Can the checker guarantee a message is safe?

No. The checker gives general guidance only and cannot guarantee accuracy. Verify through official channels and get help if unsure.

PayID Buyer Scam: Warning Signs for Marketplace Sellers

Selling online? Watch for PayID email and courier red flags.

Scam Help helps Australians choose the right next step before they click, before they pay, after they click, or when they need to report.

Stop. Check. Ask Your IT & Tech Mates.

Marketplace PayID buyer scamBest for: Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, courier pickup or email request.Do not provide extra personal details just to receive payment.

Quick answer

Be careful when a buyer asks for your email, sends fake PayID screenshots or says you must pay to upgrade an account.

30 second decision

Should I click, reply or pay?

Do not click links, reply with private details, pay money or install software from this message.

Check

Do not provide extra personal details just to receive payment.

Help

If someone already clicked, paid, entered details or installed remote access, start Quick Help.

Check this message now

Example message

“I want to buy it. Please give your email for PayID business payment and my courier will collect.”

This is a general example only. Do not paste passwords, codes, banking details, card numbers, Medicare details, licence numbers or confidential business records into any public tool.

Warning signs

Buyer asks for email instead of simple PayID details
They send a fake PayID or bank email
They say you need to pay a fee to receive money
They push courier pickup before payment clears

What to do now

Do not pay a fee to receive money
Check your real banking app, not screenshots
Keep sales inside the marketplace where possible
Use the checker before replying

Australia reporting step

Report or verify through Australian official channels

If the message looks like a scam, keep the message as evidence and report it through Australian Government scam and cyber reporting services. These links open official external sites.

Report a scam to Scamwatch Report cybercrime at cyber.gov.au Read Australian scam guidance

If money, cards, banking, myGov, Medicare, ID documents or business account access were involved, contact your bank or the relevant official service directly first.

Free tool

Check the message before you act

Paste the suspicious wording into the free Scam SMS & Email Checker. It gives general guidance only and cannot guarantee accuracy.

Check a scam message

Why this helps

Built for real users, not security experts.

This short guide is written for family members, seniors, students, workmates and small business owners who need a plain-English answer quickly. It links to the free checker for a risk score and to Quick Help for serious cases.

Plain-English warning signsSafe next stepShare without private detailsLocal help path

Related Scam Help

Is this guide a guarantee?

No. It is general guidance only. Always verify through official channels. In Australia, report scams to Scamwatch and report cybercrime through cyber.gov.au if you clicked, paid, entered details or installed remote access software.