TL;DR: Sellers deal with unfamiliar buyers who can dispute payment after goods ship. Ship only after a payment has fully cleared and verified, and never refund an overpayment before confirming the original payment is genuine and final.
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Sellers deal with unfamiliar buyers who can dispute payment after goods ship.
Common Tactics Used
Buyers pay with a stolen card and later trigger a chargeback after receiving the item, and fake 'overpayment' buyers ask for the difference refunded before the original payment clears.
How to Protect Against It
Ship only after a payment has fully cleared and verified, and never refund an overpayment before confirming the original payment is genuine and final.
What Family and Friends Can Do
Sudden secrecy about money, unusual withdrawals, or a new online relationship that stays undisclosed are all worth a calm, judgment-free conversation. The earlier a scam is caught, the more can usually be recovered.
If this looks similar to something else you've seen, it's worth reading Scams Targeting Veterans.
This pattern shows up elsewhere too — see Scams Targeting Recent Widows and Widowers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are they specifically targeted?
Sellers deal with unfamiliar buyers who can dispute payment after goods ship.
What tactics do scammers use?
Buyers pay with a stolen card and later trigger a chargeback after receiving the item, and fake 'overpayment' buyers ask for the difference refunded before the original payment clears.
How can they protect themselves?
Ship only after a payment has fully cleared and verified, and never refund an overpayment before confirming the original payment is genuine and final.
What should family or friends watch for?
Sudden secrecy about money or new online relationships, unusual withdrawals or wire transfers, and reluctance to discuss a new "opportunity" or contact in detail are all worth a gentle, non-judgmental conversation.
What should I do if I think this has already happened?
Stop all contact and payments immediately, report it to the appropriate authority, and contact the bank or payment provider involved to see what can be recovered.