$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
Craigslist fake buyer shipping label scam
A buyer offers to send a prepaid shipping label for a Craigslist item, but the label is fraudulent or routes the package to the wrong address, leaving the seller without the item or payment.
“online shopping scam”
↑ 184%Key indicators
Usually targetsOnline sellers
Often hitsSmall business owners
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$80
median reported loss
Typical range$16 – $800
Recovery rate~40%
Annual reports370,000
Scam breakdown
1
The scammer contacts a Craigslist seller and agrees to purchase an item, offering to send a prepaid shipping label for convenience.
2
The label may be purchased with a stolen credit card, created fraudulently, or route the package to a different address than expected.
3
When the credit card owner disputes the charge, the shipping label is voided or the carrier seeks payment from the seller. The scammer has the item.
What to do first
For Craigslist, prefer local cash transactions — if you must ship, create and pay for the label yourself.
Related terms
fake shipping label scamprepaid label fraudOnline shopping scamsCraigslistSurgingOnline sellersAdultsSmall business ownersCreators and online sellersReal estate professionals and homebuyersUnited StatesCanadafake shipping label scamprepaid label fraud
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Robert, 35, a online sellers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate online shopping scams situation while using Craigslist. The scammer contacts a Craigslist seller and agrees to purchase an item, offering to send a prepaid shipping label for convenience.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: The label may be purchased with a stolen credit card, created fraudulently, or route the package to a different address than expected.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: When the credit card owner disputes the charge, the shipping label is voided or the carrier seeks payment from the seller. The scammer has the item.
The outcome
Robert realized something was wrong when buyer insists on providing their own shipping label rather than letting you handle shipping. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
For Craigslist, prefer local cash transactions — if you must ship, create and pay for the label yourself. Robert's experience shows why buyer insists on providing their own shipping label rather than letting you handle shipping and buyer overpays and asks you to refund the difference after shipping are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Buyer insists on providing their own shipping label rather than letting you handle shipping
- Buyer overpays and asks you to refund the difference after shipping
- The shipping label routes the package to a different address than the buyer provided
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓For Craigslist, prefer local cash transactions — if you must ship, create and pay for the label yourself.
- ✓Never accept shipping labels from buyers — you lose all control and tracking ability.
- ✓If a transaction feels wrong, trust your instincts and decline the sale.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
- ✓Preserve the listing ID, reservation ID, or the exact item URL because platform support will usually ask for it.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- The USPS Postal Inspection Service and FTC have warned about fake or fraudulently purchased shipping labels used in marketplace scams.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓For Craigslist, prefer local cash transactions — if you must ship, create and pay for the label yourself.
- ✓Never accept shipping labels from buyers — you lose all control and tracking ability.
- ✓If a transaction feels wrong, trust your instincts and decline the sale.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
The USPS Postal Inspection Service and FTC have warned about fake or fraudulently purchased shipping labels used in marketplace scams.
FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Online sellers, Adults
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada
Primary channel
Craigslist — Online shopping scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Online sellers are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The rapid increase in reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- The USPS Postal Inspection Service and FTC have warned about fake or fraudulently purchased shipping labels used in marketplace scams.
Source notes
- FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about craigslist fake buyer shipping label scam
How does the craigslist fake buyer shipping label scam work?+
The scammer contacts a Craigslist seller and agrees to purchase an item, offering to send a prepaid shipping label for convenience. The label may be purchased with a stolen credit card, created fraudulently, or route the package to a different address than expected. When the credit card owner disputes the charge, the shipping label is voided or the carrier seeks payment from the seller. The scammer has the item.
What are the warning signs of craigslist fake buyer shipping label scam?+
Buyer insists on providing their own shipping label rather than letting you handle shipping Buyer overpays and asks you to refund the difference after shipping The shipping label routes the package to a different address than the buyer provided
What should I do if I encounter craigslist fake buyer shipping label scam?+
For Craigslist, prefer local cash transactions — if you must ship, create and pay for the label yourself. Never accept shipping labels from buyers — you lose all control and tracking ability. If a transaction feels wrong, trust your instincts and decline the sale.
Who is most at risk for craigslist fake buyer shipping label scam?+
This scam primarily targets Online sellers, Adults. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada and typically appears on Craigslist.
Is craigslist fake buyer shipping label scam getting worse?+
Craigslist fake buyer shipping label scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US, CA. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.