NEW CHANGES: Stopping Bank Transfers & Only Allowing PING or AFTERPAY or CASH
I just want to clarify something as there seems to be a contradiction. The changes mean no more success fees (great). But when you sell, you can only use Ping, Afterpay & Cash. The reason is stated to protect Users as 90% of scams use Bank Transfers. And, Buyers Protection is raising from $2500 to $5000. But Buyers Protection states whats covered and whats not covered (see link below). It states that Fraud is not covered by Buyers Protection. So what happens if someone uses a stolen credit card, the money goes to PING, the seller sends the item, and the seller is paid. Then later the charge is reversed when the card is reported stolen. ARE TM GOING TO ABSORB THE FRAUDULANT COST? Then what if the money goes to PING, the seller sends the item & the stolen credit card charge is reversed before the seller gets paid. DOES THAT MEAN BP DOES NOT COVER THE SELLER & THE FRADULANT BUYER GETS THE ITEM? It appears in that scenario PING is ineffective? If the fraudulant buyer uses Afterpay buy lots of items and defaults on payment, is the item held until 8 weeks later until the item is paid off or sent straight away? WHAT HAPPENS IF AFTERPAY IS USED, THE ITEM IS SENT, AND THE BUYER DEFAULTS ON AFTERPAY? Thats just two scenarios. I heard that Layby went bust because so many people defaulted? I dont know how scammers do frauds but thats just two instances I could think of. As an honest Seller (and buyer) I dont release an item until money is in the bank. Its simple. It 'appears' both PING & AFTERPAY are still vunerable to scammers. Can you please answer these questions? I dont have experience using PING or AFTERPAY as a seller as im a casual seller. But if I am forced to use it as a seller, I would like to know what happens in these scenarios please? Am I really protected by using PING & BP? Id never use Afterpay as a seller as Id have to send the item, wait 8wks for payment & no recourse if they default.
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flossy63 Community SuperuserYes, I understand that, But that is a risk a buyer is willing to take?, it is the buyers choice, why penalize us all by enforcing Ping on all?, we are not all the same, we sell different items, in different ways,
there should be a warning come up if they click on Cash / Bank deposit that it is their risk, pay via bank deposit, and we will not help you if something goes wrong, which when clicking they are forming a contract with, it may make them think twice if in doubt, rather than forcing Ping on all,
But Items I sell, do not impose that type of risk at all, low cost for starters, I am very unlikely to sell anything of that nature on here, as if I am finished with them, usually way past their life, They go to E-Waste etc. and if I need another, I will buy instore Brand New, I will not take the risk buying one second hand like some do, the buyer is taking a risk full Stop. I know some want to save some money but can end up costing more in a loss, so why do they?, It is totally a buyers risk to buy second hand electronics, those that sell that type of stuff, fair enough Ping should be enforced, or enforced on anything sold in those type of categories where there is a higher risk of something going wrong, or enforced over a certain value, but others second hand nick knacks, books, toys etc. small time sellers, Stay at home, long time loyal members, address verified etc. that are trusted (feedback speaks), no, we should have the choice to offer ping or not, after 21 years over 22,000 trades, had no disputes filed against me as Items not as described, if I do err I fix it pronto, so why and I and others getting punished with enforced ping?,
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opo18EditedI'm wondering if the push for ping is because of ALL the international accounts. Maybe it's cheaper for them to use ping as they may not have an NZ bank account. This site is definitely not for the mum and dad NZ sellers anymore.
But I totally agree that this and all the changes have ruined TradeMe.
With regards to "safety" re sellers, TradeMe have verified where people live, therefore if there were any problems with sellers, they have those details which would make it easier to solve any problems. I only have my auctions available to "authenticated people only" as a safeguard.
