How to Spot Scams When Buying from Students Online
Common scams targeting ASU students in online marketplaces and exactly how to avoid them. Real examples, red flags, and safe meeting tips.
The College Marketplace Has Real Scams
Most transactions between students are totally fine. Someone sells their old MacBook, someone buys it, everybody goes home happy. But there are scammers who specifically target student marketplaces because they know students are price-sensitive and sometimes in a hurry.
Knowing the playbook protects you.
The Most Common Scams
The "I'm Out of Town" Story
How it works: You express interest in an item. The seller says they're out of town, studying abroad, or at a conference. They offer to ship the item to you and ask you to pay via Zelle, Venmo, or Cash App first. Once you send money, they're gone.
Why it works: The story sounds plausible for a college student.
Red flag: Any seller who can't meet in person for a local item. If it's listed as being in Tempe, it should be available in Tempe.
The Overpayment Scam
How it works: Usually happens when you're the seller. A "buyer" sends you a cashier's check or Zelle payment for more than the asking price. They ask you to refund the difference. The original payment bounces or gets reversed days later. You've sent your own real money.
Red flag: Any buyer who wants to overpay. Legitimate buyers send exact payment or round numbers. Nobody accidentally sends $300 for a $120 item.
The Fake Payment Screenshot
How it works: Buyer shows you a screenshot of a Venmo or Cash App payment "sent." They take the item. The payment never actually arrived.
Red flag: Never hand over an item until you've verified the money is in your account — not just shown a screenshot. Open your actual app and check your balance.
The Listing Switcharoo
How it works: Photos in the listing show a quality item. You agree to buy it, meet in person, and the seller has a worse version — wrong model, more damaged than listed, completely different item.
Red flag: Listings with generic or stock-looking photos. Always ask for a photo with a handwritten note or something unique to verify they actually have the item.
The Markup Scam (Ticket/Permit Scalping)
How it works: Someone "sells" you a concert ticket, ASU parking permit, or sports ticket that's fake, already used, or transferred to someone else. Common especially around ASU home games and big concerts at Tempe venues.
Red flag: See specific sections on tickets and parking permits — transfer protocols exist for a reason.
Platform-Specific Risks
Facebook Marketplace: High volume means more scammers. Accounts with few friends, recent creation dates, or no profile photo are warning signs. The in-person pickup culture here is generally safer than shipping.
Craigslist: Higher scam rate than student-specific platforms. Always meet in person, always in public.
ASU List and similar student-specific platforms: Generally safer because users are ASU-affiliated. Still apply basic precautions.
Instagram DMs: Be extra cautious. No built-in buyer protection, no accountability, no way to verify identity.
The Meetup Rules That Keep You Safe
Location: Meet in public, well-lit areas. The ASU campus has designated "Safe Exchange Zones" — the Police Department parking lot on Mill Avenue has 24/7 cameras and lighting specifically designed for this. The MU courtyard, Hayden Library exterior, or near the rec center are also solid options.
Time: Daytime is always safer. If you must do an evening meetup, stick to well-lit, busy spots.
Tell someone: Text a friend where you're going and who you're meeting. Takes 10 seconds.
Don't go alone for high-value items: If you're buying a $600 laptop from someone you don't know, bring a friend.
Trust your gut: If something feels off when you arrive — the person seems nervous, the item doesn't match the listing, the story keeps changing — it's okay to walk away.
Payment Methods Ranked by Safety
Cash: Safest for in-person transactions. No chargebacks, no verification needed.
Venmo/Cash App (with instant transfer confirmed): Fine for in-person if you verify the money hits your account before handing over the item.
Zelle: Instant and can't be reversed easily, which protects sellers. Buyers have less protection if scammed.
PayPal Goods & Services: Offers buyer protection (you can dispute). Sellers pay a fee. Good for higher-value items where trust is lower.
Cashier's check or money order: Avoid. Can be forged or reversed days later.
Cryptocurrency: Red flag in almost every case in a student marketplace context.
If You Get Scammed
Report it to:
- The platform (Facebook, Marketplace, etc.) — file a report immediately
- Tempe Police: non-emergency line at 480-350-8311
- ASU Police if it happened on campus: 480-965-3456
- FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov
Recovery of money isn't guaranteed, but reporting creates a record that helps catch repeat offenders.
The honest truth: most meetups between students are totally normal. The risks are real but manageable with basic precautions. Following these steps doesn't make you paranoid — it just makes you a smart buyer.
Ready to buy or sell?
Join thousands of ASU students on the marketplace built for Sun Devils.