7 Warning Signs of Gold Bullion (1kg) Scams on MercadoLibre

Fake Payment Confirmation: Scammers may send convincing but fraudulent payment confirmation emails or messages. Always verify payments directly through Mercado Pago's official platform and your bank, never rely on third-party confirmations.

Mercado Pago Link Deception: Be extremely cautious if a seller requests you to cancel a MercadoLibre transaction and instead use a Mercado Pago payment link outside the platform. These links often lead to fraudulent sites or direct payments to scammers, bypassing MercadoLibre's buyer protection. Purchases made outside the platform are not covered by its guarantees [23].

QR Code Payment Switch: Scammers might present a QR code that appears legitimate but redirects you to a fake payment portal or a malicious site. This can lead to your financial information being stolen or unauthorized transactions [4, 16, 20, 22]. Always inspect the URL after scanning a QR code and be wary of codes in unexpected places.

Empty Box or Different Item Return: While this scam is more common in returns, be aware that sellers could potentially ship an empty box or a significantly different, lower-value item, especially if the transaction involves shipping and handling that isn't thoroughly inspected by the platform or carrier. In such cases, the buyer might claim non-receipt or an incorrect item [2, 10, 14, 18, 21].

Pickup by Third Party Fraud: In some scenarios, a buyer might arrange for a third party to pick up the item, which can be a way to obscure their identity and complicate the transaction. If a third party is involved, ensure all verification steps are meticulously followed, and be aware of the risks if the buyer later disputes the delivery [11, 24].

Fake Gold (Counterfeit Items): Be extremely skeptical of deals that seem too good to be true. Scammers may sell counterfeit gold bullion, or items plated with gold instead of being solid gold. Always verify the authenticity of gold through reputable methods and consider using professional authentication services for high-value purchases [5, 13, 27, 28].

Remote Account Takeover: While less direct for a single transaction, a compromised seller account could be used to list fraudulent items or impersonate legitimate sellers. Always verify seller legitimacy through their profile, ratings, and transaction history.