Is OfferUp a Scam?

If you’re thinking of using OfferUp, you need to know whether it’s safe. Is OfferUp a scam? 

Below, we explain whether OfferUp is a scam and discuss some steps you can take to improve your safety when using this peer-to-peer marketplace app. 

What Is OfferUp?

OfferUp is an online marketplace app where users can buy and sell items locally, including electronics, home items, clothing, vehicles, toys, collectibles, art, pet supplies, and more. 

It operates primarily in the US and is similar to Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. The main difference is that it works through an app only. 

Buyers and sellers can message each other directly through the app. 

OfferUp merged with LetGo in 2020. 

Is OfferUp a Scam?

OfferUp is a legitimate peer-to-peer marketplace app, but like any other similar marketplace, it can be exploited by scammers.

User reviews of OfferUp are mixed as of this writing:

• 1.1 out of 5.0 stars (from over 1,600 reviews) on Trustpilot.
• 1.4 out of 5.0 stars (from over 850 reviews) on Sitejabber.
• 1.5 out of 5.0 stars (from over 1,000 reviews) on Trustindex.
• 1.11 out of 5.0 stars (from over 90 reviews) on Better Business Bureau. 
• 4.4 out of 5.0 stars (from over 1.2 million ratings) on Google Play.
• 4.8 out of 5.0 stars (from over 4.4 million ratings) on the App Store. 

Positive reviews say that it’s easy to place ads on OfferUp. Several users praise the user-friendly experience. 

Negative reviews claim that the app has become almost unusable due to the number of ads and pop-ups being shown and that customer support is essentially non-existent. 

Several users allege that they were charged without clear confirmation and that the “free” posting experience isn’t actually free. 

Others describe scams, and one person reports that a user showed up at their house without being given the address. 

On online forums like Reddit, people report mainly negative experiences with OfferUp.

Individuals say that the interface is poor and that the platform seems to have gone downhill ever since OfferUp merged with LetGo. 

One person writes:

“I have used offer up, and it’s fine, but don’t expect it to drastically increase your sales. It’s Facebook marketplace with 10% of the people, and most of those people are already on marketplace. Plus, it can be even harder to tell legitimate accounts from scam accounts. It’s also just harder to navigate since you can’t see the price isn’t visible until you click on the image.” 

Most sellers on OfferUp say they’re frustrated with receiving extremely lowball offers for items that are already priced at a competitive price. 

Ghosting and no-shows also seem to be a problem.

Buyers allege poor experiences, saying that sellers don’t respond or mark prices up right before a meeting. 

OfferUp is Better Business Bureau-accredited and holds an “A-” rating as of this writing. BBB ratings are a reflection of how the BBB thinks a company interacts with its customers. 

At the time of writing, OfferUp has received a total of 495 complaints on the BBB site in the last three years, 97 of which have been closed in the past 12 months. 

Complaints center around being banned for no apparent reason, billing and subscription issues (mainly users not realizing their subscription would renew or that they were converted from a free trial), and, in one case, even a real-world scammer who was allegedly a verified OfferUp seller. Additionally, some people complain about ID verification, calling the practice a privacy intrusion. 

OfferUp security 

In its privacy policy, OfferUp briefly describes its security measures.

It says it “takes reasonable measures” to protect your information. 

The company also states that it limits the amount of your personally identifiable information it shares with third parties, noting that usually, any information it does share is aggregated or anonymized. 

In cases where it shares identifiable data, it says it takes steps to make sure that the third parties protect it to the same level as OfferUp. 

OfferUp states that when you make payments to OfferUp, it is Stripe, and not OfferUp, that processes the financial information you provide, like your bank account information, debit card number, Social Security number, and government ID. 

OfferUp privacy

OfferUp explains in its privacy policy the kind of data it collects, why, and with whom it shares it.

It states that it may collect: 

• Information you provide directly (e.g., name, email address, phone number, address, photos, messages, government IDs).
• Automatically collected data (e.g., browser type, IP address, device info, and location (with consent)).
• Data from third parties like social media platforms and Stripe.
• Inferences about your interests and behavior from your activity.

The company uses this data to verify accounts and your identity, personalize your experience, detect fraud, resolve disputes, run analytics, market to you, and target you with ads both on and off the platform. It also uses it for legal compliance and to improve the service overall.

OfferUp may share your information with service providers, advertising partners (though not your direct contact information, just pseudonymized identifiers and inferred interests), and law enforcement or legal processes when required. It may also share it during mergers or acquisitions, or with affiliated companies.

It notes that your listings and profile information may be visible to others when you post items.

The company uses cookies and other tracking technologies to personalize ads shown to you, which may follow you across other websites. Partners may collect browsing and device data, and your hashed email may be used for ad targeting.

You can opt out via your app privacy settings, website account settings, and device settings.

When it comes to privacy rights, you can update or delete your account, revoke location tracking consent, manage cookie preferences, and opt out of promotional communications. 

Depending on where you live, you may also be able to take advantage of state-specific privacy rights. 

So, Should You Use OfferUp?

Depends.

OfferUp may be a good option if you want to sell locally and fast and you’re comfortable screening buyers or sellers.

It may not be the best fit if you don’t like dealing with flaky buyers or negotiating, expect strong customer support, or you’re uncomfortable with identity verification. 

How to Use OfferUp Safely and Privately 

• Verify users before meeting them. Check their profiles, ratings, and verification badges, as some users have reported finding it difficult to tell legitimate accounts apart from scam ones.  
• Don’t share your home address. Meet in public places instead to ensure your safety and privacy. 
• Confirm fees and subscriptions. This can help you avoid unexpected charges or auto-renewals.
• Keep records of all transactions and agreements. These can come in handy in case there are any disputes or billing issues.
• Don’t overshare in listings and messages. Posts and profile information may be visible to other users.
• Be careful with photos. Don’t upload photos that could reveal sensitive information (like home addresses, license plates, or personal documents) because images you post are collected and publicly associated with listings.
• Keep all communications in-app. This helps you keep records and avoids exposing your phone number or personal contact details unnecessarily.
• Review privacy and ad settings. Adjust advertising preferences and privacy settings in your OfferUp account and also on your device to reduce targeted ads and data sharing with advertising partners.
• Control location access. Turn off precise location permissions if you don’t need them. 
• Make sure you’re comfortable with identity programs before sharing IDs. Only participate in identity verification programs (like TruYou) if you are comfortable sharing government-issued ID and understand why it is requested.
• Manage cookies and other tracking technologies. Clear or block cookies in your browser if you want to limit tracking technologies that OfferUp uses for analytics and personalized advertising.
• Avoid linking your social media accounts to your OfferUp profile. OfferUp may access profile details and friend lists from those platforms.
• Delete your OfferUp account. There’s no reason to keep it if you’re no longer using the service.
• Review Stripe’s privacy policy. Stripe, not OfferUp, handles your payment information. 
• Exercise your privacy rights. Depending on where you live, you may have additional privacy rights, like the right to access, correct, and delete your data.