New P2P Scam Alert: "Overpayment" – The Trap Targeting Kindness

In the context of cryptocurrency trading becoming increasingly popular, the P2P (peer-to-peer) market has become a channel for direct buying and selling between users without the need for an intermediary. However, alongside the convenience, this environment also harbors many risks as scammers continuously devise new tricks to seize assets. If in the past, common tactics such as requesting refunds after a transfer, forging receipts, or using stolen bank accounts were too familiar and had been warned about many times, recently a new, more sophisticated scam method has emerged, known as the "overpayment" trick. How the "Overpayment" Scam Works Step 1 – Initial legal transaction The scammer initiates a P2P transaction as usual. The buyer transfers money to the seller as per the agreement, making the transaction appear completely legitimate. Step 2 – Intentionally transfer a small excess amount. Instead of transferring the exact amount, they will intentionally send an excess of 3 to 5 USD. This is a small figure, often not large enough to alert the seller. Step 3 – A "polite" message Right after that, the scammer will send a message in a polite tone: "Sorry, I transferred a little extra, can you help me return it?" The proposal sounds very reasonable and makes the seller feel confident and willing to "help". Step 4 – The trap falls down. If the seller politely refunds this surplus outside the P2P platform, the scammer will immediately report to the system that you are conducting a transaction outside the platform – a serious violation of the policy. As a result: Your account may be temporarily locked or permanently banned. The cryptocurrency you just sold still belongs to the scammer. Your P2P trading reputation and credibility are severely affected. Why Is This Trick Dangerous? The excess amount is too small: The amount is only a few dollars, causing the seller not to be alert, considering it "not worth worrying about." Hitting the kindness psychology: Sellers often want to maintain their reputation, fear being judged negatively, so they are willing to refund. Reasonable and logical: The apology and request for "help" are presented very persuasively, leading many people to quickly agree without thinking. Lessons Learned for P2P Traders Never conduct transactions outside the platform: Even if the amount is only 1 USD, absolutely do not transfer funds outside the system. Always comply with the P2P platform regulations: Only confirm transactions within the system, do not act according to the private requests of the partner. Stay vigilant instead of being accommodating: Reputation does not come from pleasing the buyer, but from safety and transparency in transactions. If you encounter this situation: Please contact the platform's support team immediately, providing evidence to be processed according to regulations. 👉 Conclusion The "overpayment" trick is a clear demonstration that scammers always find ways to exploit weaknesses in human psychology. In P2P transactions, vigilance and the principle of "no exceptions outside the platform" are your shields against seemingly harmless but highly dangerous traps.