Purchase Scams
Purchase scams are the most common type of authorised push payment fraud by volume — fake adverts on Facebook Marketplace, Instagram, and even Google Shopping result in goods that never arrive or arrive counterfeit.
78,000+
Purchase-scam reports to IC3 (Internet Crime Complaint Center) per year
Up to $85k
Mandatory federal reimbursement per claim
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Trustpilot rating
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Encrypted case vault
Overview
Purchase scams are the most common type of authorised push payment fraud by volume — fake adverts on Facebook Marketplace, Instagram, and even Google Shopping result in goods that never arrive or arrive counterfeit.
Warning Signs to Watch For
- • A price significantly below market rate
- • A seller asking to move off-platform to WhatsApp or email
- • A request to pay by bank transfer rather than card or PayPal
- • A new social-media profile or seller with few or no reviews
- • High pressure to pay before viewing the item
- • Tracking numbers that never update or lead to a different address
How Purchase Scams Work
Fraudsters list desirable items — game consoles, designer goods, vehicles, pets — at attractive prices. After payment by bank transfer, the seller disappears. Variants include sending an empty or counterfeit item, sending a worthless tracking number, or running long-running marketplace stores that take many small orders before vanishing.
Routes To Recovery
Card payments are usually recoverable through chargeback. Bank transfers are now covered by Regulation E mandatory reimbursement up to $85,000 per claim. Where the receiving bank failed to act on red flags, additional liability arises. We handle the full claim process for you.
Our Approach
Document
We capture the listing, communications, and payment evidence.
Assess
We identify the bank's CoP and fraud-pattern failures.
Pursue
We file Regulation E mandatory reimbursement and FINRA complaints.
Recover
We secure refunds and pursue receiving banks for due diligence failures.