Is Depop safe? What buyers and sellers should know

Depop – an online marketplace for buying and selling secondhand and vintage clothing – has about 43.5 million registered users and over 49 million items for sale. This “circular fashion” platform is popular in the US, UK, and Australia. However, some users trust platforms like Vinted or Poshmark more, and are questioning Depop’s legitimacy and reliability for everyday buying, and whether Depop is safe.

This guide aims to deliver an honest look at how Depop works, what buyer and seller protections require, and the most common scam patterns – including off-platform payment requests and bait-and-switches. You’ll see clear checklists for shopping and selling more safely, and a step-by-step plan for what to do if a transaction goes wrong. Find out if Depop is the right place for your next sale or score.

How Depop works

Depop is a peer-to-peer (P2P) marketplace for secondhand and vintage fashion. Buyers see listings – with photos, description, size, and condition – and message the seller if needed. Payment is via the app. The seller ships to the buyer who can track the order. Depop Shipping labels are available in the US, UK, and Australia – sellers generate them in the app. In the US and UK, shipping can be paid by the buyer or seller. In Australia – if Depop Shipping is used – the buyer pays (free shipping requires “Other” shipping).

Sellers need to take clear photos, and Depop’s AI-listing technology suggests descriptions and attributes. The seller sets a price and shipping, publishes, receives payment, and ships promptly (preferably with Depop Shipping for built-in tracking).

Regarding fees, there’s no selling fee in the US and UK – only payment processing at US 3.3% + $0.45, UK 2.9% + £0.30. Outside these regions, a 10% selling fee applies plus PayPal processing – depending on location.

For security, Depop has in-app checkout and messaging – a record of what was agreed – tracked shipping labels, and order tracking. All of that helps with dispute resolution.

What protection does Depop offer?

Depop’s buyer protection program – Depop Protection – is available in the UK, US, and Australia when a buyer purchases via the BUY button on Depop’s app or website. The program provides – if eligible – full refunds including shipping, fees, and any applicable taxes/duties. If an item doesn’t arrive, arrives damaged, or is “significantly not as described” – report it within 30 days of the date of purchase.

US and UK buyers raise the issue in-app from the receipt. Australian buyers must open a PayPal claim within 30 days of purchase – and if denied, escalate to Depop. All BUY-button payment methods are included. Off-app or in-person transactions aren’t covered.

For sellers (UK/US/AU only), Depop Protection covers items lost or damaged in transit for sales up to £250/$300/A$300. This covers shipping issues only, not buyer disputes.

For seller eligibility, all must be true:

• Sold via the BUY button and shipped with a Depop Shipping label.
• Shipped within five days of the transaction date to the address on the Depop sales receipt.
• AU sellers (PayPal sales): complete the PayPal dispute (including appeals) first.

The program isn’t insurance, it’s provided at Depop’s discretion and is subject to their Terms of Service.

Exclusions:

• Sales made outside the BUY button (e.g., direct PayPal/Venmo, bank transfer, in-person).
• Not shipped with a Depop Shipping label (for UK/US/AU sellers).

Common scams on Depop

Scams happen on Depop. Below is a list of the most common Depop scams, how each one works, the red flags, and the impact of each one. Read on to cut money losses and prevent account violations.

Off-platform payment/“outside the app” requests

A classic scam that bypasses Depop’s protections. It’s when a buyer or seller takes you off-app – to PayPal Friends & Family, Cash App, bank transfer, WhatsApp or Instagram DMs – to “avoid fees” or “speed things up.”

The warning signs are asking you for email/phone, sending you external links or QR codes, proposing discounts if you pay off-app, rushing you, or steering you towards crypto or bank transfers. Watch out for that: “It won’t go through – send it here instead” moment.

If you fall for it, there’s no Depop Protection or audit trail. Decline, insist on the BUY button, and keep everything in-app. Report the account. If you already paid off-app, contact your bank.

