Online shopping scam: what you can do

How this kind of scam usually plays out

A listing on social media or a marketplace app offers something in demand at a price that feels reasonable, sometimes slightly below what you would expect elsewhere. The seller responds quickly, seems helpful, and pushes gently for a direct bank transfer instead of the platform’s own payment system.

Once you pay, replies slow down or stop. The account may go quiet, change its name, or disappear entirely, along with the listing itself.

This pattern also shows up in property searches, where a similar approach is used in a rental deposit scam.

Why the listing looked trustworthy

Photos are often taken from a real seller’s genuine listing elsewhere, and reviews or a follower count can be built up or bought. None of this reflects carelessness on your part, since these details are designed to pass a normal check.

Urgency plays a role too, with limited stock or a special price used to discourage the kind of pause that might reveal something off.

Paying directly to a bank account rather than through the platform’s own checkout removes the one layer of protection that platform might have offered.

What to save before the seller disappears

Screenshot the full listing, the seller’s profile, and your entire chat, including the price agreed and any promises made about delivery. Keep the payment receipt or transfer confirmation with the exact time and account details.

Do this even if you think contact is already lost, since a blocked account can sometimes still be reported using saved details.

These records are what a bank, the police, or a lawyer will ask for first.

Checking a recall or a chargeback

If you paid by direct bank transfer or DuitNow, read how a bank recall works and contact your bank as soon as you can, since recent transfers have a better chance of being stopped. If you paid by card, ask about a card chargeback instead.

You can also check whether the receiving account already appears in the mule account database, which shows if others have reported it before you.

Either route works better with the records you saved from the listing and chat.

Reporting the seller and what to do next

Make a police report even if the amount feels small, since it helps link the same account across multiple victims and strengthens any later claim. Report the account to the platform itself as well, so the listing can be taken down.

If a transfer happened recently, call the National Scam Response Centre on 997 rather than waiting.

Acting within the first day or two gives you the best chance, so start with your bank and the records you already have.