Real money out, fake money in
In an overpayment scam, a "buyer" sends you more than the item costs, usually by check, a hijacked payment app, or a fake receipt. They then claim it was a mistake and ask you to send the extra back.
By the time the original payment bounces or is reversed, the refund you sent is long gone. You are out the difference and often the item too.
How the scam works
They agree to your price fast and want to pay right away, often without negotiating.
They send too much, blaming a typo or a "shipping agent" who needs paying.
They urgently ask you to return the difference, or forward it to a third party.
The original payment is fake or charged back. Your refund is real and unrecoverable.
What the message looks like
So sorry, my assistant sent $800 instead of $500 for the couch. Could you just send the extra $300 back via Zelle? My mover will pick it up tomorrow. Thank you so much!!
Overpayment scam. FraudScope flags the deliberate overpayment, the third-party "mover," and the rush to refund. Its guidance: do not send anything back. Wait until the original payment truly clears, which a fake one never will.
Warning signs to watch for
- A buyer who pays more than you asked, then wants the difference back.
- Payment by check or a screenshot of a "payment" you cannot independently confirm.
- A third party, like a "shipper" or "mover," who must be paid from your refund.
- Pressure to refund or ship before the funds have actually settled.
- A buyer who never asks normal questions about the item.
Spot it before you ship
Paste the buyer’s messages and FraudScope names the overpayment archetype, the fake-refund pressure, and the third-party hook. It explains why waiting for true settlement defeats the scam.
Analysis runs entirely on your iPhone and makes no network requests. The only time FraudScope touches the internet is if you tap Inspect URL to check where a link really goes, and it tells you before it does.
Intent reconstruction · Marketplace archetypes · On-device
Frequently asked
How do I avoid the overpayment scam as a seller?
Never refund or ship based on a payment that has not fully settled in your account. Treat any overpayment plus a refund request as a scam. Prefer in-person cash for local sales and never involve a buyer’s "shipping agent."
The payment shows in my app. Is it safe to refund?
Not necessarily. Some payments appear briefly then reverse, and screenshots are easy to fake. Wait until funds are genuinely settled and cannot be clawed back before you ever send money out.
Does FraudScope send my messages anywhere?
No. Analysis runs entirely on your iPhone with no network connection. The only time it contacts the internet is if you choose to inspect a link’s destination, and it tells you before it does.
Will FraudScope catch every scam?
No tool can. FraudScope is strongest with the full content of a message and weaker with a bare screenshot that has no link or sender. It is a powerful second opinion, not a guarantee. When in doubt, slow down and check with someone you trust.