Poshmark Scams You Need to Watch Out in 2026

Deal with scammers the Posh way.

Many resellers find selling on Poshmark fun, and we totally get them: they can follow other Poshers (sellers, but some are also buyers),  post Posh Stories, get trend reports so they can sell what’s hot, and a bunch of other cool features. 

But alas, even a perfect platform can’t escape from having terrible people coming in and coming after your stuff or money through scams. A new report stated online marketplaces losing an average of $10M to fraud every year and unfortunately, Poshmark isn't safe from that. 

If Poshmark isn’t safe from scams, should you be alarmed? Yes. Should you stop selling on Poshmark? No.

Poshmark takes its security measures very seriously, but knowing what scams  go around that platform can make your selling experience a safe one.  Here we discuss common Poshmark scams, how to detect them, and more importantly, how not to be a victim. Too late, already fell for a scam? We cover how to get out of one. 

Posh Protect and Seller Protection

Poshmark does its part in making the platform relatively safe to use. Posh Protect covers items with undisclosed damage, incorrect or missing items, wrong item description or counterfeits for buyers.  Sellers, on the other hand, get protected with its strict return policies that make sure there’s really a problem with the item before they approve a return and refund. For expensive items, sellers need to ship the item to Poshmark first to undergo Posh Authenticate before the platform ships it to the buyer. 

When a buyer files for a return claim under Posh Protect and does not follow-up within the three-day window, the amount for the item gets released to the seller. Both buyers and dwellers are adequately protected by the platform.

Common Poshmark Scams for Sellers

But scammers do really find their way around to get other people’s money! Scammers regularly update their scamming toolkit, so you should be on the watch for both old and new scam tactics. Here are some of them:

Counterfeit scams

This scam happens to sellers selling luxury items. While Poshmark makes sure items over $500 go through Posh Authenticate (where Poshmark’s own team of experts validate the authenticity of an item before selling it), sellers can get scammed when items below $400 are returned.

The modus: Buyer orders an expensive item, then files a claim saying it was fake. Buyer returns item, seller receives a fake item indeed (which was not what seller initially sent the buyer). The buyer keeps the original item.

How to prevent this scam: Though this step is not a 100% sure way you can recover your item, taking high-resolution photos of the item before you ship it and once you receive the item returned may help your case. Take photos on all angles: top, bottom, sides, interior. Pay attention to serial numbers, logos and other identifying features. For Posh Authenticated items, sellers are less likely to be scammed this way

A similar scam is claiming item has undisclosed damage. In general, scams like these are often called “bait and switch”. Again, you can protect yourself by disclosing all flaws beforehand, taking detailed photos, and being consistent in communicating with your buyer. Save.All.Conversations!

Communicating off-platform

“Do you have a WhatsApp because Poshmark is laggy?” Bianca, a Posher since 2019, has seen this message multiple times. She’s received these kinds of messages on her crosll-listed platforms.  Any variation of trying to exchange messages off-platform is a scam. When negotiations about orders are made outside of Poshmark, both buyers and sellers aren’t protected. 

The modus: Asking seller to communicate on other platforms instead of in-app messaging

How to prevent this scam: Refuse to discuss stuff outside Poshmark.  “It’s better to lose a sale than potentially get your Posher account banned”, shares Bianca.

Fraud Payments

Fraud payments range from sending edited proof of payments, fake Poshmark emails asking you to pay through the link, and chargeback fraud. These elaborate scams often fool inexperienced buyers and sellers, letting them get away with your money, your item, or both.

Fake proof of transactions-the modus: Buyer sends a proof of transaction that does  not match any transactions on the app.

How to prevent: Make sure all transactions go through the app, with transaction numbers matching from both buyer and seller.

