How to Spot an Online Scam in Pakistan

Common warning signs

• Only accepts advance bank transfer. A seller who refuses cash on delivery, and insists you pay in full before they ship anything, is the single most common pattern in reports filed on this platform.
• Prices well below market rate. If the same product sells elsewhere for significantly more, treat the discount as a red flag rather than a deal.
• No verifiable address or store history. A legitimate business can usually point to a physical location, a consistent posting history, or a paper trail — a page created weeks ago with no track record can't.
• Reviews that look manufactured. Watch for comments that are generic, repetitive, or all posted within the same few days — a common sign of purchased engagement.
• Artificial urgency. Countdown timers, "only 2 left", or discounts that reset every time you revisit the page are pressure tactics designed to stop you from checking further.
• Payment to a personal account. Being asked to transfer money to an individual's bank account or mobile wallet, rather than a registered business account, makes the payment much harder to trace or dispute.
• No real customer support. If the only way to reach the seller is a personal WhatsApp number or Instagram DM, with no order tracking or support channel, there's nowhere to go if something goes wrong.

What to check before you pay

• Search the seller's handle in the ScamAlert.pk directory and unresolved cases before ordering.
• Ask for cash on delivery. A seller who refuses it outright, with no clear reason, is worth a second look.
• Search the exact product name alongside the seller's handle to see if anyone has already reported an issue.
• Start with a small order rather than a large one if you haven't bought from the seller before.

If you've already been scammed

Document what you have — order details, payment proof, and any messages with the seller — and file a report on ScamAlert.pk. Reported sellers get a 72-hour window to respond before the report becomes part of the public record, so other buyers can see it before they order.