The short answer: Do not treat a payment screenshot, email, or text as proof you have been paid. Open your payment provider independently, understand its rules, and stop if someone asks you to return an overpayment, buy gift cards, or share a verification code.
A marketplace conversation can seem ordinary until the payment instructions change. The buyer is suddenly out of town. A courier needs an advance fee. An email says you must upgrade an account before receiving money. None of those claims should make you rush.
How does a fake payment notification work?
A person sends a convincing-looking email or screenshot claiming money was transferred. The aim is to get you to hand over or ship the item before checking your real account.
The FTC's seller-scam guidance describes this pattern. Open the payment service through your usual app or saved address, not a link in the buyer's message. Ask the provider about anything unclear.
Even a visible balance does not make every payment irreversible. Account compromise, payment disputes, and provider rules can matter. Check whether the particular transaction is eligible for protection rather than assuming a familiar brand name makes it safe.
Why is an overpayment a warning sign?
Someone offers more than the agreed price and asks you to send the difference elsewhere. With a fake check, money can appear available before the bank identifies the fraud. The FTC warns that availability is not proof a check is genuine.
Do not become the middle person for refunds, movers, couriers, or third-party payments. If a claimed payment problem arises, work directly with your provider. Do not send a new payment because a stranger says that is how to undo the first one.
Should I give a buyer a verification code?
No. A code sent to your phone or email can authorize access or account setup. A buyer does not need your one-time security code to prove you are a real seller.
The FTC specifically describes Google Voice code scams, but the principle applies more broadly: keep verification codes private. If you already shared one, use the affected service's official recovery and security instructions immediately.
What is the safest way to pay a stranger?
There is no method that removes every risk. For local sales, inspect the item and agree on the amount and method before meeting. Cash avoids some electronic-payment tricks but has its own risks, including theft and counterfeit notes. Choose a suitable public setting and consider a bank-assisted handoff for a large transaction where appropriate.
For online purchases, the FTC's marketplace guide recommends checking protection policies and using safer payment options such as credit cards where available. Do not move a protected transaction outside the platform because a seller promises a discount.
Not every classifieds site provides checkout, escrow, refunds, or purchase protection. Malibu Miley's safety advice is not a guarantee of payment or delivery. Read the actual terms of the service handling your money.
What should I do if I already sent money?
Contact the bank or payment provider promptly through its official support channel. Preserve messages, listing details, receipts, and transaction identifiers. Report the account to the marketplace and report suspected fraud at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Do not pay a stranger who promises to recover lost money for an advance fee. A report helps document what happened, but it does not guarantee a refund.
What should I check before the handoff?
- The item, agreed amount, and payment method match the conversation.
- I opened the payment provider myself.
- Nobody is asking for an excess refund or third-party fee.
- I have not shared a security code.
- I understand the actual protection and dispute rules.
Read the Malibu Miley safety guide before arranging a local exchange. If the payment instructions become complicated, pause. A legitimate sale should not require you to give up control of your account.
Sources and fact-check date
Reviewed October 21, 2026 against the linked FTC buyer and seller guidance. This is risk-reduction advice, not a promise that any transaction or payment method is fraud-proof.