Payment Link Scams in Marketplace Chat: How to Spot Them
Many secondhand scams start with a message in chat. The scammer sends a link to "receive your payment", asks for a code, or asks you to talk somewhere else. One rule beats almost all of them. Never click a payment link, keep the chat in the app, and only pay or get paid in person. FlyerBoard never handles the money between buyers and sellers. It never sends you a link to pay or get paid by another user.
Scamwatch received more than 44,000 reports about buying and selling scams in 2025, with more than $25.5 million lost (Scamwatch figures, reported by AMP). This guide shows the 10 chat scams to know, what each message looks like, and what to do.
For the full safety checklist, read how to spot and avoid secondhand scams.
What is the one rule?
Never click a payment link. Keep the chat in FlyerBoard, and only pay or get paid in person, when the item changes hands.
On FlyerBoard, buyer and seller meet and pay each other in person. FlyerBoard never handles the money between you. It never asks you to pay another user. Its emails never ask for your bank details, and never link to a page to receive money.
So any link in chat to "receive", "claim" or "release" money is fake. Real money shows up in your bank app without a link.
The 10 chat scams and how to spot them
| Scam | Who it targets | The tell |
|---|---|---|
| "Receive your payment" link | Sellers | A link to get paid |
| PayID upgrade email | Sellers | A fee to receive money |
| Overpayment | Sellers | "Send back the extra" |
| Fake courier | Sellers | Buyer will not come in person |
| Move to WhatsApp | Both | Leave the app early |
| Code request | Both | "Send me the code" |
| "Never arrived" claim | Sellers | Item posted, not handed over |
| Deposit for nothing | Buyers | Pay before you see it |
| Hacked account | Buyers | Good profile, odd request |
| QR code | Both | A code instead of a link |
1. The "receive your payment" link
"I've paid! Click here to receive your funds: secure-payment-au.com"
Why it's a scam: the link opens a fake payment page. It asks for your card or bank login "to receive the money", then uses them to take money from you. Australia Post warns that fake buyers send sellers a link to a fake Australia Post site to "Receive Funds" (Australia Post).
What to do: do not click it. Check your bank app instead. If the money is not there, nobody has paid you.
2. The PayID "upgrade" email
"Your PayID can't receive this payment. The buyer paid $300 to upgrade you to a business account. Please refund them."
Why it's a scam: PayID says it will never contact you directly and never asks you to send money to receive money (PayID). There is no upgrade. Our PayID upgrade scam guide shows the full script.
What to do: do not pay any fee. Stop replying and report the user.
3. Overpayment: "send back the extra"
"Sorry, I sent $500 instead of $50. Can you send back the $450?"
Why it's a scam: the first payment is fake or gets reversed. The "refund" is your own money. ANZ describes this exact trick (ANZ).
What to do: never refund anything until the money has cleared in your own account. Better still, take payment in person, for the right amount.
4. The fake courier or "shipping agent"
"I'm interstate. My courier will collect it. Just pay the $80 insurance and I'll add it to the payment."
Why it's a scam: the courier does not exist, and the fee is the goal. Australia Post says it will never ask you to click a social media message to book a courier for a marketplace listing (Australia Post).
What to do: keep it local. Meet in person, somewhere public.
5. "Let's chat on WhatsApp"
"Easier to talk on WhatsApp. Here's my number."
Why it's a scam: outside the app there is no record and no way to report them. A fake link or email usually comes next.
What to do: keep every message in the FlyerBoard chat. You do not need to share your phone number or email to buy or sell.
6. "Send me the code to prove you're real"
"I've been scammed before. I've sent you a code by SMS. Read it back so I know you're real."
Why it's a scam: the scammer has asked for a sign-in code for your account. FlyerBoard signs you in with a 6-digit code sent to your phone. Anyone who gets that code can take over your account and scam other people as you. Banks say the same about their codes. Westpac will never ask you to share your security codes (Westpac).
What to do: never share a code you receive by SMS or email. Not with anyone, even "support".
7. The false "it never arrived" or "it's fake" claim
"The box was empty. Refund me or I'll report you."
Why it's a scam: the buyer keeps the item and asks for their money back too. This mostly happens when an item is posted, not handed over.
What to do: hand items over in person and let the buyer check them before they pay. If you must post something, keep the tracking number, photos of the item, and the chat.
8. A deposit for something that doesn't exist
"Lots of interest in this puppy. Pay a $200 deposit today to hold him."
Why it's a scam: the pet, car, ticket or rental does not exist. Once the deposit is paid, the seller is gone. Western Australia's ScamNet describes this pattern for car sales (WA ScamNet).
What to do: never pay before you have seen the item in person. A real seller will let you look first. Our guide on checking items before you buy helps.
9. The hacked or borrowed account
A seller with a long history and good ratings suddenly wants a deposit, or wants to talk off the app.
Why it's a scam: scammers take over real accounts because people trust them. IDCARE told SBS that people are far more likely to trust an account that has history (SBS).
What to do: judge the request, not the profile. If someone you know is selling, check with them another way, like a phone call.
10. The QR code
"Scan this to accept the payment."
Why it's a scam: a QR code is just a hidden link. ANZ notes that QR codes hide the web address, so a fake site is harder to spot (ANZ). Australia Post has seen fake buyers send QR codes to a fake site (Australia Post).
What to do: treat a QR code like any other link. Never scan one to pay, get paid, or sign in.
Quick checklist before every deal
- Is anyone sending me a link to pay or get paid? Stop.
- Am I being asked for a code, a password, or card details? Stop.
- Do they want to move off the app? Stay in the chat.
- Have I seen the item, or the buyer, in person? Meet first.
- Is the money actually in my bank app? Check, don't trust a screenshot.
- Am I being rushed? Slow down. A real buyer will wait.
What to do if you've been scammed
Move fast.
- Call your bank now. Use the number on your card or in your bank app. Ask them to stop or recall the payment and to lock your cards if you shared details.
- Call IDCARE on 1800 595 160 if you shared a code, password, or ID. IDCARE is Australia's identity and cyber support service (IDCARE).
- Report it to ReportCyber if you lost money or details (cyber.gov.au).
- Report it to Scamwatch to help warn others (Scamwatch).
- Report the user in FlyerBoard. Tap the flag at the top of the chat and choose "Scam or fraud". You can also report a flyer or a seller's profile.
- Change your passwords if you typed them into a fake page.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Does FlyerBoard ever send payment links? No. FlyerBoard never handles the money between buyers and sellers. It never sends a link to pay or get paid by another user. It never asks for your bank details in chat or by email.
Q: Will FlyerBoard ever ask for my sign-in code? No. The code is only for you to type into the app. Anyone asking for it, in chat or by phone, is trying to take your account.
Q: Can FlyerBoard get my money back? No, because FlyerBoard never holds the money. Your bank is the one who can try to recall a payment, so call them first. Then report the user so the FlyerBoard team can act on the account.
Q: How do I check a seller is real? Look at their ratings, which only come from buyers who messaged them. Then meet in person and see the item before you pay.
Buying or selling nearby? Keep the chat on FlyerBoard, meet in person, and report anything that looks wrong from the flag in the chat.