I still remember the first time I almost lost $400 on Depop. I was hunting for a vintage Vivienne Westwood orb necklace—the kind that usually goes for $500+. I found a listing for $250. My heart started racing. The seller had zero reviews, but the photos looked real, and the description was detailed.
I messaged them. They replied instantly: "Hey! I can do $220 if you pay me via Venmo. Depop fees are just too high."
It made sense. We both save money, right? I opened Venmo. My thumb was hovering over the "Pay" button when a gut feeling stopped me. I went back to the listing and did a reverse image search. That "unique" photo was actually stolen from a Japanese Mercari listing from three years ago. If I had sent that Venmo, my money would have vanished into the ether.
Depop is an incredible place to find fashion gold, but in 2025, it has also become a playground for sophisticated scammers. If you are scrolling through listings and asking is depop legit, the answer is yes—but only if you know the rules. It’s a digital thrift store, not Amazon, and there are sharks in the water.
The "Off-App" Trap: The #1 Way People Lose Money
When people ask can you get scammed on depop, the answer is almost always linked to one mistake: leaving the app.
The Pitch
Scammers know that Depop fees (10% + processing) are annoying. They use this shared pain to manipulate you.
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The Buyer Scam: "I can't checkout on the app for some reason. Can I Zelle you?"
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The Seller Scam: "I'll give you free shipping if you pay me on CashApp."
The Reality
Once you send money via Venmo, CashApp, or Zelle (Friends & Family), that money is treated like cash. It is gone.
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What happens if you get scammed on depop this way? Nothing. Depop Support will tell you that because the transaction happened off-platform, they cannot help you. You basically handed cash to a stranger in a parking lot and walked away.
My Honest Failure: I once let a buyer convince me to chat on Instagram because "Depop notifications weren't working." We chatted for two days. I built a rapport. Then they sent a fake PayPal confirmation email. I shipped the item. The money never appeared. Lesson: If they can't chat on Depop, they aren't a serious buyer.
The "Google Voice" Identity Theft
Here's where it gets interesting... sometimes they aren't after your money; they are after your digital identity.
How it Works
You list an item. Within seconds, you get a message: "I'm interested! But I've been scammed before. Can I text you a 6-digit code to verify you are a real person?"
The Scam
They are trying to set up a Google Voice number using your phone number as the verification anchor.
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They trigger the code from Google.
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You receive it and text it to them.
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They claim the Google Voice number.
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They use that number to scam other people, masking their identity with yours.
Opinion Statement: If anyone asks for a "code" to prove you are real, block them immediately. No legitimate platform requires you to verify your humanity to a random user.
Depop Scamming 2.0: The "Fake Sale" Email
This is the most dangerous scam for new sellers in 2025 because it looks incredibly professional.
The Setup
You list your first item. You get a DM: "I just bought your item! Check your email for the shipping label." You check your email. You see a message from no-reply-depop-sold@gmail.com (or similar) saying: "ITEM SOLD! Please ship to receive your funds."
The Catch
Real Depop emails come from @depop.com.
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The Check: Open the Depop app. Go to your "Sold" items tab (the receipt icon).
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The Rule: If the item does not say "SOLD" inside the app, it has not sold.
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The Consequence: If you ship the item based on the email alone, you are giving your item away for free.
I use Closo to automate cross-listing my inventory to Poshmark and eBay – saves me about 3 hours weekly – because knowing that my items are synced across platforms helps me spot these "fake sales" faster. If Closo doesn't show the item as sold, I know the email is a lie.
Is Depop Legit? (The PayPal Shift)
In late 2024/2025, Depop made a massive change: They removed PayPal as a payment option for sellers in the US and UK. You must now use "Depop Payments" (powered by Stripe).
Why this matters for scams
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Is Depop authentic? Yes, this move actually makes it safer. Depop Payments offers better protection than PayPal's "Friends & Family" loophole.
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The Confusion: Scammers will try to exploit this confusion. "Oh, I can't use Depop Payments, can we use PayPal?"
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The Answer: No. If you are in the US/UK, using PayPal off-app is a Terms of Service violation that can get you banned.
What Happens If I Get Scammed on Depop? (The Protection Plan)
If you stayed on the app and used the "Buy" button, you are safe.
