vindje.com / Guides / Buying on Marktplaats
Five minutes of checking catches most fake sellers: look at the profile age and reviews, scroll through their other listings, ask a question only the owner could answer, and run the bank account through the police check tool before any transfer. None of these alone proves anything. Together they give you a clear picture.
Open the seller's profile from the listing. Note how long the account has been active, how many reviews it has, and whether it is a private seller (particulier) or a business (zakelijk). A business has more legal obligations to you as a buyer than a private person does.
Most private sellers have a mix that fits one household: a bike, some kids' clothes, a lamp. A pattern of many similar expensive items, all priced low, all ship-only, is how resellers of stolen goods and scammers look.
Compare the photos. Same floor, same wall, same lighting across listings points to a person selling from home. Studio shots, watermarks or photos you can find with a reverse image search point to copied images.
Ask something the owner knows and a scammer has to guess. For a bike: what size are the tyres, and is the frame number readable? For a laptop: what does the battery health show in settings? For furniture: can you send a photo of the underside or the back?
Ask for a photo of the item with a note showing your name and today's date. It takes a genuine seller a minute. A seller who refuses, or sends a photo that looks edited, has answered your question.
The Dutch police run an online tool called 'Controleer handelspartij' (check a trading partner) on politie.nl. You can enter a bank account number, phone number, email address or website and see whether it has been linked to fraud reports. A clean result is not a guarantee, since new mule accounts appear daily, but a hit is a clear stop.
When you pay, your banking app may show whether the name you entered matches the account holder. If it warns about a mismatch, do not continue until you understand why.
Scammers buy or steal old accounts because they look trustworthy. Things that give it away:
The best check of all is seeing the seller in person at their home with the item. If a seller with a 1,200 euro e-bike will not let you come and look, there is a reason. Paying on pickup removes most of what you would otherwise need to verify.
At the door, a few small things confirm you are dealing with the owner: the item is in the home, not in a car boot; the seller knows how it works; and for electronics or bikes they can show a receipt, a manual or a registration in their own name. For a bike, check that the seller's key fits and turns the frame lock.
Describe what you want in your own words and vindje.com searches Marktplaats in Dutch, then reads every listing and keeps only the real matches. For example:
Bosch electric drill set with two batteries and charger, private seller with reviews, under 90 euro, pickup near ZwolleSearch Marktplaats like this
Check the account age, reviews and other listings, ask a specific question about the item, and run the bank account through the police check tool before paying.
A free tool on the Dutch police website where you can check a bank account, phone number, email or website against fraud reports.
Yes, if the account was hijacked or bought. Look for sudden new activity in categories the seller never used before.
Generally yes. Consumer protection rules apply to businesses that sell to consumers, not to private sellers. Check the listing for business details.