Depop is a popular global marketplace for buying and selling second-hand clothing and accessories, boasting over 35 million active users. Unfortunately, its popularity also attracts scammers seeking to exploit both buyers and sellers. This post will expose common Depop scams, highlight red flags to watch out for, and provide practical tips to protect yourself from fraudulent activity.
Table of Contents
Scams Targeting Buyers
Off-App Transactions
Scammers often try to lure buyers off Depop to complete transactions, using tactics like:
- Requests to pay through Venmo, Cash App, bank transfer, etc.
- Offers to ship directly to avoid Depop fees.
Why it’s dangerous:
- Loss of buyer protection.
- No recourse for refunds or disputes.
Prevention:
- Always complete transactions within the Depop app.
- Report any users pressuring you to transact off-platform.
Trading Scams
Trading on Depop often involves creating “$1 listings” for the items being traded. Scammers exploit this by:
- Sending a low-value item or nothing at all.
- Deleting their accounts to prevent communication and disputes.
- Disputing the transaction, only to receive a refund for the nominal $1 listing price, not the true value of the traded item.
Prevention:
- Trade only with users with established accounts, positive reviews, and a history of successful trades.
- Consider using a trusted third-party service for high-value trades.
Dropshipping Scams
Dropshipping, where sellers list items they don’t own and purchase them from third-party sites after a sale, is banned on Depop.
However, some scammers continue to engage in this practice, leading to:
- Long shipping times as items are shipped directly from the third-party supplier.
- Generic product images often stolen from other websites.
- Inflated prices compared to purchasing directly from the supplier.
Prevention:
- Be wary of listings with generic photos, wide range of sizes, and long shipping estimates.
- Use reverse image search to check if product images are from other sites.
Red Flags for Buyers
- Brandy Melville Scams: Due to the brand’s popularity and the rarity of some items, Brandy Melville scams are prevalent. Scrutinize listings for authentic photos and check seller reviews.
- Expensive Luxury Items: Exercise extreme caution when purchasing expensive luxury items. Thoroughly vet sellers, checking reviews, and verifying the authenticity of the products.
- Pressure Tactics: Scammers create urgency to pressure buyers into rash decisions. Don’t give in to pressure and always analyze the situation carefully.
- Other Red Flags: Be wary of accounts with no profile picture, few or negative reviews, unusual usernames, and poor communication.
Scams Targeting Sellers
Fake Returns
This scam involves buyers abusing the return process to steal items by:
- Filing a return with a false reason.
- Sending back an empty box, a different item, or a damaged version of the purchased item.
- The seller loses their items and money if they cannot prove the scam.
Prevention:
- Clearly communicate return policies in your shop and listing descriptions.
- Videotape yourself packaging items before shipping.
- Videotape yourself opening returned packages.
- Contact Depop support immediately if you suspect a fake return.
Shipping Address Manipulation
This scam involves buyers providing an alternate shipping address after purchase to exploit Depop’s seller protection policies.
- Buyers claim they made a mistake and provide a new address.
- The item is shipped to the wrong address.
- The buyer opens a dispute claiming non-delivery.
- The seller loses their item and money because they shipped to an unverified address.
Prevention:
- Only ship to the address provided on the Depop receipt.
- If a buyer insists on a change, request photo ID to verify the new address.
- Cancel the order and relist the item with the correct address to be fully protected.
General Tips for Staying Safe
- Keep all communications and purchases within Depop: This leverages the platform’s built-in security features and protects you through their Buyer and Seller Protection programs.
- Analyze potential buyers and sellers: Carefully review profiles, looking for red flags like lack of profile pictures, negative reviews, unusual usernames, or inconsistent information.
- Trust your instincts: If something feels off, it probably is. Decline suspicious requests and report any users engaging in fraudulent activities.
- Contact Depop Customer Support: When in doubt, reach out to Depop’s customer support team for assistance and advice.
FAQ Section
- What should I do if I suspect I am being scammed?
- Cease communication with the suspected scammer.
- Gather evidence of the communication and transaction.
- Report the user to Depop.
- Contact Depop customer support for guidance.
- What happens if I am scammed off-app?
- You lose Depop’s Buyer/Seller protection and have little recourse for a refund.
- You may have to pursue legal action to recover your money or items.
- Can I recover my money if I am scammed?
- If the scam occurred within the Depop app and you followed their guidelines, you are likely to be refunded by Depop.
- If the scam occurred off-app, recovery is more difficult and may require legal action.
- How can I report a scammer to Depop?
- Depop has a reporting mechanism within the app. You can report a user directly from their profile or through a message thread.
- Is it safe to trade on Depop?
- Trading can be risky due to the lack of buyer protection for the true value of traded items. Exercise caution, trade only with reputable users, and consider a third-party service for high-value trades.
- How can I tell if an account is fake?
- Look for red flags such as no profile picture, few or negative reviews, unusual usernames, poor communication, and requests to transact off-app.