Fake or misleading listings/images

Stolen or stock photos, filters, or incomplete descriptions hide flaws, counterfeits, or non-existent items. Some scammers relist sold eBay items or resell cheap fast-fashion as “rare”, or use dropshipping. Dropshipping is against Depop’s Terms of Service, unless personally designed.

New shops with no reviews, prices well below market, mismatched brand/model details, refusal to show timestamps, and an urgency to sell are all red flags.

If you take the bait, you’ll get a fake, damaged item, or even nothing – and disputes require evidence quickly. Ask for label and stitching close-ups, serials/tags when relevant, and today’s photo beside a handwritten username. Check photos with Google Lens/TinEye (reverse image search tools) and buy only through Depop’s BUY button.

Bait and switch

This fraudulent tactic uses a listing that shows one size, color, model, or condition – but the seller sends you a different or “similar” item. Watch out if they ask to change the order after checkout because the original was “mislisted” or “out of stock.” This is to get you to buy a lower-value or undesirable item by advertising a more attractive one – maximizing seller profit or offloading unwanted items.

Sketchy phrases like “inspired by” or “similar to”, the same photos popping up on other listings, dodged questions about item measurements or condition, or DMs after buying that push you for a swap or store credit are all red flags.

Buyers lose money and waste time with this scam. Before accepting, confirm the specifics again in-app. When you get the item, make an unboxing video and photos of labels and packaging – crucial evidence for a “significantly not as described” claim.

Seller never ships

You may never get your item. It could be a hacked account that collects payments without shipping. For example, they make a label but never hand the parcel to the carrier, or attach bogus tracking.

It’s a red flag if: there’s no proof the package was actually shipped, tracking’s stuck on “label created”, they keep saying “I’ll ship it tomorrow”, they dodge questions about drop-off receipts, or their account suddenly vanishes.

The impact of this is funds getting stuck. From your purchase receipt, open an in-app case ASAP, monitor tracking, and escalate to Depop if scans don’t progress. Carrier acceptance scans prove handover, so request a photo of the dated receipt.

Return fraud

Return fraud or a swap scam happens when the buyer says the item’s “not as described” but sends back something different, damaged, or even an empty box to pocket the refund while keeping the item.

Be wary of buyers making vague claims without photos, won’t take pictures of serial numbers or unique tags, push a refund before shipping, or avoid including order info with their return.

If this happens, sellers lose the item and the money – if they don’t have strong proof. Resolve this by photographing the item and packing from multiple angles, noting serials/weights, and requiring tracked returns – where feasible, since it depends on Depop policies and buyer agreement. Record the unboxing of any return and compare weights with the original shipment.

Wrong address/redirected shipping

After purchase, the buyer asks you to ship to a new address, pickup locker, or “friend’s place” – then later claims non-delivery. This voids seller protection.

Some warning signs are urgent address changes, claims of technical problems with the app, urgency to ship without tracking, or request to put a different name on the label. Some use labels that point elsewhere.

The impact of this is lost protection. Contact Depop support first – and if advised, cancel and refund so they can repurchase with the correct address. Always use tracked shipping to the address on the Depop receipt and – in eligible countries – a Depop Shipping label.

Phishing and account takeover

Fake emails or DMs mimic Depop or a carrier and link to a crafted page that steals logins or two-factor authentication (2FA) codes. Once stolen, they can post fake listings, message buyers, or reroute payouts.

Look out for misspellings, suspicious sender domains – anything that’s not @depop.com – shortened URLs, attachments, urgent “verify now” notices, or requests for one-time codes outside official Depop platforms. Remember, Depop will never ask you for passwords or codes.

In this case, scammers can post fake listings, steal your payouts, or even get you banned. Always use 2FA, a long and randomized password – and avoid reusing your other passwords – and access Depop only through its official app or website. Report all phishing through the Help Center.

