When it comes to P2P cryptocurrency transactions, most traders immediately think of familiar tricks: refunds after a transfer, fake receipts, or stolen bank accounts. These forms have been warned about many times, so most traders are cautious. However, a new method of fraud has recently emerged, sophisticated and dangerous in that it preys on the complacency and 'politeness' of the seller.
This trick is called 'excess payment'.
The way the scammer operates is as follows:
First, they initiate a completely legitimate P2P transaction. The buyer transfers the exact amount agreed upon to you, making you believe that the transaction is proceeding normally.
On Monday, instead of sending the exact amount, they deliberately transfer a small excess amount, usually ranging from 3 to 5 USD. This is not a large number, making it easy for you to overlook and not feel suspicious.
Third, right after the payment, they will message with gentle words: 'Sorry, I accidentally transferred a little extra, could you refund me the excess amount?'. On the surface, this request seems entirely reasonable, and many sellers, wanting to maintain their reputation and goodwill with the partner, quickly agree.
Fourth, this is when the trap is activated. If you refund that small amount outside the P2P platform, the scammer will immediately report you for violating transaction regulations. The platform may consider this an off-system transaction, leading to your account being flagged, suspended, or even permanently banned. Meanwhile, the cryptocurrency you just sold remains completely in the hands of the scammer.
The danger of this trick lies in its sophistication. The excess amount is too small to make the victim suspicious, and the refund request sounds very reasonable. Most sellers believe that sending back a few dollars is insignificant, just a kind gesture to maintain reputation. But this 'kindness' becomes an excuse for the bad guys to take advantage.
The lesson learned is that in P2P transactions, the most important principle is to absolutely not perform any money transfer actions outside the platform, no matter how small the amount. A hasty decision can lead to not only losing your digital assets but also losing your trading account and reputation in the market.