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flossy63 Community SuperuserYou need to look at the bigger picture, I cannot sell my items on Facebook the way I do here, small parts etc. Facebook is not for all of us,yes full of scammers/tyre kickers, I only put large pick up items on there on my Local pages, not market place, even some Admins on these pages muck you around, not of honest intergrity!!, oh yes there is one we personally know whom got run out of town after stealing off a charity organization she was suppose to be helping?, then other things came out of woodwork when called out on local pages, yet still Admin on a page?.But I am a seller, not a buyer although I have brought a couple of low cost items on this account recently, so why am I being punished being a good honest seller, and getting Ping enforced on me, when I have a clean record after 22,000+ trades, that is the point!, Yes us honest sellers are being unfairly punished, we have to pay extra fees to cover bad sellers which taking food off our table? yes that is being punished, we pay enough in success fees at the higher rate, when we are just trying to make an honest living? because of the rogues on the site like some big overseas sellers, their feedback speaks & should be kicked off,0
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Yes you have 100% feedback even with the 6 negative feedbacks you have received from buyers. its impressive as you say. however tm set the rules and you cant do anything about it. I don't pay any fees on my sales i receive free selling :) I'm fully protected by Ping. and feel a lot safer on tm now. every dispute I've had in the past involved bank transfer payments.
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jpicard, it's not protection when you have no choice. This is control. Protection is giving you all the information and the options, so you can make a fully aware choice.
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Callum Community SuperuserHey cataholik I like your liberal views, but do you wear a seatbelt?
Your comment reminds me of the old seatbelt arguments in the 70's.
I know you've given me all the info and it's safer but I still don't wanna and you can't make me......
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AJ Community Superuser
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flossy63
You make a good point about putting people at risk and yet the situation remains.If someone wants to pay via bank transfer, I will not stop them. I actually am not bothered about any risk, and yes I know there are scammers out there, but after all the years of selling, I've only ever been ripped off once and that was because I mistakenly sent the item before the buyer had paid and of course they didn't pay, but that was my own mistake. Otherwise, no payment, no item and no bank transfer has ever defaulted in my world.
And let's face it, these problems are going to persist because TM can't even sort their new look from the desktop site, which for me, randomly switches between either at it's own will despite my preference for the desktop site and my repeatedly pushing the 'desktop site' button.
This also presents a risk to people as I notice under the new look, if you are using quick relist, some things get listed that should not. I had a sold item that was very nearly relisted which was only a $20 item, but imagine if it was a few hundred and it got listed without you realising - which has happened to me also with a few watchers and meaning that I had to do some rearranging and change the auction to somethig else. It was a bit nerve racking. Imagine if someone bought the already purchased item and went ahead and paid you. In my thinking, it wouldn't matter if it was Ping or a bank transfer for the tidal wave that could occur for a seller afterwards.
I think they've tried to fix something that wasn't broken and instead of offering Ping as an option, it's foisted on us all without any thought to the problems that come with it. I also think they're in far too deep with these 'transformations' and there's no going back. Maybe we can blame all the tech scramble to this new idea of 'privacy' which really is a mode of tracking imho!!
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AJ Community Superuser
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jpicardEditedScammers on Trade Me frequently use sophisticated tactics, often hijacking established, reputable accounts to deceive users, with popular targets including high-value items like electronics, cars, and collectibles. Common scams include non-delivery of items, phishing attempts to steal login credentials, and "too good to be true" prices to lure buyers into fast, off-platform payments.Here are the most common scams attempted on Trade Me:1. Compromised Account Scam ("Hijacked" Accounts)- The Tactic: Scammers take over old, inactive, or phished accounts that have high positive feedback.
- The Hook: They list high-demand items (e.g., Apple products, gaming consoles, machinery) at extremely low prices.
- The Scam: They ask to communicate outside Trade Me (e.g., via email or text) and insist on bank transfers rather than using Ping. Once paid, they disappear, leaving the original account owner and the buyer both as victims.
2. Phishing Emails & "Buy Now" Scams- The Tactic: After you have sold an item, scammers send fake emails posing as Trade Me, claiming payment failed or that you need to confirm your details to receive funds.
- The Scam: These emails contain links to fake websites that steal your credit card, bank account, or Trade Me login details.
