7 Ways to Spot a Marketplace Scam Before You Pay
Stay safe while you shop online. The red flags every buyer should know — and how MasokoLink removes most of the risk automatically.
Most online scams rely on one thing: getting you to pay outside a protected system. Learn the warning signs and you sidestep nearly all of them.
Golden rule
Never move a deal off-platform. The moment someone asks you to pay by direct transfer "to save fees", your protection disappears.
The red flags
1. Pressure to pay off-platform
A genuine MasokoLink seller wants the escrow protection too. Anyone pushing you to pay directly is removing the safety net on purpose.
2. Prices that are too good to be true
If a phone is priced at a third of everywhere else, the goal is usually to grab your money fast.
3. A brand-new account with no history
Check the seller's profile, badges, and reviews before committing.
Verified Seller
Identity and phone confirmed
4. Refusal to use escrow
Escrow costs the buyer nothing. A seller who refuses it is refusing accountability.
5. Blurry or stolen photos
Reverse-image search suspicious listings. Real sellers show real, original photos.
6. Communication that dodges details
Vague answers about condition, location, or delivery are a stall tactic.
7. "Send a deposit to hold it"
On MasokoLink the escrow is the hold. Separate deposits are a classic trap.
How MasokoLink removes most of the risk
You are not on your own. The platform is built so the safe path is the easy path.
Escrow by default
Your payment is held until you confirm delivery — scammers can't grab and run.
Verified sellers
Trust badges tell you who has proven their identity and track record.
Safe vs. risky checkout
| Action | Risky | Safe on MasokoLink |
|---|---|---|
| Where money goes | Seller's wallet | Escrow account |
| If item is wrong | Your problem | Open a dispute |
| Proof of deal | Chat screenshots | Order record |
Shop with confidence
Browse thousands of verified sellers, every order protected by escrow.
Start shopping safely