How to buy safely on Depop

Buying safely on Depop means extreme caution on your end – given that scams, fraud, and cybercrime are everywhere these days. A practical how-to-buy guide:

• Only use the BUY button. Never pay off the app – like via Cash App or bank transfer. Never click on external links or scan shady QR codes.
• Check the seller. See the seller’s most recent reviews, sales history, and skim their photos for reused or identical images.
• Ask for proof. Ask for close-ups of labels, stitching, and flaws. Also ask for serials and tags, and a photo dated today with their handwritten username (or a short video).
• Reverse-image search. Use Google Lens or TinEye for finding stolen or stock item photos.
• Too-good-to-be-true prices. If it’s a $20 “designer” bag, assume it’s fake or dropshipped. Prices wildly below the market are a red flag.
• Verify shipping. Ask for tracked delivery and proof the package was actually handed over.
• Record evidence. When your package arrives, quickly film the entire unboxing, plus snap photos of packaging, labels, and anything that looks off.
• Reporting. Report not-as-described issues within 30 days. Non-delivery, damage, or items not matching the listing can be reported by tapping the order > “Report a problem” > “Select issue” > Add evidence (photos, tracking screenshots).

How to sell safely on Depop

Just like buying, selling on Depop also means being careful. Here’s a how-to-sell guide to keep your seller protection intact:

• Keep transactions in the app. Only use the built-in BUY button and Depop Shipping (where available). Never use buyer-provided links, QR codes, or labels.
• Refuse off-app payments. Never accept payments via PayPal Friends and Family (F&F), Cash App, cryptocurrency, or bank transfer.
• Ship with tracking. Use tracking for shipping. Keep proof of tracking numbers, first address lines, postcodes, and ship dates.
• Photograph items thoroughly. Snap clear photos of the front and back, labels and serial numbers, and any flaws.
• No unprotected trades/swaps. Both parties must buy in the app, otherwise it’s not protected by Depop.
• Ship to Depop receipt address only. Never change addresses via DM. Cancel and ask the buyer to repurchase with the corrected address instead.
• Be responsive. Write back quickly to buyers and Depop Support requests. Don’t miss deadlines – this can affect dispute results.
• Keep accurate listings. Be honest in your listings. Note defects, use original images, and set realistic dispatch times to retain good ratings.
• Secure yourself. Activate 2FA, ignore suspicious links and codes, and report suspicious behavior immediately. Additionally, use the best credit monitoring and identity protection services.

What to do if you get scammed

In the unfortunate event that you do get scammed, act fast. Here’s what to do:

1. Contact your bank or financial platform. Within 24-48 hours of the scam, call the platform you used to pay to dispute charges and freeze accounts. If on PayPal, escalate to a claim.
2. File a Depop dispute. Within 30 days of purchase, tap “Report a problem” > choose “Non-delivery” or “Not as described.”
3. Send evidence. Upload screenshots of the listing, in-app messages, timestamps, tracking scans and receipts, and your unboxing content. Keep the item and packaging until Depop instructs otherwise.
4. Report to authorities. File with the FTC (US), Action Fraud (UK), ACCC (Australia), or local police. Save your case number.
5. Lock down your accounts. Change Depop, email, and payment passwords. Activate 2FA. Revoke third-party app access.
6. Watch accounts for suspicious activity. Set bank alerts, check statements and credit for fraud. Consider credit or identity monitoring services.
7. Dispute properly. Communicate only in-app, respond quickly to Depop support, organize evidence, and note seller ratings.

Final thoughts

Yes, Depop is generally safe to use if you follow online marketplace security best practices. Always use the “BUY” button, and use only in-app messaging for proof and compliance. Never trust off-platform payments, thoroughly check seller reviews and photos, ask for proof, and document your unboxings. Likewise, sellers should use the “BUY” button, Depop Shipping, post honest listings, and ship to the receipt address only.

If your gut says something’s wrong, walk away and report the listing – there’s always another one around. Beyond Depop’s protections, use professional identity and credit monitoring services like Aura or Coveron (formerly NordProtect) for an extra layer of safety. The only catch with Coveron is that although US customers can use it, some of its cyber and identity protection features are unavailable for New York residents.

---

Other guides from Cybernews:

---

FAQ