Scammers on classified ad portals: fraud when buying and selling online
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When buying and selling online, people are deceived in two directions. A buyer pays an advance for goods that do not exist. Or a seller receives a link from a “buyer” through which they supposedly need to “accept the money” – and enters their own card or bank details for the scammers.
This article covers both schemes, real cases from the police daily incident reports and the rules that protect you on classified ad portals, social network marketplaces and second-hand platforms.
In short
- An advance payment to an unknown seller is the most common reason for losing money when buying.
- To receive money, you never need to enter your card's CVV code or log in to your bank through a link sent to you.
- The safest way is to pay when collecting the goods or through the platform's own protected payment.
When you buy: an advance for goods that do not exist
- You find an ad with a good price: a car, electronics, fuel, furniture.
- The seller replies quickly but “cannot” meet – they are in another city or abroad.
- They ask for an advance or the full sum in order to “reserve” or “ship” it.
- Once they have the money, they stop replying.
Real cases from the police reports
- Vilnius district, October 2026. A man transferred 199 900 € to the crypto wallets of a supposed seller for two cars being bought in Slovakia and did not receive the cars.
- Panevėžys, October 2026. A woman found an ad for a house on wheels for sale and transferred a 550 € advance. She was no longer able to contact the seller.
- Marijampolė county, October 2026. A woman found an ad on a social network for pellets for sale and transferred 620 €.
- Tauragė, September–October 2026. Two young men transferred money for a gaming computer (230 €) and an air flow meter (200 €) – they did not receive the goods.
- Tauragė county, 2026. A woman transferred a 3 500 € advance for renovation work that was never carried out.
When you sell: a link “to receive the money”
- You post an ad. Within a few minutes a “buyer” writes – often via WhatsApp or another app.
- They say they have already paid through a courier's or the platform's system, and send a link “to collect the money”.
- The link leads to a website resembling that of a courier service or a classified ad portal. There you are asked to enter your card details or log in to your bank.
- Once the details are entered, the money does not come in but goes out.
This scheme is the same data-phishing scam as the SMS about a fine, only adapted for sellers.
Warning signs
| When buying | When selling |
|---|---|
| The price is well below the market price | The buyer does not haggle and asks nothing about the item |
| The seller cannot meet or show the item | Suggests communicating not on the portal but in another app |
| Asks for an advance or a transfer to a foreign account or crypto wallet | Sends a link “to receive the money” or “to confirm delivery” |
| Rushes you: “there are other interested buyers” | Asks for the card's CVV code or to log in to your bank |
| The photos are taken from other ads | Offers to overpay and have the difference returned |
How to protect yourself
- Buy expensive items in person – after inspecting the item and the documents.
- Do not pay an advance to a stranger. If you have to – only through the platform's protected payment.
- Communicate inside the portal – moving to another app benefits only the scammer.
- Check the seller: the age of the profile, reviews, whether the photos can be found elsewhere.
- Remember: an account number is enough to receive money. Neither the CVV nor a bank login is needed.
- For services (renovation, construction) – a contract, company details and payment in stages for work done.
If you have already fallen victim
- Cut off communication and do not transfer anything more.
- Call your bank – sometimes the payment can still be stopped. Block your card, change your passwords.
- Report to the police via epolicija.lt or by calling 112.
- Keep the evidence: messages, numbers, links, payment confirmations.
The police have prepared a leaflet on fraud when buying and selling online – you will find it on the police page “Pranešk apie bandymą sukčiauti!”.
Frequently asked questions
I transferred an advance and the seller disappeared. What should I do?
Contact your bank immediately and report to the police via epolicija.lt. Save the ad, the correspondence and the payment confirmation.
The buyer sent a link to receive the money. Is it safe?
No. To receive money you need neither links nor card details – an account number is enough.
Is it safe to buy from foreign ads?
It is riskier. For expensive purchases, especially cars, an inspection, a document check and payment only at the time of the transaction are essential.
Sources
- Lietuvos policija. Paros įvykių suvestinės
https://policija.lrv.lt/lt/ivykiu-suvestines/ - Lietuvos policija. Pranešk apie bandymą sukčiauti!
https://policija.lrv.lt/lt/naujienos/pranesk-apie-sukciavima/ - Lietuvos bankas. Pakliuvau sukčiams: ką daryti?
https://www.lb.lt/lt/pakliuvau-sukciams-ka-daryti