A man in Zhangjiakou sold an e-bike via a secondhand platform. The buyer left a broken, SIM-less phone as ‘deposit’ and fled with the vehicle. The seller reported the fraud to police.

Social Context

Secondhand transaction scams are addressed under China’s E-commerce Law and the 2023 State Administration for Market Regulation guidelines requiring platform liability for verified identity checks. ‘Fake deposit’ tactics exploit loopholes in informal peer-to-peer sales—leading to mandatory ID verification for high-value listings in Hebei province since January 2024.

Safety Tip

Only accept verifiable digital payments; never release goods until funds clear and buyer identity is confirmed via platform-verified ID.