Deposit-to-Hold-Item Scam
A 'seller' asks for a deposit to hold a popular item for you — then vanishes with the deposit and never delivers.
Think a message like this reached you? You can check it right now.
What this scam is
You find a great deal on a phone, car, apartment, or ticket and the seller claims many people are interested, so you must send a deposit to reserve it. Once you send the deposit by app, they disappear or keep asking for more. There is usually no item; the scarcity and competition are invented to rush your payment. Legitimate private sales rarely require a deposit to an unmet stranger.
What it usually looks like
- A great deal with 'lots of interest' pressure.
- A request for a deposit to 'hold' or 'reserve' it.
- Payment by an irreversible app before you see the item.
- Excuses for why you cannot meet or view first.
Common warning signs
- Deposits to strangers you have not met.
- Manufactured competition and urgency.
- Reluctance to meet or show the item in person.
- Requests for more money after the deposit.
Example wording scammers use
“Five people want it — send a $100 deposit to hold it for you and I'll stop showing it.”
“To reserve the apartment, Zelle the deposit today; keys after.”
These are illustrative examples written by ScamSplain, not real messages.
What the scammers want
- A quick deposit for an item that may not exist.
- To exploit fear of losing the deal.
- More payments after the first.
What to do
- Do not send deposits to unmet sellers.
- Insist on seeing the item in person before paying.
- Use in-person cash for local deals; meet in safe places.
- Walk away from manufactured urgency.
What to do if you already responded
- Contact your payment app to try to reverse the deposit.
- Keep the listing and messages.
- Report at reportfraud.ftc.gov.