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Online shopping has certainly gone big and it continues to grow year after year. Many brands, whether established brands or just starting to make a name for themselves, have their own websites. Still, most of these brands also have a presence on various e-commerce platforms. One such platform is Poshmark.

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A social commerce platform and mobile app, Poshmark has around 40 million members, about 7 million of them are sellers. It’s a haven for entrepreneurs and people with a passion for clothing and accessories. Poshmark is a platform where people can buy and sell brand-new and used clothing. Unfortunately, as great as the platform is, some Poshmark scams have emerged through the years. Read on to learn more so you can better protect yourself from such scams.

Can You Get Scammed On Poshmark? 

Is Poshmark legit? Yes. Can you get scammed on Poshmark? Unfortunately, the answer is also yes. That is not to say that Poshmark is not safe, though. Let’s admit it, whatever social media site or any other type of platform you’re on, chances are there will be scammers there too. 

Observing best practices and other safety precautions is your best armor against scammers in general. As for Poshmark, they have security and safety measures in place. As strict as they are, however, some scammers still get through. For instance, fake designer items are a big no-no on the platform yet some still manage to post such items or pass off fake ones as authentic.  

6 Examples of Poshmark Scams

Before we go into some examples of scams on Poshmark, it merits mentioning that Posh account takeover is also a potential risk. Just like any online platform or website, there is always the risk of hacking. Hence, you should avoid letting money accrue in your Poshmark account.

It’s important to familiarize yourself with some Poshmark scams in order to better steer clear off of them.

1. Fake Buyer

A fake buyer will most likely create a fake account and use that to comment on listed items. Take note that fake buyers will usually offer to send payment via check or money order. Also, they will usually ask you to transact with them outside Poshmark, either via email or a messaging app. The fake buyer will usually “vanish” once the item is shipped; the seller either receives a fake money order, check, or nothing at all.

2. Off-Poshmark Transactions

All transactions must be completed inside Poshmark to ensure that both the seller and buyer fulfill their parts. Hence, scammers will usually convince their victims to take things off Poshmark. A scammer posing as a seller, for instance, might offer discounts or provide some personal information to entice buyers. If this happens, it’s best to contact Poshmark Support immediately.

3. Counterfeit Products Passed Off as Authentic

Knock-offs are definitely not allowed on Poshmark. Some sellers, however, pass off fake items as authentic. They might use grabbed images along with a misleading description to hook buyers. Counterfeit products are usually offered at a much lower price so this should be a red flag.

4. Fake Check Payment Scam

This method is used to scam people out of their products and even their money. Some scammers convince sellers to allow them to pay via check or money order which would then turn out to be fake. There’s also a modus where the buyer will send more than the actual price of the product for some reason. The scammer will then ask the seller to send back the excess amount. Once received, the scammer will cancel the original payment effectively robbing the seller of their product and their money too.

5. Address Change on Shipping Label

Some scammers would use a program to edit the shipping label to a location near the buyer’s address. They will then proceed to fill the package with anything other than the item you ordered. At times, they’ll only fill the package with filler paper. The delivery will seem legitimate since it would be in the same zip code. While this could be a hassle and a great frustration too, you will receive a refund as long as the transaction was completed inside Poshmark.

6. Use and Return Scam

This scam has been happening in physical stores since item returns have become a thing. This has also made its way to online platforms like Poshmark. Some people would buy clothes, use them for a special event, and then return them. This is more rampant with high-end items like gowns and shoes. 

How Do You Know If A Buyer Is Legitimate? 

Part of knowing how to spot scams on Poshmark is knowing whether a buyer is legitimate or not. After all, it’s not just sellers that turn out to be scammers. There are several ways to do this. First and foremost, always check their profile. Also, the moment a buyer asks you to take the transaction outside Poshmark, stop entertaining them. Poshmark reviews comments about taking transactions off the platform and will usually automatically delete those. Keep in mind as well that there are wise buyers who simply wish to make sure that they get what they pay for and then there are nuisance buyers who would ask endless questions without any real intention of getting the item. Always be vigilant.

How To Avoid Being Scammed On Poshmark

Here are some tips so you can avoid falling victim to scammers on Poshmark:

• Take time to read Poshmark’s protection policy. This will come in handy in case you want to open a case or a case is opened against you.
• Thoroughly check item images and product descriptions. Don’t hesitate to ask questions.
• Always review the seller’s profile. Check when the profile was created and look through feedback.
• If you’re a seller, cash-out regularly; don’t let your fund accrue on the platform.
• Pay with PayPal or other legitimate means with extra protection.
• Never give out your personal information.

What To Do If You’ve Been Scammed on Poshmark

In case you’ve already sent payment, contact your financial institution first and foremost. Try to cancel or dispute the transaction. You can also report to the police as well as report to the Federal Trade Commission.

You can use the “Report Listing” button if you believe that a listing is in violation of Poshmark policies and guidelines. You can also return items and get a refund for counterfeit, damaged, and misrepresented items as well as those that were not shipped. You have three days to open a return request or claim.

• On the App

• Go to My Purchases.
• Select your order.
• Select Problems/order inquiry.
• Follow the prompt to open a case.

• On the Webpage

• From the drop-down menu, select My purchases.
• Select the order.
• Select Problems/order inquiry on the drop-down menu.
• Select the claim you’d like to submit. If the order wasn’t as described, you’ll need to include photos of the problem area and enter a description.

Is Poshmark Safe To Use? 

We’ve already answered the question “what is Poshmark?”. We’ve also gone through some of the scams that happen on the platform. Poshmark has policies and guidelines in place to make it as safe as possible for users. It’s not one hundred percent safe (what online platform is?) but it’s fairly safe for its kind.

Scammers lurk in every corner of the internet and that includes platforms like Poshmark. In the end, it would all boil down to how careful a user is. Observe best practices and stay vigilant.