3. Fake "Secure" Payment Link Scam- The Tactic: A buyer pretends they have already paid and sends a link to a fraudulent site that looks like a Trade Me page, telling you to "register your bank account" to release the funds.
- The Scam: This is a phishing attempt aimed at stealing bank login credentials.
4. Username/Secondary Offer Scam- The Tactic: A scammer observes an auction for a high-value item and then emails the unsuccessful bidders (using their username to guess their email address).
- The Scam: Posing as the seller, they claim the first buyer fell through and offer the item to the runner-up, provided they pay quickly via bank transfer.
5. Overpayment Scam- The Tactic: A buyer "accidentally" overpays for an item and requests a refund of the difference, or sends a fake screenshot of a bank transfer that includes extra funds, asking for the excess to be returned, often via a non-traceable method.
- The Scam: The original payment is either fake or fraudulent, and the refund comes out of the seller's pocket.
How to Protect Yourself on Trade Me- Use Ping: Only accept payment via Ping (Trade Me's secure payment system) for protection.
- Be Wary of "Too Good to Be True": If a luxury item is listed for 50% of its market value, it is likely a scam.
- Check Recent Activity: If a seller has high feedback but has not sold anything in several years, their account may have been recently compromised.
- Keep Communication On-Site: Never communicate with buyers/sellers outside of the Q&A section or Trade Me's messaging system.
- Never Click Links: Trade Me will not send you links in emails asking for your password or credit card details.
- Use Community Watch: Report any suspicious listings using this button at the bottom of every listing.
If you believe you have been scammed, contact Trade Me support immediately and report it to Netsafe or CERT NZ.0 -
jpicard
You seem to have changed your tune a bit. Earlier on you were critical of Ping, now you seem to be onboard with it - almost selling it to us. You are of course, allowed to change your mind, but it stands out a bit.
Honestly though, if a scammer is going to try all of that to get someone's money, then why purchase online anywhere for anything? We might as well go back to instore shopping. Why would anyone want to use their credit card or do a bank transfer to pay for anything? After all, given your post and the hazards of it's not just TM that's a 'risk' ... maybe platforms like TM and online shopping altogether, are outdated and need scrapping.
cataholik - I agree it is a form of control.
AJ - yes I agree, those things are a risk, but we're adults and taught over the years that we've had the internet, how to be careful with our details and also how to recognise scam emails.
Overall, our information on Ping goes somewhere and gets shared with some unknown entity. Who is to say that it is an entirely 'safe' platform free from scammers and the like? If scammers are that clever, then no online platform is immune. It seems like some are just paying lip service to 'being safe' and I for one, don't buy it!
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Callum, funnily enough, yes I do wear a car seatbelt. I have all the information, I know the risks (yes there are risks) and I'm 100% using the belt option. There are still people who don't, and some end up dead. I'm all for safety options being available, I'm not so comfortable with options being removed. To further your analogy, most cars (I don't know if all) will still operate if occupants aren't wearing seatbelts.
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AJ Community Superuser
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S Community SuperuserKia Ora retrocentric,
Just clarifying the Ping system for you,
Ping is TradeMe's own built in payment system, owned & operated by the company, Trade Me Limited. - All payment processing is onsite, not sent off to a 2nd entity. - Payment card details can be entered per purchase rather than being saved onsite, if the Member prefers not to save their card details for a quicker purchase payment process, this remains entirely in the hands of the Member. - Hope this helps.
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jpicardEdited
Ping is very safe and secure and owned and operated by Trademe. Ping is more than a method of payment its also insurance. the times are changing fast and there are some amazing things going to happen with tech and travel by 2030 so i believe it pays to keep up with the changes happening right now! Trademe would have looked at many Models before making the decision to make these changes. upgrades and updates are happening daily at the moment. They take our Safety very seriously and I fully support them.
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jpicard - my bad, I read back through the thread and see you're a complete Ping supporter so I was definitely mistaken. PS I read your last comment prior to your edit - ouch!
S - yep thanks.
