Print-on-Demand Order Scam From Fake Buyers — How POD Sellers Are Getting Cheated
Print-on-demand (POD) has become one of the easiest ways to start an online business using platforms like Etsy, Shopify, Amazon Merch, Redbubble etc. But with the rise in new POD sellers, a new scam has also started — fake buyers placing fraudulent orders to trap sellers.
In this article, we explain how the print-on-demand order scam works, warning signs you must not ignore, and how to protect your store from financial loss.
How the Fake Print-on-Demand Order Scam Works
Scammers act like real buyers and follow these steps:
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They place a high-value order on your store
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They ask you to ship faster or outside the system
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They pretend payment failed and request personal UPI / bank transfer
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Or they send a fake payment screenshot & force you to dispatch
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After delivery or dispatch request, they disappear or report chargeback
In many cases, scammers also send phishing links to “confirm order” and steal seller login details.
Common Signs of a POD Order Scam
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Buyer is pushing you to chat outside platform (WhatsApp/Telegram)
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Asking for urgent dispatch even before completing payment
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Sending fake screenshots claiming “payment done”
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Asking for custom manual shipment instead of platform fulfillment
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Email ID looks suspicious or newly created
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Shipping address unverifiable or mismatched
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Order value abnormally high for a first-time customer
If any of these signs appear — pause and verify before taking action.
How to Protect Yourself From Fake POD Buyers
1) Never process orders outside your platform
Use built-in payment gateways only (Razorpay, PayPal, Stripe etc.)
2) Ship only after confirmed payment
Do not trust screenshots — check dashboard transaction.
3) Use address verification & fraud filters
Shopify has built-in order risk analysis — read it before fulfilling.
4) Never click suspicious links sent by buyers
They usually lead to phishing or session hijacking.
5) Enable 2-step verification on your seller accounts
Even if scammers fool you once, they cannot take control of account.
Final Words
Scammers know new sellers are desperate for orders, so they target them with fake excitement and pressure. Stay calm, verify every payment, and never fulfill outside the platform. Protecting your POD business is more important than rushing a single order.