Depop scams people report on Reddit: fake payments and fake codes
Quick answer
Buyers who push you to a payment app, overpay by check or ask for a verification code are scammers. The FTC lists these as the common tricks when you sell online. Don't accept payment from strangers outside the site, and never share a code.
- First reported
- Latest official alert
- (FTC)
- Last updated
Reviewed by Anthon Wansland
Head of Product & Co-Founder
Serus is a privacy company with paid tools to find and remove your personal data. This page is free and based on official sources.
How it works
The FTC describes the same few tricks across online selling sites, and sellers on resale apps report them too. The scammer poses as a buyer and tries one of these:
- Fake payment. They insist on paying through a mobile payment app and send a fake payment notification, hoping you ship before you notice. Or they claim they paid twice by accident and ask you to refund one payment.
- Fake check overpayment. They offer a check for more than the price and ask you to send back the difference. The check is fake, but it can appear in your balance because banks must release funds quickly. It can take weeks to learn it was fake, and the bank takes the money back out of your account.
- Fake verification code. They say they want to verify you're real and ask for a code sent to your phone. If you share a Google Voice code, they can set up a Google Voice number tied to your real number and use it to scam others.
Sources checked: consumer.ftc.gov
Last verified against the official page:
Red flags
- A buyer wants to pay through a payment app or outside the site's checkout
- A payment notification that you can't confirm in your own account
- An offer to pay more than the asking price, with the difference sent back
- "Accidentally" paid twice and asking for a refund of one payment
- A request for a verification code sent to your phone
- Pressure to ship before the money clears
Example message
Hi, I'll buy it now but I can only pay through a payment app. I've sent the money, you should see a notification. Please ship today and send me the tracking number. Also I got a code on my phone to verify you're real, can you read it to me?
What to do
- 1
Check payment in your own account
Confirm money has arrived by logging in to the site or app yourself, not through a link or screenshot the buyer sends.
- 2
Don't refund or send back overpayments
Never deposit a check for more than the selling price, and don't refund a payment you can't verify.
- 3
Keep verification codes private
Don't share a verification code with someone you don't know. If you did, secure the account the code was for and change its password.
- 4
If you already paid or shipped, contact your bank or payment app
Report it right away and ask whether the payment can be reversed. The FTC's guide on what to do if you were scammed lists the steps by payment method.
- 5
Report it
Tell the selling site and report the scam to the FTC.
Report it
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Why you got it
Scammers need a way to reach you, and phone numbers, email addresses and home addresses are easy to find on people-search sites and in data breaches. Serus finds the listings that show your details and removes them, and alerts you when your data shows up in a breach, so fewer scammers can reach you. Our guide on what to do after a data breach covers the next steps if your details leaked.
Official alerts
More Depop scams
Frequently asked
Is Depop a scam?
No. Scammers pose as buyers on selling sites. This page is about those buyers, not the platform.
How can I sell safely online?
The FTC notes many sites recommend selling to a local buyer in person and accepting only cash. If you ship, see what seller protections the site offers.
Why does a bank show a fake check as cleared?
Banks must make deposited funds available quickly, but the FTC says it can take weeks to find out a check was fake. Then the amount comes out of your account.
What do I do if someone tries to cheat me?
Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Sources
Something wrong or out of date? Tell us and we'll re-check it.
