If you are fed up with eBay and Amazon, Poshmark is an alternative selling platform you can use to buy or sell new or used goods. It started out as a portal for high-end fashion accessories (Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Chanel, Mercari), clothing, handbags, and shoes but now sells just about everything that eBay does, including things for children, men, and the home.
What is Poshmark?
Poshmark is a digital online marketplace where sellers can sell goods, and customers can find unique, brand new, and good condition used goods at bargain prices. Poshmark boasts $1 million in annual sales. However, like eBay, Poshmark has its fair share of scammers looking to make money off innocent victims through phishing emails, social engineering, or fraud. Typically, buyers and sellers use an app to transact on Poshmark, and beginners and resellers set up new accounts, but you don’t always know who you are dealing with.
What are Poshmark Scams, and How Can They Hurt You?
There are quite a few different types of Poshmark scams you should be aware of and know how to handle if they happen to you. Some of the most common Poshmark scams are:
Fake Items
Poshmark doesn’t sell items, but individual sellers do. Some buyers have reported seeing brand-name luxury items at ridiculously low prices, and when they received them, they were fake replicas, or they didn’t receive anything at all. Be watchful for misleading descriptions and counterfeit pics.
Not as Described
Another scam close to the fake items is when you buy something on Poshmark that is not at all what it was described as. Maybe it’s the wrong color, style, size, or missing pieces, but if you get something you were led to believe was a gem and it’s junk, you were scammed. Poshmark sales are typically final, so be careful before spending a dime. Check out each Poshmark seller before doing business with them. You may or may not be able to send the item back for a full refund.
Overpayments
Another way scammers get you is to overpay and request an immediate refund for the difference. The problem is after you do that, they cancel the original payment, and now you are out the money, and you never got paid. If you also sent the goods, you have lost double. Chances are, you will never get your money back. Any time a posher requests money from you when you are the buyer, let that be a red flag warning.
Ship Before Payment is Processed
Sometimes buyers pressure you to ship the item quickly, and even if they process payment, they could still cancel it after you have already shipped out the product. Always wait until the payment fully clears before shipping anything. Be wary of anyone who urges you to ship the next day or pushes you to use the USPS (United State Postal Service) to ship the item quickly. The post office has less tracking in place, and once you bring the shipping label and send it off, you may never see it again if there is a problem.
Bad Checks
Never accept checks as a form of payment for Poshmark goods. Forged and bad checks are very easy to scam someone with, and you could be out the funds and lose your product too.
Payment with Gift Cards
Always pay with Poshmark-approved payment methods. If a buyer pushes you to pay with gift cards or some other unusual form of payment, there is a good chance they are scamming you. Stay within the Poshmark system, so you are protected.
Taking Things Off Poshmark
Watch out for anyone moving the conversation off Poshmark and asking you to pay with anything other than a legitimate payment method like PayPal or credit card. Never send a cashier’s check, which is like cash. If something goes wrong, you’ll never see the money again.
Fake Profiles
Something to always be on the lookout for are fake profiles on Poshmark. Like any digital marketplace, often, you have no idea who you are doing business with. Although most people are legitimate sellers and buyers, some are merely trying to scam you. Some things to watch out for are a lack of information, no reviews, and blank spots in the profile. Check out each postmark account seller on social media before buying from them. Also, watch out for very new accounts; they could indicate a fraudster.
How to Stay Safe from Poshmark Scams
Anytime you do business online, there is the possibility of being scammed. Scammers work full time coming up with new ways to defraud the public. The best way to stay safe and watch out for yourself is common sense and learn how to spot scams on Poshmark. Some other tips include:
- Use a public records tool like InfoTracer to look into a profile on Poshmark before buying so you know who you are doing business with. You can search using username, email, phone number, and more.
- If something appears to be “too good to be true,” it probably is, walk away.
- Never provide personal information online to a stranger.
- Do not make payments with gift cards or wire transfers. Instead, use a digital wallet to make secure/protected payments.
- Verify the seller’s information and check reviews before buying.
- Do not ship out goods until the payment has cleared, and it cannot be rescinded.
- Never accept an overpayment. Make the buyer cancel it and pay again in the correct amount.
- Take lots of photos of your goods before shipping them.
- Do your homework and find out what something is worth before jumping on a “great deal” on Poshmark.
- Do not accept checks or agree to go outside of Poshmark for payment.
- Read the descriptions closely and ask questions before buying items.
Visit the Poshmark platform and read the Poshmark support and privacy policies, so you know what your rights are and what to do if you are the victim of a Poshmark scam. If you do become the victim of a Poshmark scam, contact Poshmark directly to file a complaint and use their return policy if necessary.
