TalkScams Team · Source-backed educational guide · Not a community report
A seller demands cryptocurrency for an ordinary purchase
A social-media merchant may insist that payment be sent only by cryptocurrency, gift card or wire transfer instead of a protected checkout. Those methods are much harder to reverse if the item never arrives.
Source: U.S. Federal Trade Commission · Original advisory date: 2025-11-25
This summary is not a firsthand report or an endorsement or partnership by the source.
Warning signs to recognize
- The seller refuses credit cards or normal protected payment options.
- The seller's identity and payment protections cannot be verified
How to check or protect yourself
- Choose a payment method with buyer protection or leave the transaction.
- Retain receipts and report suspicious merchants to the marketplace or FTC