What's the danger of wiring a deposit to a seller I've only spoken to via text or email?

Why text and email alone offer weak verification

These communication channels don’t inherently confirm identity, business legitimacy, or even that you’re speaking with the same person consistently — someone intending to scam you can maintain this kind of limited contact without ever revealing anything that would let you verify who they actually are.

What additional verification actually helps

Independently verified business registration details, a video call, or ideally some form of platform-based verification adds meaningfully more confidence than text or email exchanges alone — the more limited your verification, the more caution a wire transfer specifically warrants.

Why wire transfers specifically carry elevated risk

Wire transfers are often difficult or impossible to reverse once sent, which is exactly why they’re a common payment method requested in scams — combining this irreversibility with minimal seller verification creates a genuinely risky combination worth avoiding for anything beyond a small, low-stakes amount.

How ScrapTrade Makes This Easier

ScrapTrade’s escrow-based payment structure holds funds securely rather than requiring a direct wire transfer based purely on limited text or email contact with an unverified seller.