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Categories Selling through an online marketplace is usually straightforward, but scammers may sometimes pretend to be genuine buyers. Before handing over an item, make sure you understand the arrangement and, where payment is expected in advance, confirm that the money has actually arrived.
For your first conversations with a buyer, use EirFair Messages where possible.
Be extra cautious if a buyer quickly:
Moving to another messaging service does not automatically mean something is wrong. However, pressure to leave EirFair immediately can be a warning sign.
Be very cautious if a buyer tells you that you need to pay something first before you can receive their payment.
For example, you may be asked to:
Simple rule
A normal sale should not require you to send money to the buyer or an unknown third party simply to receive payment for the item you are selling.
If you are asked to do this, stop and check the situation before sending any money.
A buyer may send or show you:
These can be altered or fake.
If payment is meant to arrive in your bank account or payment service, check the payment yourself by logging in through the official app or website you normally use.
Do not treat a payment as complete just because a buyer has sent you a screenshot.
If the buyer is expected to pay before receiving the item:
If you cannot confirm the payment, it is safer to wait.
A scammer may claim to be a buyer and tell you that they will arrange a courier or collection service.
You may then receive a link that appears to come from a:
Be especially cautious if the link asks you to:
A website displaying the logo of a well-known courier or postal company is not necessarily genuine.
If you need to use a courier service, it is safer to visit the company’s official website yourself rather than following a link sent by an unknown buyer.
Be particularly careful with links claiming to be for:
Never enter the following through a link sent by another user:
If you are unsure about a link, do not open it.
A buyer may claim something like:
“I accidentally sent €500 instead of €300. Please send €200 back.”
They may support this claim with a fake screenshot or a fraudulent email.
Do not send back any supposed overpayment until you have independently confirmed that the money:
Do not send your own money based only on a screenshot or message.
If a payment looks unusual, contact your bank or payment provider before taking any action.
A normal buyer should not need your:
If a buyer asks for an unusual amount of personal or financial information, stop and check why it is needed before continuing.
If the buyer is collecting the item in person:
If you are selling a large item and the buyer genuinely needs to come to your home, be careful about who you share your address with and when.
Take extra care if the buyer:
A useful rule
If a simple sale suddenly turns into a complicated process involving unfamiliar services, additional payments, links or urgent demands, stop and check everything again.
You are never required to continue with a transaction.
If a buyer or proposed transaction seems suspicious, stop the sale and use EirFair’s support and reporting options.
Use this for suspected scams, phishing, suspicious payment requests, fake courier schemes or other suspicious behaviour.
Use this when your concern relates to a specific listing belonging to another user. If you are a seller reporting a suspicious buyer in connection with your own listing, Security & Fraud will usually be the more appropriate option.
Use this if you believe specific content on EirFair is illegal.
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