KIJIJI Scams: What to Watch Out For When Buying or Selling & Red Flags to Avoid Getting Ripped Off
- Revival Powersports Team
- 2 days ago
- 15 min read
From autos to collectibles, KIJIJI acts as a convenient and accessible marketplace for peer-to-peer transactions. As an avid user, I genuinely appreciate the platform’s simplicity for both buyers and sellers. When proper precautions are taken, it’s generally secure and efficient. That said, the very ease of use that makes KIJIJI great has also opened the door to scammers looking to exploit unsuspecting users.
This post explores real scams that the Revival Powersports team has encountered, with the goal of equipping you with the awareness and tools needed to stay safe and avoid getting ripped off.
Table of Contents:
Requesting Funds vs Sending Funds
This scam is simple in concept but dangerous in execution; especially for people who are naturally trusting or in a hurry to make a sale.
It usually starts with a buyer who appears highly motivated and eager to close the deal. They’ll offer to send a deposit upfront, often a large chunk of your asking price, and promise to pay the remainder in cash at pickup. Sounds like a dream buyer, right? All they need is your email address to send the Interac e-Transfer.
Soon after, they’ll tell you the transfer has been sent - but if you have auto-deposit enabled, you’ll quickly realize that no funds have landed in your account. The scammer will act just as confused and might suggest that you simply "accept the transfer" from your email.
Here’s the trick: what they've actually sent is not a transfer at all - it’s a money request. If you click “accept,” you’re the one sending them money. To further confuse you, some scammers claim the transaction was sent via a French bank, and that the notification may be in French instead of English; just enough of a curveball to throw off someone who isn't paying close attention.
Red Flags to Watch Out For
If you're using auto-deposit and no money shows up, that's a red flag as the funds should arrive instantly
Always verify e-transfers by logging into your online banking directly — never trust email notifications alone
Be suspicious of buyers who want to send you money before even seeing the item
If a buyer claims the transfer is in another language or from a foreign bank, pause — that’s not standard for Canadian Interac transfers
Look closely at what the email says: if it's a money request, do not accept it
Fake Payment Confirmation
This scam is slick and can happen quickly, especially when sellers are eager to close a deal.
It usually begins with a seemingly normal buyer setting up a time to come view or pick up your item. When they arrive, they agree to the price and offer to pay via Interac e-Transfer. They’ll show you a screen on their phone that appears to confirm the transfer has been sent from their bank. It may even display a convincing animation or banking app screenshot.
They’re hoping you’ll trust what you see and hand over the item before the funds actually arrive. If you hesitate, they might try to pressure you, claiming that e-transfers sometimes take hours to process or blaming their bank for delays.
But here’s the reality:That screen is fake. No transfer was sent. If you refuse to release the item, they’ll typically become defensive, make up an excuse to leave, and vanish; often never responding again.
A More Sophisticated Variation
In some cases, the scammer takes it one step further. Instead of relying solely on a fake phone screen, they send a spoofed email confirmation pretending to be from Interac. These emails may come from domains like intterac.ca, intrac.com, or other lookalikes — subtly mimicking the legitimate address: notify@payments.interac.ca.
The goal is to trick you into thinking the payment was sent and is simply “in progress,” when in fact, nothing is coming. If you question them, they may act confused or even aggressive in an attempt to rush the transaction or exit the situation quickly.
Red Flags to Watch Out For
Never rely on screenshots or email confirmations alone - always check your bank account directly
Interac e-transfers with auto-deposit are usually instant. Delays are rare and should be a red flag
Verify that any email from Interac is coming from the legitimate Paypal email
Don’t let pressure, impatience, or aggression from the buyer push you into handing over the item prematurely
If something feels off, walk away - you don’t owe anyone an instant sale
The Delivery Scheme
This scam may seem obvious at a glance, but it continues to catch sellers off guard; particularly those dealing with high-ticket items like vehicles, electronics, or collectibles.
It typically begins with a text message from an auto-responder bot, often referencing the entire title of your listing word-for-word, which is a dead giveaway for experienced users. For example:
“Hi there, I am interested in your 2018 Harley Davidson Fat Bob Fully Serviced. Is it still available?”
To the untrained eye, it might seem legit. But if you reply, a scammer posing as a serious buyer will follow up claiming they’re too busy to meet in person. They offer to send full payment plus shipping costs and will arrange for someone else to pick the item up. They may even throw in something about paying “extra” for insurance on the delivery to make it sound more legitimate.
What follows is the real trap.
