TLDR
Buyer or seller on Trade Me / Facebook Marketplace NZ is directed off platform to a fake escrow service (trademe escrow[.]nz) claiming to hold funds for high value items (cars, electronics). CERT NZ tracked NZ$4M+ in marketplace scam...
How it works
Buyer or seller on Trade Me / Facebook Marketplace NZ is directed off platform to a fake escrow service (trademe escrow[.]nz) claiming to hold funds for high value items (cars, electronics). CERT NZ tracked NZ$4M+ in marketplace scam...
Red flags
- Urgent pressure to click, pay, or share codes immediately.
- A link or sender that does not match the official organization.
- Requests for card data, passwords, OTPs, wallet signatures, or bank transfers.
What to do
- 1WHAT TO DO: only use built in Trade Me Pay / Ping; verify NZBN at nzbn.govt.nz; never click escrow links from a stranger.
Source
CERT-NZ
Source reviewed by Mythos Forensic Team
https://www.cert.govt.nz/individuals/common-threats/scams-and-fraud/online-shopping/FAQ
Is Trade Me marketplace scam — fake escrow (New Zealand) a real scam pattern?
Yes. Treat the message, call, or payment request as suspicious until you verify it through an official channel.
What are the first warning signs?
Urgent pressure to click, pay, or share codes immediately.; A link or sender that does not match the official organization.; Requests for card data, passwords, OTPs, wallet signatures, or bank transfers.
What should I do first?
WHAT TO DO: only use built in Trade Me Pay / Ping; verify NZBN at nzbn.govt.nz; never click escrow links from a stranger.
Can LegalAudit check my case?
Yes. Start a free chat and paste the message, link, sender, or payment details for triage.