Most Depop buyers are just people who want your jacket. But any marketplace with real money attracts a few scammers, and sellers are a common target because they have something to ship. Nearly every Depop scam works the same way: it tries to get the transaction out of Depop's system, where you lose the protection that Depop Payments gives you. Knowing the patterns makes them easy to spot.
1. "Can I pay you directly?"
A buyer offers to pay through PayPal Friends and Family, a bank transfer or a payment app to "save on fees". If anything goes wrong, you have no record on Depop and no way to get help, and some of these payments can be reversed after you've shipped. Off-app payment is also against Depop's rules and can get your account restricted.
Protect yourself: only accept payment through Depop checkout. A real buyer will understand.
2. Fake "payment received" emails
You get an email that looks like it's from Depop or a payment company saying you've been paid and should ship now. The order doesn't appear in your Depop sold items.
Protect yourself: never ship anything that isn't shown as a completed sale in the Depop app. Emails can be faked. The app can't.
3. The address change after purchase
The buyer pays normally, then messages asking you to ship to a different address "because they're away". If the item goes somewhere other than the address on the order, you can struggle to prove delivery.
Protect yourself: only ship to the address on the order, using the label Depop provides or a tracked service. If the buyer genuinely needs a different address, they can cancel and re-order.
4. "It arrived empty" or "it's not the item"
The buyer claims they received an empty box, a different item or a damaged one, hoping for a refund while keeping the item.
Protect yourself: photograph the item and the packed parcel before sealing it, and ship with tracking. Those photos and the tracking record are your evidence if a case or chargeback follows.
5. Phishing links
A message asks you to "verify your account", "confirm payment" or "check this photo" through a link that leads to a fake login page.
Protect yourself: don't log in through links sent in messages. Open the Depop app directly. Depop staff won't ask for your password in chat.
6. Overpayment and "my courier will collect"
A buyer offers to pay more than the price and asks you to send back the difference, or says their own courier will pick up the item. Both are designed to move money or goods outside Depop's process.
Protect yourself: decline. Use Depop's checkout and shipping for every sale.
7. Fake buyers chasing your contact details
Messages ask for your phone number, email or WhatsApp "to discuss". Once you're off the app, the other scams follow.
Protect yourself: keep every conversation in Depop's messages, where it's on the record.
Warning signs to watch for
- Brand-new accounts with no reviews making urgent offers on high-value items.
- Pressure to act fast or "before someone else buys it".
- Poor grammar combined with official-sounding claims.
- Anything that asks you to leave the app.
None of these prove a scam on their own, but two or three together should make you slow down. If you're unsure, report the account through the app.
Selling safely at volume
The more you sell, the more of these messages you'll see. Good records make every dispute easier. DepopAutomation.com's profit tracker keeps a per-sale record of what you sold, for how much and after which fees, which is useful if you ever need to show the history of an order.
Detailed, honest listings also take the air out of "not as described" claims. The AI listing tool writes full descriptions from your photos, the bulk lister does a whole haul at once, and the relist feature keeps items visible without you retyping anything. For more on keeping your account in good standing, see how to not get banned on Depop.
Conclusion
Depop scams almost always try to move payment, shipping or conversation outside the app. Take payment only through Depop checkout, ship only completed orders to the address on the order, photograph what you pack, use tracking, and keep messages in Depop. Do that and you're protected against nearly all of them.