VarageSale Payment Verification Scams

Scammers are increasingly targeting sellers on VarageSale, Facebook Marketplace and other online sale platforms with fraudulent payment verification messages. These messages often claim that your item has been sold and that payment is pending, urging you to verify your identity or account via an external link. The goal is to steal your personal or financial information.

What Is the Scam?

💰 False Sale Notices – A message claims that your item has been sold or reserved, creating the impression that you have a confirmed buyer.
🏦 Payment “Held” Until Verification – You are told that funds will not be released until you complete a verification process.

💰 Deposit Demands - Scammers will list fake products in multiple cities; when someone expresses an interest they will claim many others are interested and demand a deposit.

💸 Advance Payment / Shipping - Scammers will offer to buy an item and play on emotion by offering to pay in advance to hold or to have you ship the item; in this case they will send you to a fraudulent E-Transfer payment processing page which will steal your login credentials.
🔗 Links to External Verification Sites – The message contains a link to a fraudulent website designed to collect sensitive data.

Warning Signs to Watch For

📩 Outside Platform Communication – Contact through email, SMS, or messaging apps rather than the official VarageSale system.
📝 Unprofessional Language – Poor grammar, spelling mistakes, or unusual wording not typical of legitimate communications.
🌐 Misleading URLs – Website addresses that do not match the official VarageSale domain or payment processing domain.
🔒 Requests for Sensitive Information – Demands for banking details, ID documents, or login credentials.
⏳ Urgency or Threats – Pressure to act immediately or risk losing the sale or payment.

What You Should Do

🚫 Do Not Click External Links – Access VarageSale only through the official website or mobile app.
💬 Stay Within the Platform – All legitimate buyer and support communication will occur on VarageSale.
👤 Check Buyer Profiles – Be cautious with new or unverified accounts requesting extra steps.
📢 Report Suspicious Activity – Contact VarageSale support to flag fraudulent messages.
🔐 Secure Your Accounts – Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on your email and bank accounts.
✅ Know the Rules – VarageSale will never ask you to verify payment through an external site