Red Flags: 7 Scams to Watch For When Buying Second-Hand

Most people you meet on Tradeza are genuine. But scammers exist, and they're often good at what they do. Here are the seven scams we see most frequently, so you can spot them a mile away.

1. The "pay now, ship later" deal

How it works: The seller refuses to meet in person. They ask for payment upfront and promise to courier the item.

Red flag: Any seller who refuses to meet face-to-face for a local transaction. Courier scams are the #1 way buyers lose money.

How to avoid: Only buy from sellers who will meet you locally. If long distance is unavoidable, use a reputable courier with cash-on-delivery.

2. The price that's too good to be true

How it works: A 2022 iPhone Pro for R3,000. A two-bedroom flat in Sandton for R1,500/month.

Red flag: Prices 30%+ below market. Scammers use unrealistic prices to attract desperate buyers.

How to avoid: If the price seems impossible, it is. Walk away.

3. "I'm overseas, my agent will deliver"

How it works: "I'm working in Dubai, I'll have my agent bring it. Just EFT the deposit." The agent never comes.

Red flag: Any story involving the seller being "overseas" or "out of town." Legitimate sellers are where their items are.

4. Fake payment confirmations

How it works: The "buyer" sends you a screenshot of a payment they supposedly made. It looks real. You release the item. The money never arrives.

Red flag: Screenshots as proof of payment. They're trivial to fake.

How to avoid: Wait for money to actually reflect in your account — not "pending," but cleared. Bank SMS notifications can also be spoofed.

5. The "deposit to secure it" scam

How it works: "I have other interested buyers — send R500 to secure it and we'll meet tomorrow." Tomorrow never comes.

Red flag: Any seller asking for a deposit before you've met and inspected the item.

6. Cloned / fake ads

How it works: Scammers copy photos and descriptions from legitimate listings on other sites and post them on marketplaces as their own.

Red flag: Generic descriptions with professional photos that don't match the seller's claimed location.

How to avoid: Right-click an image → "Search image on Google." If it appears on multiple sites, it's likely stolen.

7. Phishing via WhatsApp or email

How it works: "Click this link to confirm your bid" or "your payment failed, re-enter your card details here."

Red flag: Any link that claims to be from Tradeza but the URL isn't trade-za.co.za. Tradeza will never ask for payment details via email or WhatsApp.

The golden rule

If you feel pressured, rushed, or something feels "off" — trust that instinct. A real seller will wait for you to do your due diligence. A scammer will push.

See something suspicious? Report it. We investigate every report and remove bad actors.