Recognize common marketplace payment scams

Keep a clear record of the item and agreed terms, and pause when a conversation changes into a request for money or account access you did not expect. No badge, automated warning or checklist can guarantee a safe transaction.

Check payment independently

Open the payment provider’s app or website yourself. A screenshot, forwarded email or message from a buyer is not evidence that you received payment. Do not send an item because someone claims you must pay an account-upgrade fee first. A pickup request, message or reservation on KigoLocal does not mean the item has been paid for.

Do not forward an alleged overpayment

An unexpected request to return extra money or pay a third party is a reason to stop. The FTC describes scams involving false payment notices and checks for more than the agreed price. Verify the situation with your provider directly instead of following the other person’s instructions. Do not let urgency replace verification.

Keep sign-in codes to yourself

Enter your code only in the sign-in flow you opened. Another buyer or seller does not need your email code or a code sent by a phone or payment service to prove that you are real. Do not share passwords, recovery links or screen access. If a message asks you to leave the site, examine why before opening a link.

Use KigoLocal’s reporting controls

Open the listing to report an item or block a seller. In Messages, use the report and block controls for the conversation. Include a short explanation and the relevant context, while keeping passwords, verification codes and banking details out of the report. Blocking stops new messages and message alerts between the accounts; existing history remains.

Email or phone confirmation means a recorded contact check was completed. It does not verify identity, ownership, condition or payment. Chat cautions look for common patterns and can miss suspicious behavior or flag an ordinary message.

If you already sent money or account information

Contact the affected payment or account provider immediately through a channel you locate independently, and explain what happened. Preserve the conversation and relevant receipts. Follow the FTC’s recovery guidance for the type of payment or information involved and report suspected fraud at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Recovery is not guaranteed.

Sources and further help

This guide summarizes practical marketplace checks and the FTC’s warnings. Read the primary guidance: FTC: scams targeting online sellers and FTC: what to do after a scam. For a pickup plan, use the KigoLocal meetup checklist.

Prepared with AI assistance from KigoLocal’s website instructions and identified sources. No expert review or individual inspection is claimed. Suggest a correction.