Scams on local classified sites change their wording all the time, but the tricks underneath barely change at all. Almost every one depends on rushing you, getting you off the platform, or getting you to pay or hand over goods before you have checked anything.
The short version: meet in person, see the item before you pay, never hand over goods until money is visible in your own banking app, keep chats on-site, and never click payment links sent by a stranger. If you have been scammed, call your bank straight away, then report it.
The warning signs that cover most scams
Before we look at specific scams, here are the signals that should make you stop and think, whatever the item:
- Urgency. “I need an answer in ten minutes” or “lots of people are interested, pay now to hold it”.
- Distance. The buyer or seller cannot meet, is working abroad, or wants everything done by courier.
- A move off-platform. They want to switch to WhatsApp, text or email before anything is agreed.
- Odd payment requests. Bank transfer to a third party, gift cards, crypto, or PayPal “Friends and Family” for goods.
- Links and QR codes. Anything that asks you to click, scan or log in to “receive” or “release” money.
- A price that’s too good. A nearly new phone or a pedigree puppy at half the usual price.
- Pressure to skip checks. Reluctance to let you see the item, run a check or meet at a sensible place.
Scams aimed at sellers
The fake courier buyer
A buyer says they cannot collect, so they will “send a courier”. They then claim the delivery company needs you to pay a fee, an insurance charge or a “verification” amount before the money is released. There is no courier and no payment. On local classified sites, the safest rule is simple: deals happen face to face.
Fake payment emails
You receive an email that looks like it is from PayPal, your bank or a payment app, saying funds are “pending” until you send the item or a tracking number. Real payments appear in your account. They do not wait for you to post something first. Always log in to your bank or payment app directly, never through a link in an email, and check the balance yourself.
Overpayment
The buyer “accidentally” sends more than the asking price and asks you to refund the difference. The original payment later bounces or is reversed, and you have lost the refund and possibly the item too. If someone overpays, do not send anything back. Contact your bank first.
Phishing links and QR codes
A buyer sends a link or QR code that leads to a page asking for your card details or bank login “so the money can be sent”. Nobody needs your card number or online banking password to pay you. Close the page and report the message.
Scams aimed at buyers
Deposit scams: pets, rentals and cars
These target things people want badly and fear losing. The seller asks for a deposit to “reserve” a puppy, a flat or a car before you have seen it. Then there are more fees, such as vaccinations, delivery or paperwork, and then silence.
- Pets: insist on seeing the animal with its mother at the seller’s home. Be very wary of anyone who will only deliver.
- Rentals: never pay a deposit for a property you have not viewed, and check who actually owns or manages it.
- Cars: see the car, check the V5C logbook matches the seller and the address, and run history checks. Our guide to buying a used car privately covers this step by step.
Items that do not exist
Photos taken from other listings, a price well below normal and a seller who will only post the item. Ask for a photo of the item next to a note with your name and today’s date. A genuine seller can do it in a minute. For phones, read our guide to buying a used phone safely.
PayPal “Friends and Family” for goods
Some sellers ask you to pay through PayPal’s “Friends and Family” option, often to avoid a fee. That option is designed for sending money to people you know, not for buying goods, and it does not come with PayPal’s buyer protection. If a stranger insists on it, treat it as a red flag.
Why moving to WhatsApp is a red flag
Scammers prefer to leave the platform early because it removes the safety net. Off-site, there is no record we can review, no Report button and no way for us to warn other users or remove the account. Keep your conversation in NextDealUK chat until you have agreed a time and place to meet. A genuine buyer or seller has no reason to object.
Safer ways to pay and get paid
| Method | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Cash in person | Most local deals | Counterfeit notes on large amounts. Count and check notes when you meet. |
| Bank transfer in person | Larger amounts | Only hand over the item once the money shows in your own banking app, not a screenshot. |
| Bank transfer in advance | Rarely a good idea with strangers | Hard to recover if the item never appears. |
| Payment links, gift cards, crypto | Never for classified deals | Common in scams and very hard to recover. |
Your scam-proof checklist
- Keep all messages in NextDealUK chat until you meet
- See the item, or the buyer, in person before money changes hands
- Check the money is in your account through your own banking app
- Never pay courier, “release” or verification fees
- Never click payment links or scan QR codes sent by a stranger
- Never share card numbers, PINs, one-time passcodes or banking logins
- Do not pay deposits for pets, rentals or cars you have not seen
- If it feels rushed or too good to be true, walk away
Read our safe meet-up guide for the in-person side of things.
How to report a scam
On NextDealUK
Use the Report button on any ad or user profile, or go to our report page. Reporting helps us remove accounts quickly and protect other people, even if you did not lose any money.
To the authorities
- England, Wales and Northern Ireland: report fraud to Report Fraud, online or on 0300 123 2040. Report Fraud replaced Action Fraud in December 2025. If you see older advice mentioning Action Fraud, this is now the service to use.
- Scotland: report fraud to Police Scotland on 101.
- Suspicious emails: forward them to [email protected].
- Suspicious texts: forward them free to 7726.
The government’s page on reporting suspicious emails, texts and websites lists these in one place. If anyone is in immediate danger, call 999.
What to do if you have been scammed
- Call your bank immediately. The faster you act, the better the chance of stopping or recovering a payment. You can call 159 to be connected safely to your bank. It is run by Stop Scams UK and covers the large majority of UK current account providers.
- Ask about reimbursement. If you were tricked into sending a bank transfer, you may be covered by the UK’s reimbursement rules for authorised push payment (APP) scams, which apply to Faster Payments and CHAPS up to £85,000. Your bank will explain how it applies to you.
- Change passwords if you entered any login details on a suspicious page, and turn on two-step verification.
- Report it to Report Fraud (or Police Scotland) and to us, and keep screenshots of the ad, messages and payment details.
Being scammed is not a sign of being careless. These schemes are designed by people who do it every day. Reporting it quickly is the most useful thing you can do.
FAQs
Has Action Fraud been replaced?
Yes. Since 4 December 2025, Report Fraud has replaced Action Fraud for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. You can report at reportfraud.police.uk or on 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, contact Police Scotland on 101.
What is 159?
159 is a free short number that connects you to your own bank’s fraud team. Use it if you get an unexpected call about your money or think you have been scammed. It is run by Stop Scams UK.
Is a payment screenshot proof I have been paid?
No. Screenshots and emails are easy to fake. The only proof is the money showing in your own banking app, checked by you, or cash in your hand.
Why does a buyer want to pay without seeing the item?
Genuine local buyers almost always want to see what they are buying. Someone keen to pay unseen, often by courier or with an overpayment, is a classic scam pattern. Politely insist on meeting in person.
