How to Avoid Scams When Buying or Selling Worn Underwear

Most people buying and selling worn underwear, socks and clothing are genuine. But like any marketplace where money and privacy are involved, it attracts a few people trying their luck. The good news is that most scams follow the same handful of patterns, and once you know them they’re easy to spot.

This guide covers the scams that come up most often, the warning signs, and the habits that keep both buyers and sellers safe.

Scams that target sellers

Sellers are usually the ones who send something first, so they’re the main target.

• Fake payment screenshots: a “buyer” sends a picture of a payment that never arrived and asks you to post the item straight away.
• “I’ve overpaid, please refund the difference”: the original payment bounces or is reversed, and you’re left out of pocket for the refund.
• Payment-later promises: “I’ll pay as soon as it arrives” or “my payment’s on the way, just post it now”.
• Time-wasters: long, pushy conversations that never turn into an order, often fishing for free photos.
• Requests to move off-site straight away, where there’s no record of what was agreed.

The golden rule for sellers: only post or start an order once the money is actually in your account. Check your own payment app or bank, never a screenshot.

Scams that target buyers

Buyers face a different set of risks, mostly around paying for something that never comes.

• Fake sellers who use stolen photos and disappear once they’re paid.
• Sellers who take payment, then go quiet and never post.
• Pressure to pay quickly “before someone else buys it”.
• Requests to pay in ways that are hard to trace or impossible to get back.

Before you pay anyone, look at their history: how long they’ve been around, what reviews they have, and whether their listings and replies feel consistent and genuine.

Red flags to look out for

Whether you’re buying or selling, slow down if you notice any of these:

• Brand-new profiles with no reviews pushing for a big order.
• Urgency, pressure or guilt-tripping to make you act fast.
• A story that keeps changing, or excuses about why the usual way of paying “won’t work”.
• Requests for personal details you don’t need to share, like your real name, workplace or social media.
• Anyone who gets angry when you say no or ask a reasonable question.

Habits that keep you safe

• Keep conversations in the site’s private messages, so there’s always a record of what was agreed.
• Agree everything up front: the item, the price, postage and timing.
• Use a separate email and payment account for selling, kept apart from your personal ones (see our guide to staying safe and keeping your privacy).
• Never send money or items to anyone who pressures you.
• Leave honest reviews, good and bad. They protect everyone who comes after you.

How Scent From Me helps

We built Scent From Me because these problems kept coming up elsewhere. Every member has to pass an ID and age check before they can use the site, which keeps out fake profiles and anyone under 18. Buyers and sellers can review each other, so you can see someone’s track record before you deal with them. Messages stay private on the site, and you can block or report anyone who causes problems.

Buyers pay sellers directly, and sellers only share their payment details once they’ve accepted an order, so there’s no reason for anyone to ask you to pay in a strange way or move the conversation elsewhere.

The bottom line

Scams rely on pressure and shortcuts. Take your time, keep things on the site, check reviews and never send anything until you’re paid. Do that and you’ll avoid almost every problem. If you’d like a safer place to buy and sell, join Scent From Me for free.