Marketplace fraud refers to illegal actions used by a fraudster to withdraw money from your account. Nowadays, from making purchases to selling goods, everything is done online. There are a lot of applications available for online buying and selling. Anytime someone purchases or sells something unlawfully on an online marketplace, it is considered marketplace fraud.

This article talks about Fraud Using Online Marketplaces. This marketplace fraud can be carried out by fraudulent online applications, fake app users, or people who tell you that they are authorized users of an account while acting as members of companies.

Here's an example: Suppose you placed the item you want to sell on a selling app, and then you get a call from someone saying they want to purchase it from you. They will win your trust by paying you a premium price for your goods, telling you to verify your account by sending them money before handing you the money, and then debiting money from your bank account rather than providing it to you. In this case you have been scammed by the fraudster. 

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There are different types of marketplace frauds:

Famous selling applications are occasionally hacked by scammers. The app's profile is being used by fraudsters. Due to the business being taken, the original sellers also suffer from this. A customer is lost, and in rare situations, a product may never even be sent. The buyer may also sometimes obtain something they did not want.

Numerous businesses often promote their products through advertising. To steal money from you, the fraudster will offer fake product advertisements. To win your trust, the fraudster will make good offers on pricey items. 

A fraudster makes several fictitious buyer and seller accounts. The fraudsters create a website that appears to be from a well-known firm or even a mobile phone provider, like Samsung, Mi etc and then they advertise low-cost products on it. They trick the unwary buyer into paying online, but when the transaction is complete, the customer never receives the purchased item. 

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Fraud using Social Media platforms:

Popular social networking sites are connected. Additionally, brands can link to their websites via social media company profiles. Consequently, it's simple to purchase on social media. This issue includes fake goods to some extent. Scammers can get access to the private information of the company. 

When paying anything to a stranger, you should exercise caution to avoid being victim to these types of scams:

• Keep in mind that the UPI Pin is only used when sending a payment; it is not required while receiving a payment. To receive money from someone else, don’t enter your UPI pin.
• Before making any transaction by your side, confirm the UPI number. 
• Don’t share OTP with a stranger. 
• Report to the occurence to the nearest cybercrime station and the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal  http://cybercrime.gov.in/

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