Buyer Protection
Depop will refund you if:
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Item never arrives (and seller has no tracking).
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Item is "significantly not as described" (e.g., you bought a sweater and got a sock).
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Item is counterfeit.
Seller Protection
Depop protects you from "Item Not Received" claims if:
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You shipped to the address in the app.
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You used a tracked shipping method.
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You shipped within 5-7 days.
My Win: I sold a jacket. The buyer claimed it "smelled weird" and demanded a partial refund (a common extortion tactic). I refused. They opened a case. I uploaded screenshots of our chat where they admitted to wearing it to a party before complaining. Depop sided with me. The "paper trail" within the app saved me $50.
Can You Get Scammed on Depop by "Trade" Offers?
Yes. Trading is the Wild West.
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The Scenario: "I'll trade you my Supreme hoodie for your vintage Jordans."
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The Scam: You ship your shoes. They ship nothing. Or they ship a box of rocks.
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The Policy: Depop does not protect trades. There is no "Trade" button. You are doing this at your own risk.
The Safe Way to Trade: If you must trade, do a "Buy for Buy."
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I list my shoes for $100. You buy them.
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You list your hoodie for $100. I buy it.
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We are both protected for the $100 value. If one person scams, the other can file a claim. Never trade for $1.
People always ask me...
"How do I know if a seller is legit?"
Common question I see. Look for the "Blue Check" (Top Seller) or consistent reviews. However, new sellers are often legit too.
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The Test: Message them. Ask a specific question about the item, like "Can you post a photo of the tag?" If they respond with a generic answer or refuse to take extra photos, walk away.
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The Red Flag: If a seller has 50 expensive items (Gucci, Prada) listed for $30 each and zero reviews, it is a bot account.
"Is Depop a scam if the shipping takes forever?"
People always ask me this. Not necessarily. Depop sellers are regular people, not Amazon warehouses. Many are college students who ship once a week.
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The Rule: If they haven't shipped in 7 days, message them. If they don't reply in 24 hours after that, open a dispute. You have 30 days to claim a refund. Don't wait too long.
"Why did Depop ban my account?"
Often, it's because the AI flagged you for "Out of App" behavior.
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The Trigger: If you type "Instagram," "Venmo," or "Email me" in DMs, the bots flag you. Even if you were just being friendly. Keep conversations strictly about the item and shipping to avoid an accidental ban.
Conclusion
So, is depop a scam? No. It is a legitimate marketplace with robust protections—as long as you stay inside the walled garden.
The moment you step outside that garden to save $5 on fees, you are entering the food chain. Scammers rely on your greed (wanting a lower price) or your fear (thinking you sold an item).
The Golden Rules:
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Never communicate outside the app.
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Never pay outside the app.
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Always verify the "Sold" status in your own sales tab, not your email.
If you follow these three rules, Depop is one of the safest places to find vintage gems. If you break them, it’s a donation center for scammers.
If you are looking to sell safely on other platforms, check out our guide on how to detect Poshmark bots. And if you want to diversify your income streams, read our comparison of Depop vs. Vinted to see which app protects sellers better.
FAQ
Here's something everyone wants to know: What happens if I get scammed on Depop?
If you paid through the app, you are covered by Depop Buyer Protection. You must open a dispute within 30 days of the transaction. Depop will mediate. If the seller cannot prove delivery or if the item is verified as fake/damaged, Depop will force a refund to your original payment method. If you paid outside the app (Venmo/CashApp), Depop cannot help you.
Common question I see: Is Depop authentic for luxury items?
Depop is not an authentication service like The RealReal. While they ban counterfeits, fakes slip through constantly. If you are buying high-end luxury (Louis Vuitton, Gucci), always ask for a Certificate of Authenticity or detailed photos of date codes. If the price is "too good to be true" (e.g., a $2,000 bag for $200), it is fake.
People always ask me: Can sellers get scammed on Depop?
Yes. The most common seller scam is the "Item Not Received" claim. A buyer claims the package never arrived. To protect yourself, always ship with tracking and alwaysship to the address listed on the Depop receipt. If you ship to a different address requested via DM, you lose your Seller Protection coverage.
