Common Depop Scams To Watch Out
A digital thrift store like Depop is a true treasure trove loved by 21 million registered users across the world. Even though it is a haven for flipping pre-loved fashion, online sellers need to be aware of common Depop scams. Once you get the hang of how to spot scammers from a mile away, it will be easy to conduct sales effortlessly and even expand your customer base with the help of crossposting software.
Sellers most commonly encounter scams that include buyers falsely claiming that they haven't received an item or that it is not as described. What's more, private messages suggesting carrying out transactions outside the application signalize that you are dealing with a scammer. Account takeovers and fake returns have been noticed on the multi-vendor marketplace platform as well.
One of the Most Common Depop Scams Is the Chargeback Scam
Online sellers have to deal with a chargeback scam since it is one of the oldest tricks in the book. The buyer will message you with an urgent request for a full refund since the product arrived "damaged," or in the worst-case scenario, the buyer reports never receiving the item. In this situation, one can easily lose both the money and the product since the product will never be returned. It's important to know what steps to take to avoid costly repercussions.
What Kind of Prevention Would Stop This Scam In Its Tracks
Brace yourself for chargeback fraud and make sure you take the necessary precautions. First things first, rely on insured and tracked shipping. In this way, you will be notified of the whereabouts of your parcel, and there will be proof that the product arrived.
Another step is to take as many photos of the item as possible before shipping it. Make sure that the photos are an accurate representation of the product's condition so that you will be protected by the Sellers Protection programme as well.
You Should Know That Receiving Private Messages Might Be a Sign of a Scammer
Open communication between the buyers and sellers has made selling on Depop convenient. Even though this feature allows the seller to navigate the whole purchase with ease, there are still issues that occur with suspicious private messages.
These Depop scam messages often require the seller to share some personal information and contact like a phone number and an email. This is a red flag that can jeopardize the success of your e-commerce business since a buyer can scam you without accountability.
Avoid Being Scammed By Accepting to Ship to a Wrong Address
Another common fraud on Depop, one of the best online selling platforms, entails receiving a message to send a product to another address after the purchase is completed. Even though this doesn't always signal you are dealing with a scammer, sometimes an individual can use this tactic to claim later that the item has not arrived and a refund needs to be issued. To make shipping on Depop a breeze, make sure that you are dealing with a legitimate buyer before sending your product.
What to Look Out for if You Suspect the Buyer Is Dishonest About the Shipping Information?
The best advice we can provide you with to avoid this inconvenience is to adhere to the platform's shipping guidance and just ship the product to an address that is present on the receipts. This stands as proof that everything regarding your items being shipped was carried out correctly.
Of course, if the customer insists on an address change, the next best option is to request documentation like an identification card where the new address is present. In this way, the identity of the customer will be checked, so the parcel can be sent without any problems.
Check out the following video with additional tips on shipping and packaging of products.
Watch Out for an Account Takeover or Depop Email Scams
Hackers are always trying to get a hold of different accounts to deceive other users. Phishing emails that appear to be from Depop's site but are not could trick you into revealing login credentials and personal information.
Some might believe that the email is truly from the platform since it contains attachments and links that can lead to a fake version of the Depop's site. A good precaution is to create a unique and strong password for your account and to always read emails carefully before revealing any information.
Evade Scams by Making Sure to Check Thoroughly Whether the Email Is Truly From Depop Marketplace
Here are the steps one should follow to always stay clear of suspicious emails:
- Check the sender's email address,
- Verify the content of the email,
- Avoid clicking on suspicious links,
- Beware of requests for personal information
Buyers Most Commonly Get Scammed Through Off-App Transactions
Don't risk losing the credibility of your online store by trying out off-app transactions. While the Depop platform is a secure platform for putting items on sale, some users want to circumvent the system and do business outside the app.
Off-app transactions lack the safeguard and protection offered within the platform, leaving both parties exposed to fraudulent activities. This is one of the most common Depop buyer scams. When you use the BUY button in the application or on the website, the Buyer Protection program will protect you in case of deceitful activities.
Be a Successful Seller - Invest in a Cross-Listing Software
If you want to improve sales and make it easier to find buyers who will become reliable followers of your online store, we recommend investing in a crossposting tool. On any platform, you will find scammers; however, there will be less chance of failing financially with multichannel listing software.
The best software to sell both on eBay and Depop is Zipsale. Actually, Zipsale will allow you to find customers on Poshmark, Etsy, Shopify, and Facebook Marketplace as well. Learn more about the wonderful perks of selling software and don't forget to sign up today and sell a larger number of items quicker!
