Anyone who uses Xianyu probably knows the feeling—there are tons of great deals on there, but there are just as many scams 😅 Sometimes, the difference between the joy of scoring a bargain and the heartbreak of getting scammed is just one wrong move.

As someone who’s been navigating Xianyu for years, today I’m going to break down those sneaky scams that are hard to guard against—and share some tips on how to avoid them.

Let’s start with the first major pitfall—bait-and-switch.

This is probably the most common scam. You come across a pair of limited-edition sneakers on Xianyu—the price is super tempting, and the photos look legit. But when you finally receive the package and take a closer look… oh boy, it’s a Putian knockoff 😱 The materials are wrong, the silhouette is off, and even the logo is crooked.

What’s the sneakiest tactic these scammers use? They steal actual product photos from others or just use official model shots. If you ask them to take a close-up, they’ll make all sorts of excuses—like “I’m out and about,” “the item’s in the warehouse,” or “my photos aren’t great; there are clearer ones online.”

A colleague of mine fell into this trap. He had his eye on a classic Burberry trench coat; the seller swore it was an authentic store-bought item with a receipt, priced at just over 2,000 yuan. When it arrived, scanning the QR code on the tag led to some random website, and comparing it to a genuine store-bought one, the fabric quality was worlds apart 😤. He was so furious he wanted to return it, but the seller immediately turned the tables and accused him of swapping the item.

How could anyone fall for this?

Actually, the solution is simple. Ask the seller to take a photo of the item right in front of you, with a small note bearing your ID number visible in the shot. This trick usually exposes scammers who are using stock photos. Also, have them show you the details—for clothes, check the care label and stitching; for shoes, inspect the side label on the box and the glue on the insole; for electronics, verify the serial number and whether the screw holes have been tampered with.

If the seller hesitates and refuses to take the photos, there’s almost certainly something wrong. Don’t hesitate—just walk away.

Now, let’s talk about fake ratings

Many people check a seller’s positive rating percentage first on Xianyu, but that metric isn’t always reliable 🤷‍♂️ Some scammers specifically buy old accounts to pull off their schemes, or hire people to flood their profiles with fake positive reviews to pose as “trustworthy sellers.”

How can you tell? Look at three key points. First, check if the content of their positive reviews is all the same. If dozens of reviews are written in exactly the same style, they’re almost certainly fake. Second, look at their transaction history. If an account that usually sells clothes suddenly starts selling bags worth tens of thousands of yuan, you should be wary of such a sudden shift in product categories. Finally, check the negative reviews. Positive reviews can be faked, but if even one negative review is genuine, it usually indicates a problem.

There’s an even more brazen one—tricking you into transacting outside the platform.

This is the kind of scam where they pull out all the stops right from the start. The seller will tell you the platform charges a fee and that transferring money directly via WeChat or Alipay will save you a bit. If you fall for it, your money is basically gone for good 💸

Because once you transfer the money outside the platform, Xianyu’s escrow service can no longer protect you. Once the scammer gets their hands on the money, they’ll block you immediately. Who are you going to complain to then?

Last year, a guy bought a PS5 on Xianyu. The seller said he’d knock 100 yuan off if he paid via WeChat, so he transferred 3,800 yuan right away to save himself the trouble. The seller took the money and vanished. When he reported it to the platform, he found out the scammer had already pulled the same trick on several other people. How tragic is that? It’s absolutely outrageous 😩

Speaking of escrow transactions, LitBuy actually does a pretty good job with this.

I’ve used LitBuy a few times myself since then, and their process is pretty solid—the money is held in escrow on the platform first, and only after you receive the item and confirm it’s in good condition is the payment released to the seller. This mechanism basically shuts down the “take the money and run” scam.

Plus, Litbuy’s warehouse inspection is pretty reliable. When the item arrives at the warehouse, they’ll take photos to show you, and if the actual item doesn’t match the description, you can return it right away. For buyers, this adds an extra layer of protection so you don’t have to worry.

There’s another pitfall many people don’t know about—face-to-face transactions can go wrong.

You think face-to-face transactions are safe? You’re naive. Once, I bought a used lens on Xianyu and arranged to meet the seller at a subway station. I shone my phone’s flashlight on it—the lens looked fine, so I paid up. When I got home and tested it on my camera, I set the aperture to its smallest setting and held it up to a light—and there it was: mold growing inside the lens 🙃

It wasn’t until later that I realized the seller had deliberately chosen a dimly lit spot for the meetup and kept distracting me with small talk the whole time. You’ve got to admit, that person was pretty slick—they pulled off that scam with such finesse.

I’ve definitely learned my lesson now. Whenever I meet someone in person to buy electronics, I always bring a power bank or meet somewhere with an outlet so I can power it on and test it right there. When buying a lens, always bring a small flashlight and inspect it carefully from every angle against the light. Don’t be afraid of the hassle—spending 5 minutes checking it is way better than spending 2 hours arguing later.

Now for the practical tips: I’ve compiled a list of common scams and how to avoid them:

Finally, a few words from the heart

Xianyu really is a great place—you can find plenty of treasures there that you can’t get anywhere else. But just like any secondhand market, no matter how good the item is, you still have to keep your eyes peeled 👀

To sum it up, here are a few golden rules: Never transfer money privately; don’t buy from sellers who won’t send detailed photos; don’t meet in person to pick up large electronic items; and always record an unboxing video when you receive the package. If you follow these rules, your chances of getting scammed will drop by at least 80%.

Oh, and one more thing: always choose SF Express for shipping. I’m not advertising for them—it’s just that they’re damn reliable 😤. Once, a seller sent something via regular mail, and it arrived completely shattered. The seller even blamed me for not recording an unboxing video, and it took half a month to resolve the issue. Since then, I’ve only trusted SF Express for in-person unboxing.

Alright, that’s all I’ve got to say for today. I hope this post helps you avoid a few pitfalls and lets you happily scavenge for bargains on Xianyu (just kidding).

If you’ve had any experiences getting scammed, feel free to share them below so we can all steer clear of those pitfalls together 💪