The scammer will insist on paying through a method that’s easily reversible or forged - like a personal cheque, money order, PayPal, or more commonly now, an e-cheque. Since e-cheques can be deposited digitally, banks require time to verify and clear them. This delay gives the scammer a critical window to work their scheme.
Once the “payment” is sent, they’ll inform you that they accidentally overpaid or included additional funds for the delivery company and ask you to forward that shipping amount to the third party they’ve "hired." This may involve:
Giving cash to someone who comes to pick up the item
Sending money to a supposed delivery company through a separate transaction
In either case, the initial payment eventually bounces, and you're left without the money; and possibly without your item.
Red Flags to Watch Out For
Text messages that repeat your listing title exactly. This is usually a sign of a bot
Buyers who can’t meet in person and insist on sending a third party
Offers to overpay or prepay shipping/insurance as part of the deal
Requests for payment via e-cheque, money order, or PayPal friends/family
Pressure to forward money to someone else before the original payment clears
Any scenario where you're handling someone else’s shipping money is a massive red flag
Phishing Emails from "KIJIJI"
Phishing remains one of the most common online scams, with hundreds of thousands of fake emails sent daily in an attempt to steal login credentials. On KIJIJI, the scam often starts subtly: a potential buyer contacts you via KIJIJI Messenger or text and asks for your personal email address. The reason might sound innocent — they want to send more photos, prefer email communication, or plan to send an e-transfer.
Once they have your email, the real scam begins.
You’ll soon receive an email masquerading as an official message from KIJIJI. It might claim that your account is expiring, has been flagged for suspicious activity, or requires urgent verification. These messages often carry a sense of urgency to trick you into reacting without thinking. They’ll include a link to what appears to be the KIJIJI login page — but it’s a fake.
The page looks legit, but entering your email and password there sends your credentials directly to the scammer. In some cases, you’ll even receive a “thank you” or “confirmation” message afterward to make the ruse seem more legitimate. If you reuse that same email and password combination on other platforms, your accounts there may also be at risk.
Red Flags to Watch Out For
Always double-check the sender's email address — look for subtle misspellings or extra characters (e.g., kijijii.ca instead of kijiji.ca)
Never click links from unexpected emails — go directly to the official KIJIJI website by typing the URL into your browser
Don’t provide your login details unless you’re 100% certain you’re on the legitimate site
If something feels off, trust your gut — and stay out of the trap.
Credit Union Reversible Deposits
Most major Canadian banks and credit unions do not allow senders to reverse Interac e-Transfers once the funds have been accepted by the recipient. However, a disturbing loophole has surfaced: some credit unions give senders a short cancellation window, even after the transfer appears to be complete.
Here’s how the scam plays out:
A buyer sends you an e-transfer. You see it in your account and assume the deal is done. They show up, take the item — and then shortly after, they cancel the payment from their end. Since some credit unions allow this kind of reversal, you’re left with no money and no recourse.
This scam is especially dangerous because it feels legitimate. Even experienced sellers can fall for it if they don’t realize the reversal window exists. CBC News reported on this issue in the video segment below, which highlights just how easily a scammer can take advantage of this lesser-known policy.
Red Flags to Watch Out For
Don’t assume that seeing the funds in your account means they’re fully cleared
Ask the buyer which financial institution they’re using and verify their e-transfer policies
Avoid releasing high-value items immediately after an e-transfer build in a time buffer before the handoff
When in doubt, insist on cash or request payment via a bank you know doesn’t allow reversals
If the buyer refuses or gets pushy, consider it a red flag and walk away
Fake Items for Sale
In recent years, North America has seen a flood of counterfeit products — everything from electronics and fashion to tools and toys. In many cases, these fakes come sealed in professional-looking packaging that closely mimics the real thing, making it easy for scammers to pass them off as legitimate.
If you're buying anything brand-name or collectible, always be prepared to open the packaging and inspect the item before finalizing the deal — even if it’s a gift. A legitimate seller will understand.
The risks go beyond knockoff gadgets or accessories. In the automotive space, scammers may claim that a vehicle has had recent upgrades or repairs. Without supporting paperwork or visible confirmation, those claims are meaningless. Cheap parts — often sourced from sites like Alibaba or low-end Amazon vendors — may look similar but can pose serious safety issues and drastically reduce value.
And in some cases, the item being sold doesn’t even exist.