Fake Poshmark email modus: Scammer send as spoof email that is either of the following:

• Has a fake address (like p0shmark.com with an “0” instead of an “O”)
• Prompts you to change password because of a hacking attack (there’s none in actual)
• Outlines processing and maintenance issues and ask you to pay via other online payment platforms

How to prevent: 

• Delete suspicious emails.
• Double-check before clicking any links inside emails. Ideally, check the email address for any discrepancies, like misspellings.
• Keep payment transactions inside the platform. 

Chargeback fraud modus: Buyer claims unauthorized transactions right after the order, when the bank is still in the process of clearing payment to Poshmark.  The buyer gets both the item and money back.

How to prevent: 

• Document all conversations with the buyer. 
• Ship with tracking and signature confirmation only.
• Take photos of the item before shipping, including the shipping label.

Scams for Buyers

Scams may still happen for buyers inside the Poshmark platforms, despite its stringent rules. Here are some of these scams.

• Counterfeit items: Sellers ship near-perfect replicas of the item, especially for lower-value items that don’t require Posh Authenticate
• False descriptions: Intentionally omits flaws in the descriptions or says other things (e.g., a skirt with two layers of inner lining when in fact there’s only one)
• Missing items from bundles: Poshmark allows bundling for better sales. Missing items robs the buyer outright.
• Shops with fake followers and fake reviews: Lots of followers does not immediately translate to good service. Be wary of shops with only good reviews, and no negative feedback in the comments.

Signs to Watch Out For

You need to stop ignoring the signs when your gut tells something is wrong. Here are common signs that may cause  alarm bells to ring (and scams to happen):

Asking for payment on other platforms

When a buyer or seller asks to pay through another payment method, run. Using other payment methods that are not authorized by Poshmark voids both seller protection and Posh Protect.

New accounts

We all have been new before, but users who are a few days old without a clear profile photo, information, and other characteristics pointing to a dummy account, chances are you might be dealing with scammers. 

Urgent request to checkout or ship

Ignoring Poshmark’s rules on checking out or shipping  are signs of an ongoing scam. A buyer may urge a seller to ship ASAP without the payment confirmation. On the other hand, a seller may threaten to ship an item to another buyer if you wouldn’t check it out within a given amount of time.

Items that are too cheap or too expensive

Scam sellers may offer an item with a ridiculously cheap price to lure buyers. Others price a secondhand item which is too close to the original price when flaws and signs of usage exist. Veer away from those sellers and buyers.

Poorly worded “official” communications

We don’t want to be grammar nazis, but a poorly worded and punctuated email supposedly from Poshmark is a dead giveaway that it’s a scam. Scammers often employ people from overseas whose second language is English, and their communication shows signs of lack of mastery.

Scammed on Poshmark?  4 Steps to Take

What if you get scammed on Poshmark? Here’s how to take action the right way.

1. Gather all evidence you can: screenshots of items, conversations, payment transactions, etc.
2. Stop communicating with the scammers. They can really be persuasive and may cause you to give out sensitive information. At the first time of suspicion, immediately stop messaging.
3. Get the tracking details. Secure the tracking numbers, notifications regarding delivery, estimated time of arrival (ETA).
4. Get video evidence: As a seller, taking videos of packing an order and shipping them can be good evidence against someone trying to scam you. For buyers, a video of the unboxing helps your case better should you file a claim.
5. File a claim. If you are indeed scammed, file a claim with Poshmark. This may range from several days to a week to resolve, so having a lot of patience helps a lot. Providing them with evidences is your best bet for a resolution that favors you.

Scams can happen to both parties.

Sellers and buyers are both vulnerable to scams, and these are not limited exclusively to Poshmark users. Still, most Poshers are honest and just enjoy reselling as a hobby or as a full-time job.  

Scams can be stopped early on its tracks once Poshmark’s rules are followed by both buyer and seller. Off-platform transactions are still one of the leading scams in online reselling platforms and must be avoided entirely.

Still, Poshers can buy and sell with ease when they follow Poshmark’s rules and terms of conditions as Poshmark keeps updating its policies for everyone’s safety.