Top 10 Online Selling Scams in Egypt — And How to Avoid Them

Top 10 Online Scams in Egypt

Every day in Egypt, people get scammed while buying or selling online. The problem is that scammers constantly evolve their methods. Let's learn about the 10 most common scams — and how to protect yourself.

Scam 1: The "Bounced Check" Scam 🏦

How it works:

1. Buyer sends you a check for more than the agreed amount
2. Asks you to refund the difference via cash or transfer
3. The check bounces after a few days — and your money is gone

How to protect yourself:

• ❌ Never accept checks
• ✅ Use Fawry, Vodafone Cash, or direct cash

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Scam 2: The "Buying from Abroad" Scam 🌍

How it works:

1. Someone says "I'm in Saudi/Kuwait and want to buy your item"
2. Sends you a fake transfer receipt
3. Asks you to ship the product before money reaches your account

How to protect yourself:

• ❌ Never ship anything until money actually appears in your account
• ✅ On Luulwa — use the built-in payment system

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Scam 3: The "Stolen Phone" Scam 📱

How it works:

1. Seller offers a phone below market price
2. The phone is stolen or reported
3. After some time, the phone gets blocked (IMEI blacklisted)

How to protect yourself:

• ✅ Ask for the original purchase receipt
• ✅ Check the IMEI on NTRA (National Telecom Regulatory Authority) website
• ✅ Ask for seller's ID

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Scam 4: The "Fake Photos" Scam 📸

How it works:

1. Seller posts photos from Google or other people
2. The real product is completely different
3. When you receive it, it's something else entirely

How to protect yourself:

• ✅ Ask for real photos + a paper with your name and today's date next to the product
• ✅ Do a reverse image search on Google
• ✅ Request a video call for high-value items

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Scam 5: The "Overpayment" Scam 💰

How it works:

1. Buyer says "I transferred EGP 5,000 instead of 3,000 by mistake"
2. Sends you a fake notification
3. Asks you to refund the EGP 2,000 difference

How to protect yourself:

• ✅ Check your actual balance — not notifications
• ❌ Never refund money based on notifications — verify your balance first

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Scam 6: The "Fake Shipment" Scam 📦

How it works:

1. Seller sends you a fake tracking number
2. Asks for payment before delivery claiming "shipment has left"
3. There's no actual shipment

How to protect yourself:

• ✅ Verify the tracking number directly on the shipping company's website
• ❌ Don't pay until the product arrives and you inspect it

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Scam 7: The "Hacked Account" Scam 🔓

How it works:

1. Scammer hacks a trusted person's account
2. Uses their reputation to sell fake products
3. Buyer trusts the account because it's old with good ratings

How to protect yourself:

• ✅ If a seller suddenly changes their style — ask about old transaction details
• ✅ Verify the phone number — is it the same one?
• ✅ Meet in person and verify identity

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Scam 8: The "Fake Property" Scam 🏠

How it works:

1. Listing for an apartment or villa at an extremely attractive price
2. Seller asks for deposit to reserve the unit
3. Property either doesn't exist or isn't theirs

How to protect yourself:

• ✅ Visit the property in person before any payment
• ✅ Verify ownership at the Real Estate Registry
• ❌ Never pay a deposit without an official contract

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Scam 9: The "Prize Winner" Scam 🏆

How it works:

1. Message: "Congratulations — you won a prize from Luulwa/Amazon"
2. Must pay "shipping fees" or "taxes"
3. There's no prize — and your money is gone

How to protect yourself:

• ❌ No legitimate prize requires you to pay to receive it
• ✅ If in doubt — contact customer service from the official website

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Scam 10: The "Fake Payment Links" Scam 🔗

How it works:

1. Seller sends you a fake payment link that looks real
2. You enter your card details
3. Your data is stolen and money withdrawn from your account

How to protect yourself:

• ✅ Only pay from within the platform
• ✅ Verify the link starts with https:// and has the correct company name
• ❌ Never enter card details in any link sent via message

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Summary — Red Flags

Buy and sell safely: Luulwa Egypt Market
Read: Complete Safety Guide