Scammers will list completely fake inventory — often high-demand or hard-to-find products — to bait buyers into a deposit scam or an upfront payment for delivery. These sellers are usually very pleasant and accommodating, saying things like "I can ship it to you so you don’t have to drive all the way out here". That friendliness is part of the setup. Once you send a partial payment for the item or shipping, they vanish — and the item, of course, never shows up.
Red Flags to Watch Out For
Be wary of sealed items if you’re not allowed to inspect them before paying — packaging can easily be faked
Ask for receipts, paperwork, or photo evidence when buying anything that claims to be upgraded, serviced, or modified
For automotive parts or vehicles, verify claims with visual proof or documentation
Avoid sellers who offer to ship the item as a “favor” — especially if they ask for money upfront
Be skeptical of deals that seem too convenient or too good to be true — scammers rely on urgency and trust
Deposit Scams
This is one of the oldest tricks in the book - and while it’s widely known, it still works on thousands of people each year.
The scam usually starts with a suspiciously underpriced item or service that generates a lot of attention. The seller knows it looks too good to be true, so they’ll often attach a sob story to the post: they’re moving, going through a tough time, lost their job, etc. The goal is to create a sense of urgency and sympathy.
When you message them, they’ll claim there’s been overwhelming interest and that they’re getting multiple offers. To “secure” the item, they suggest you send a small deposit to hold it — sometimes promising to take the listing down or cancel other showings.
Once the deposit is sent, the seller disappears. The item or service never existed, or they never intended to sell it to begin with. You won’t hear from them again, and you have no real recourse to recover the money.
Red Flags to Watch Out For
Listings that are dramatically underpriced with no clear reason why
Sellers who push for a deposit before you’ve seen the item in person
Stories that feel emotionally manipulative or overly convenient
Claims of “too much interest” and pressure to act quickly
Sellers who refuse to meet or can’t confirm their identity or location
Third-Party Website Scams
This scam is exploding in popularity — especially in the automotive section of KIJIJI.
It begins with a scammer reaching out to you under the guise of being a serious buyer. Usually, a bot script sends a generic message like "Hi, is still still available?".
Once you reply, a real person takes over. They’ll sound friendly and engaged, asking where you're located, saying they’re eager to view the vehicle, and making small talk to build trust. Then comes the hook.
They ask if you can provide a vehicle history or service report. But instead of suggesting a reputable provider like CARFAX, they point you to a random website you've never heard of.
That site is the scam.
The fraudster is hoping you'll go to the fake reporting website, plug in your VIN, and pay for a bogus report. It’s usually priced cheaply enough that it seems like a harmless request — especially when you're trying to close a big-ticket sale. But what happens next generally includes two possible outcomes:
The mild scam: You pay for the report, which gets “generated” by the fake site. The scammer disappears or invents a reason to back out of the sale. Their real goal was to profit from fake report sales.
The serious scam: The site isn’t just fake — it’s malicious. The payment processor is designed to harvest your credit card information. If you enter your details, your card may be used fraudulently or sold on the dark web. You'll need to cancel it immediately.
Known Scam Report Names
These fake report names have come up repeatedly for us:
AMV Report
AV Report
D.T. Report
IR Report
V.H. Paperwork
Virtual Vehicle Report
Known Scam Websites
Fraudulent websites that scammers may send you to include:
Bikeactualreport
Wheelinforeport
Canadavehicleinvestigation
Red Flags to Watch Out For
Buyers who seem eager but haven’t seen the item in person yet
Requests for a vehicle report from a website you’ve never heard of
Report sites that lack reviews, have vague branding, or mimic real services
Sellers who stop responding after you send the report
Any payment screen that doesn’t use a recognizable or secure processor
Always stick to trusted sources like CARFAX or provincial government websites
Red Flags Cheat Sheet: Common to Consider When Shopping Online
Red Flag: Messages seem to follow a script or are not contextual to your location.
If the first message you receive says something robotic-like "Hey are you still selling a {your exact ad title}?", you may be dealing with a scammer. I suggest replying with a question yourself asking something specific that might stump the script such as "Yes it is, are you familiar with {item}?" or "Yes, are you local? What area are you reaching out from?". I have found that the reply after will be something like "What time tomorrow works for you?", a dead giveaway that you're talking to a bot. Keep in mind that many of these do get followed up by an actual human at some point but in most cases, they are not from your city, or even country, which makes it fairly easy to spot the lie.
A good tip is to ensure your KIJIJI ad has a title that includes extra phrases or words. For example, let's say you're selling a red bicycle that you bought in 2014 with new tires. You could list it with an ad title "red bicycle" or you could list it as "red bicycle - bought in 2014, has new tires".