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traders can still use bank transfer outside of TM for complete payment. a lot of sellers don't list post costs and require bank transfer for post payment. this could be a way to avoid refunds on post costs if there is a problem with the sale. or they want to charge high cost for post after the auction closes or they just don't know the post costs at the time of listing. either way there is zero insurance on bank transfers. if you have an issue after paying in full with bank transfer then you are on your own tm will not help and feedback will be all you have left. tm will advise you to go to the Disputes Tribunal (outside of tm) if you buy an item unknowingly from a scammer that has compromised an old account and have paid them with Ping, then TM will instantly refund you via the Ping Company and take control of the issue. if you have used bank transfer to pay the scammer then you will have lost the payment completely. traders still have a choice but TM are saying we have offered you a safer way of buying so please use it.
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this is the reply from the Trademe AI Chat
Q: are traders still protected after paying via bank transfer?Trade Me · AI says:If you pay by bank transfer, you’re not covered by Buyer Protection. Only payments made with Ping or Afterpay are protected. If something goes wrong with a bank transfer, Trade Me won’t be able to help sort it out. It’s always safest to use Ping or Afterpay for extra peace of mind.
Sources:
- Buyer Protection
- Big changes for Trade Me Marketplace
- Non-delivery scams
- Buyer Protection policy
- Payment options
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Bank transfer removed as an option
We removed bank transfer as a payment option starting from 10 March 2026. While most fraudulent activities on Trade Me are resolved quickly, 90% of the scams that we couldn't help our members with last year involved bank transfers. Since we have zero visibility of those transactions, we can’t protect you or step in if something goes wrong
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Hackers primarily compromise Trade Me accounts by stealing login credentials through phishing, utilizing previously leaked password data, and exploiting the lack of mandatory multi-factor authentication (MFA) to take over established, high-feedback accounts. These compromised accounts are then used to run fraudulent "buy-now" scams, often by listing popular, high-value items to lure in new victims. Here are the primary methods hackers use to compromise Trade Me accounts:1. Phishing Attacks (Fake Emails and Texts)Scammers send sophisticated phishing emails or SMS messages that appear to be from Trade Me, urging users to click a link and log in to a fraudulent site that mimics the real platform.
- Harvesting Credentials: These fake sites harvest usernames and passwords.
- Session Token Theft: Some attacks use malicious files (.exe or .scr) to steal browser cookies and session tokens, allowing hackers to bypass login screens entirely.
2. Credential Stuffing (Reusing Passwords)Hackers buy databases of usernames and passwords leaked from other international website breaches and use automated tools to try these combinations on trademe- The Problem: Many users reuse the same password across multiple sites, including their Trade Me account.
3. Exploiting Lack of Mandatory MFAWhile Trade Me offers two-factor authentication, it is not mandatory for all users. Hackers specifically target accounts that lack this second layer of security, making it easier to gain access once a password is stolen.4. Directing Activity Toward "Non-Secure" PaymentOnce inside an account, hackers quickly change the registered email and bank account details (often to foreign debit cards like Wise). They then list items and insist that buyers pay via bank transfer rather than through Trade Me’s secure "Ping" payment system.How to Protect Your Account- Enable 2FA: Activate two-factor authentication (MFA) in your Trade Me security settings.
- Use Unique Passwords: Never use your Trade Me password on any other website.
- Check for Unusual Activity: If you receive notifications for listing changes or logins you didn't initiate, change your password immediately.
- Be Skeptical of Emails: Do not click links in emails claiming your account is suspended; instead, go directly to the Trade Me website.
- Use "Ping": As a buyer, prefer using Ping, which offers better protection against fraud.
If you believe your account has been compromised, contact Trade Me immediately via abuse@trademe.co.nz or use their Community Watch feature.0 -
jpicardEdited
Saftey
I was wondering how many people know that Google scans and reads every email you send or receive? including attachments. Gmail accounts are set to be scanned by default. They scan emails with AI and also have full access to reading every email personally if they want. but because there are So many they use AI. they scan for key words and use the data for advertising. I can help traders with this issue and show how to stop google doing this and suggest a better free email that is secure if anyone is interested in safety and privacy.
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