What it looks like
"Hi, is this still available? I want to be sure you are a real person and not a scammer. I am sending a code to your phone, please just read it back to me."
An example. Real ones change their wording, amounts and names all the time.
How it works
Marketplace sites let anyone post, so scammers post too, as buyers and as sellers. Fake sellers list popular things, like cars, puppies, rentals or concert tickets, at a low price. They say they are away and will ship the item or have a 'friend' show it once you send a deposit. The item does not exist.
Fake buyers go after sellers. One trick is the code: they say they want to make sure you are real and send a code to your phone. That code can let them set up a Google Voice number or open an account using your phone number. Another trick is the fake payment email, made to look like Zelle or PayPal, saying the money is waiting until you pay a fee. A third is overpaying by check and asking for the extra back.
These scams work because most marketplace deals are honest, and the requests sound like normal safety steps. Real buyers do not need a code from your phone, and real payments show up in your own account, not in an email.
Signs it is fake
- A buyer asks you to read back a code sent to your phone, to 'prove you are real'
- A buyer offers more than your price, or sends a check for too much
- An email that looks like it is from Zelle, PayPal or the marketplace, saying your money is waiting but you must pay a fee first
- A seller with a great price who wants a deposit before you see the item, often because they are 'out of town'
- Pressure to leave the marketplace and talk by text or email
What to do
- Never share a code sent to your phone with a buyer or seller.
- Meet in a busy public place, like a police station lobby or a store, and pay or get paid in person when you can.
- Do not send a deposit for something you have not seen.
- Check for payment in your own bank or payment app, not in an email.
If you already clicked, called or paid
- If you shared a code, follow the steps from the company it came from, such as Google Voice, to take your number back, and change your passwords.
- If you paid, call your bank or the payment app right away.
- Report the profile on the marketplace, and report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Being fooled is not your fault. These messages are made by professionals to look real. Acting quickly is what matters. See what to do if you paid a scammer.
Not sure about a message?
Forward it to Uncle at +1 208 214 0093, or send a screenshot. He tells you plainly what looks wrong. He never asks for passwords or codes, and he never texts first. How it works.
Worried about a parent? With the Family plan, you get a heads up when a likely scam reaches them.
More common scams
- Tech support pop-up
- Phantom hacker scam
- Fake invoice or renewal email
- Romance scam
- See all common scams
Written by the Textuncle team. Last updated October 3, 2026.
Text Uncle