When the bot replies, it is a lot easier to spot "Hey are you still selling a red bicycle bought in 2014, that has new tires?" versus the simplified "Hey are you still selling a red bicycle".
Red Flag: Other party texts you direct instead of using KIJIJI's built-in messenger.
If you receive a text direct because you have your phone number listed in the ad, you may want to ask the other party to message directly in KIJIJI as well just to confirm their rating. The other party should have no issue with this so long as they have nothing to hide. In addition, if someone reaches out via KIJIJI's messenger and asks if you can email or text them because it is "easier", try to avoid it unless you've already established some trust in conversation beforehand.
Red Flag: Other party tries to send you to a website that you've never heard of.
The only instance where the other party should be sending you links to a website is if they are a business directing you to their own site or sharing information. Phishing scams are commonplace today so be diligent in ensuring your safety. You could type the website into a search engine such as Google as well to see what comes up as many scams do get reported on a regular basis.
Red Flag: Other party demands you send funds prior to viewing the item.
I'll state it simply - NEVER send funds prior to viewing items or ensuring that you have a route for recourse. The only time I would ever consider sending a deposit would be if the other party is a registered business with a brick-and-mortar location or if you have visited them in person to verify their home address and seen the actual item prior.
Red Flag: Other party texts you from a non-local area code.
Smart scammers will mask their phone numbers or purchase local numbers through VOIP so that they look legit. But many of them do not, and a search of the area code might quickly tip you off that the other party is a scammer.
Red Flag: Other party has an elaborate story to tell you.
When most normal people are shopping for something they want a simple transaction where they exchange goods for cash. Scammers will try to play on your heartstrings with elaborate stories in hopes that you will sympathize with them and miss out on obvious red flags. They might be retired army vets, working abroad, or had a recent death. Let the transaction be a simple exchange of goods for cash and do not get fooled by these hoaxes.
Red Flag: Other party refuses to meet in person or in a safe location.
Many in-person scams out there will involve a third party to pick up on their behalf. This provides them with an out in the event that they are called out in person for the scam. If the party picking up is interrogated, they can simply state that they were paid to come to pick up the item and have nothing to do with the scammer.
Some sellers simply don't want strangers coming to their homes to pick items up. In these cases, be sure to set up to meet somewhere public with a lot of people. Choosing somewhere that may have cameras is an added benefit. Options include coffee shops, restaurants, and gas stations. Also, be sure to check if your city has a dedicated meeting spot for swaps as these are typically patrolled and monitored.
Red Flag: Other party is not able to prove ownership or provide identification.
I suggest creating a receipt with both parties' names on it when you make a purchase off of KIJIJI, even if just on a piece of loose paper. Exchange identification to ensure that everything in the deal is kosher.
With large-ticket items such as vehicles, proving ownership is a must. The seller should have registration, insurance, or their bill of sale which can confirm they are the rightful owner. In addition, you should always write down the seller's driver's license or ID # to tie the sale back to them. Any honest seller will have no issue providing this information.
Red Flag: The item for sale is dramatically underpriced.
Always inquire as to the reason an item is being sold, especially if priced dramatically under market value. Get a feel for whether the seller is being honest based on their response. Dramatically underpriced items may indicate stolen items or a flat-out scam.
Red Flag: Other party wants to pay using an unconventional method.
Many scams out there involve payment with a fake or reversible method. Known scams involve buyers wanting to pay via money order, MoneyGram, personal cheque, or even Paypal. In these cases, push for absolute means of payment such as cash, an etransfer from a major bank, or a certified draft. In the event you receive payment via bank draft, always have it deposited and verified before releasing the item.
In Conclusion: Staying One Step Ahead
Whether you're buying or selling on KIJIJI, we hope this guide has helped shed light on some of the most common — and costly — scams making the rounds. While KIJIJI is a great platform that successfully connects millions of users, the convenience it offers also attracts fraudsters looking to exploit it.
By staying informed, questioning anything that feels off, and trusting your instincts, you can dramatically reduce the chances of getting scammed.
Although this article focuses on KIJIJI, many of these tactics also appear on other peer-to-peer platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Autotrader, and Craigslist. The red flags remain the same — and so should your vigilance.
We’ll continue to update this post as new schemes emerge. We use these platforms regularly, and we’re committed to helping others navigate them safely. If you’ve encountered a scam we haven’t listed here, feel free to reach out — we’d love to hear about it.
Stay sharp. Stay skeptical. Stay safe.
Here some links for further reading: