Before you buy or sell online, watch for these scam red flags

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Trying to score a deal online could end up costing you.

Apps like Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, and Craigslist are full of listings — but the Federal Trade Commission warns they’re also a major target for scammers.

One of the biggest red flags is someone asking you to pay outside the app.

If a buyer or seller pushes Zelle, Venmo, Cash App, or gift cards — that’s a warning sign. Those types of payments are difficult, and sometimes impossible, to recover if something goes wrong.

Another common scam is the “overpayment” trick — when someone sends more than your asking price and then asks you to send the excess back. The original payment is often fake or later reversed.

Scammers may also try to rush you or move the conversation off the platform so there’s no record of the deal.

Law enforcement agencies across Southwest Florida say one of the safest ways to avoid becoming a victim is choosing where you meet.

The Fort Myers Police Department has designated e-commerce exchange areas at its headquarters at 2210 Widman Way.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office encourages people to meet at its facilities, including its headquarters at 14750 Six Mile Cypress Parkway in Fort Myers, or at other monitored public locations.

The Collier County Sheriff’s Office also advises meeting at sheriff’s office locations or other well-lit, public places for in-person transactions.

The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office says it provides safe areas for transactions at its district offices, including its headquarters at 7474 Utilities Road in Punta Gorda.

Deputies say if someone refuses to meet at a law enforcement location or another safe, public place, that alone should raise concern.

The bottom line — if the deal feels rushed or too good to be true, it probably is.