Overpayment and Refund Tricks in WhatsApp Sales
A buyer 'accidentally' overpays and asks for the difference back. The original payment was fake or reversed. How overpayment and refund tricks target sellers on WhatsApp.
You are selling something on WhatsApp. The buyer pays, but "by mistake" sends too much. They apologise and ask you to send back the difference. It feels like the honest thing to do. But the original payment was fake, reversed or never real.
How the trick works
- The buyer sends a payment that is larger than the price, or claims to.
- The "payment" is a fake screenshot, a fake SMS alert, a cheque that will bounce, or a transfer from a stolen account that will be reversed.
- You send the "extra" back from your own money.
- The original payment disappears. You lose the refund, and sometimes the item too.
How to protect yourself
- Check your balance in your own banking or mobile money app. Ignore screenshots and SMS alerts from unknown senders. See fake payment screenshots.
- Never refund an overpayment yourself. Ask your bank or provider to reverse it.
- Do not hand over the item until the exact amount has cleared.
"Wrong transfer" messages also arrive without any sale at all. See mobile money scams.
Related: overpayment cheque scams and refund scams. For more, see our guide to WhatsApp scams.
Frequently asked questions
The money shows in my account. Is it safe to refund?
Not necessarily. Some payments can be reversed later, and cheques can bounce days after they appear. Check with your bank or provider before sending anything back.
Someone says they sent me mobile money by mistake. What should I do?
Check your actual balance in your mobile money app. If money did arrive, contact your provider to reverse it rather than sending it yourself.
The buyer sent a screenshot of the payment. Is that proof?
No. Screenshots and fake SMS alerts are easy to create.
Sources
- How To Spot, Avoid, and Report Fake Check Scams, US Federal Trade Commission
- Mobile Payment Apps: How To Avoid a Scam When You Use One, US Federal Trade Commission
- About suspicious messages and scams, WhatsApp Help Center
