How to check an online seller before you pay, in Pakistan

Warning signs

Be careful when a seller:

• Rushes you: "only one left", "pay in 10 minutes or it's gone".
• Is much cheaper than everyone else for the same item.
• Only takes full payment in advance, even for ready-made stock.
• Has a new account, few posts, or comments turned off.
• Won't send a real photo or video of the item you are buying.
• Asks you to pay into an account in a different name, or keeps changing the account.
• Asks you for a code sent to your phone. Never share a code from an SMS or WhatsApp with anyone.

One sign alone doesn't prove anything. Two or three together are a reason to stop.

Seven checks before you pay

1. Scroll back through the page. Months of posts with the same style and name are hard to fake. A page full of posts from last week is not.
2. Ask for a fresh photo or short video of the actual item, for example next to a note with today's date.
3. Search the page name together with words like "reviews", "scam" or "complaint".
4. Read reviews outside the seller's own highlights. Screenshots in highlights are easy to fake. Look for a review page where reviewers are checked.
5. Check the name on the account before paying. It should match the seller or the business.
6. Get the details in writing: the price, the advance, the delivery date and what happens if something goes wrong.
7. Start small. Choose cash on delivery for a first order, or a small advance, and pay more next time if it goes well.

Paying safely

• Keep the receipt, the order details and the chat until the order arrives and you are happy with it.
• Money sent by bank transfer or mobile wallet is usually hard to get back, so do your checks before paying, not after.
• If you pay in advance for a custom order, a part payment is normal. Paying the full price up front to a seller you don't know is a risk. Here is how good sellers handle advances.

If something goes wrong

1. Contact your bank or wallet provider straight away and report the transaction. The sooner you report it, the better.
2. Keep all the evidence: screenshots of the page, the chat, the account details and your receipt.
3. Report the account to Instagram, Facebook or WhatsApp.
4. File a cybercrime complaint with the authorities if you lost money.

How Reviewdou helps

On Reviewdou you can search for a seller by business name, Instagram handle or city. Every reviewer on a Reviewdou page confirmed their phone number with a code, sellers can't delete reviews, and a review with an "Ordered from" badge came from a link the seller sent after a real order. See how we check reviews.

A good Reviewdou page is a strong sign, but it is one check among several, not the only one. Do the other checks too, especially for large orders.