone.