5 Campus Buying and Selling Scams (and How Escrow Stops Them)

If you trade on campus long enough, you will see these.

1. Pay-before-delivery

"Send the money, I will bring it now." Then nothing arrives. Escrow kills this: the seller is only paid after you confirm.

2. Fake transfer receipt

A screenshot that says "paid" is not paid. With escrow, the release comes from the platform, not a photo.

3. Too-good price

A brand-new laptop at half price is usually bait. Inspect in person before any release.

4. Pressure to meet alone at night

Real sellers are fine with a public, daytime handoff. If someone insists on a lonely spot, that is a red flag.

5. "Release now, complain later"

A seller who asks you to confirm before you inspect is asking you to drop your protection. Do not.

The one habit that defeats all five: never release payment until the item is in your hands and checked. Gali escrow makes that the default.