With the booming popularity of online fashion marketplaces like Poshmark, it’s never been easier to snag designer pieces at discounted prices or sell your gently-used clothing for extra cash. However, with convenience comes potential risk. Despite its strong community and security measures, scammers still try to exploit unaware users on Poshmark. To protect yourself and shop with confidence, it’s important to know what red flags to look for and how to safeguard your personal information and money.
TL;DR
Poshmark is generally a safe platform, but scams do occur. Always make purchases within the app, avoid deals that attempt to redirect you to external platforms, and beware of listings that seem too good to be true. Protect yourself by verifying seller credibility, reading reviews, and understanding your rights as a buyer or seller.
1. Only Communicate and Transact Within Poshmark
The most important rule to remember is: never take conversations or transactions outside of the platform. Poshmark has a secure purchasing and shipping process designed to protect both buyers and sellers. If someone asks you to email them, pay via PayPal, or use another app, it’s a major red flag.
Examples of phrases to watch out for:
- “Email me for a better deal.”
- “I can ship it today if you pay through Venmo.”
- “Let’s take this off the app to avoid fees.”
Once you operate outside Poshmark, you lose all platform protections. If the deal sounds suspicious or too good to be true, it likely is.
2. Watch Out for Fake Listings
While many sellers are trustworthy, some scammers create entirely fake listings, often plagiarized from other merchants or with photos taken from websites like Pinterest or Google Images.
How to spot them:
- Prices that are significantly below market value for high-end brands
- Stock photos instead of actual photos of the item
- Vague descriptions or inconsistent sizing information
You should also look for Poshmark’s authentication tag on listings over $500. Poshmark includes free authentication for luxury items, so if a Chanel bag is listed at $200 without authentication, it’s likely a scam.
3. Never Share Personal or Financial Information
Scammers may try to extract sensitive information like your full name, address, phone number, or payment details by posing as legitimate buyers or sellers. Remember, Poshmark already provides the necessary logistical info within the platform for shipping purposes.
You should never have to provide:
- Credit card numbers directly to users
- Your personal email address
- Photos of receipts or IDs
Keep all transactions and interactions within the app’s secure environment to avoid identity theft or financial loss.
4. Verify Seller and Buyer Ratings
Before making a purchase, take a moment to check the seller’s profile. Look for positive reviews, number of completed sales, and engagement with their listings (such as quick response to comments).
If a seller:
- Has no reviews or profile picture
- Joined very recently
- Is selling only luxury or big-ticket items
…they may not be trustworthy.
Image not found in postmetaA tip for sellers: Also verify buyers, particularly if you’re selling expensive items. Check their ratings and consider extra precautions like photographing the item’s condition and packaging before shipping.
5. Avoid Overly Complicated Deals
Scammers often use confusion as a tactic. A “buyer” might ask to trade items, split payments across multiple sources, or request send-back to a different address. These convoluted arrangements are intentionally risky.
If a transaction feels complex or non-standard, take a step back. Poshmark’s policies are straightforward—one item, one buyer, one payment through the app. Stick to them. Deals involving exchanges, third parties, or cash apps are not covered under Poshmark’s Buyer Protection policy and should be avoided.
6. Use the “Report Listing” Feature
If you spot a suspicious item or user, don’t ignore it—report it using the built-in “Report Listing” or “Report User” options. This helps Poshmark identify repeat offenders and protect the community.
You can report listings for reasons such as:
- Prohibited items (counterfeits, replicas, etc.)
- Fraudulent or inappropriate behavior
- Spam or scam attempts
Poshmark’s moderators work diligently to remove fraudulent users and listings once notified. Helping report bad actors strengthens the entire marketplace.
7. Inspect the Item Carefully Upon Arrival
When your item arrives, do not mark it as “Accept” until you’ve inspected it. This is your final layer of protection. Poshmark holds the buyer’s funds in escrow until the order is accepted (or automatically after three days).
Once accepted, you can’t open a dispute unless the item is significantly not as described. Take photos and video when you open high-value packages, especially in cases of:
- Damaged items
- Incorrect sizing or color
- Counterfeit products
If you find a problem, open a case within the app immediately. Poshmark will require photos and an explanation to investigate and refund your money when appropriate.
8. Familiarize Yourself with Poshmark’s Policies
Being informed is one of the best ways to prevent getting scammed. Poshmark provides clear policies about buyer and seller responsibilities, returns, shipping, and appropriate conduct.
Review Poshmark’s:
Knowledge is power. The more you understand about how transactions and disputes are handled, the better you can protect yourself.
9. Recognize the Signs of a Phishing Scam
Some scams don’t even come from within the app—they come to your email inbox. Be on alert for phishing emails pretending to be from Poshmark. These are designed to steal your login credentials or personal information.
Warning signs of phishing:
- Emails asking you to click a link to “verify your account”
- Messages with poor grammar or suspicious sender addresses
- Emails promising rewards or urgent security alerts
Always check if emails come from @poshmark.com and never enter your information on links you don’t trust. When in doubt, visit the app or website directly rather than clicking on email links.
Final Thoughts
Poshmark can be a fantastic community for fashion lovers and resellers—but like any online marketplace, it’s not immune to scams. With informed, careful practices, you can enjoy a secure and rewarding shopping or selling experience.
Here’s a quick recap to stay safe:
- Keep all purchases and communication within the app
- Be wary of too-good-to-be-true deals or users asking for personal info
- Check seller/buyer ratings and reviews
- Inspect items before accepting and open disputes promptly
- Use Poshmark’s tools to report scams and review their policies regularly
By staying vigilant and informed, you can confidently enjoy everything the Poshmark platform has to offer—without getting caught off guard by scams.
