The five most common scam patterns
1) "I’ll send a courier and pay extra" — the courier never arrives, the money never lands. 2) "Wire money now and I’ll ship it" — the item never exists. 3) "Post it and I’ll pay through this link" — the link is a phishing page. 4) "Overpay-and-refund" — fake bank confirmation, real cash sent back. 5) Fake escrow — a made-up escrow site that’s actually just the scammer’s wallet.
Red flags in the message
Vague opening ("is this still available?" and nothing else), poor grammar, offers well above asking, requests to move to WhatsApp or email, urgency ("I need it today, wire now"), refusal to view in person, and pressure to "help a family member" collect. Any two of these together and it’s almost certainly a scam.
Red flags in the listing
Photos that look stolen from a manufacturer’s website, prices well below market, no location, generic descriptions with no specifics about condition or history, and refusal to provide extra photos on request.
How to verify a listing quickly
Reverse-search one of the photos on Google Images — if it appears on 20 other sites, walk away. Ask the seller to include today’s date on a note in a new photo. Genuine sellers do this within an hour; scammers vanish.
Never do these things
Never pay before you see the item in person. Never accept a courier arrangement for a private local trade. Never move to email or WhatsApp before a real meeting is confirmed. Never share your PPS number, banking password or full home address.
How to report and block
On Lemown, use the Report action inside chat or on the listing. Moderators review the reported conversation and can suspend abusers. Blocking a user hides your listings from them and prevents any further contact. Read our safe ways to buy and sell.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to buy second-hand in Ireland?
Yes, if you follow the basics: view in person, pay locally in cash or same-room bank transfer, and never wire money to a stranger.
Does Lemown reimburse me if I get scammed?
No. Lemown doesn’t process payments — they flow directly between buyer and seller — which is precisely why meeting in person is so important. That said, we investigate every report we receive.
What should I do if I already sent money to a scammer?
Contact your bank immediately to stop the transfer if you can, then file a report with An Garda Síochána and report the profile inside Lemown so we can investigate and prevent others being caught.
