If you have searched OLX Pakistan for a PS5, iPhone, or gaming laptop, you have probably noticed it.
A price that feels unusually low.
The same product appearing again and again.
Listings showing up in different cities.
All posted within a few hours.
At first, it feels like a rare opportunity. Maybe someone needs urgent cash. Maybe it is imported stock being sold quickly. Even careful buyers start trying to make sense of it because the ads look normal and appear on a platform they already trust.
In reality, this is one of the most common large scale OLX scams currently happening in Pakistan.
This scam follows a very predictable pattern. Once you understand it, spotting it becomes much easier.
Scammers usually start by listing a popular product at a price that is far below the normal market rate. A PS5 might be listed around 40,000 PKR even though the real price is much higher.
The same product is then posted in multiple cities such as Lahore, Islamabad, and Karachi. When you open these listings, you notice that the descriptions are exactly the same. The wording, formatting, and even small details do not change.
Most of these ads are very recent. They are often posted within the last eight to ten hours, which makes them feel fresh and urgent.
Instead of writing their phone number in the description, the seller places it inside the image. This helps them avoid moderation and makes it harder for the platform to detect repeated content.
When you contact the seller, they usually tell a story that fits what you are already thinking. They might say the item needs to be sold quickly or that it came from a remote area. They often explain why the price is low in a way that sounds reasonable.
Although the ad shows one city, the seller then claims to be located somewhere else. Common examples include smaller towns or remote regions such as Pakpattan, Chitral, or Gilgit.
Soon after, they ask for an advance payment. This is usually described as a token amount or a courier charge. Once the payment is sent, the seller blocks you. The listing disappears and the number stops responding.
This is not an isolated case. The same method is used across many categories, not just gaming consoles.
Many people believe scams only work on careless buyers, but this one relies on normal human behavior.
The platform feels familiar, which lowers suspicion.
The low price creates excitement before logic fully kicks in.
Multiple listings give the impression that the product is widely available.
The seller’s story matches what the buyer wants to believe.
The buyer feels lucky for finding the deal early.
Instead of forcing a decision, scammers slowly guide buyers toward justifying the purchase themselves.
If you notice more than one of these signs, it is best to walk away.
The same product appears in multiple cities
Descriptions are identical across different ads
The phone number is written inside the image
The seller’s actual location does not match the ad
There is pressure to act quickly
Any form of advance payment is requested
Courier delivery is offered without proper cash on delivery options
In Pakistan’s online marketplace environment, advance payment is the strongest warning sign.
When buying used electronics online in Pakistan, it helps to follow a simple and disciplined approach.
Try to meet in person whenever possible.
Inspect and verify the product before paying.
Be cautious of deals that feel unusually perfect.
Never send advance payments to unknown sellers.
A proper buying checklist can prevent most of these problems before they start. This is explained in detail in our complete guide on how to safely buy used electronics online in Pakistan, which covers the verification steps buyers should follow before committing to a deal.
If you are looking for a trust first approach to buying and selling electronics, snapNtrade is being built around reducing exactly these types of risks.
Scams like this do more than cause financial loss. They slowly damage trust between buyers and sellers across the entire marketplace.
The more people understand how these patterns work, the harder it becomes for scammers to succeed.
If a deal feels unusually cheap and unusually urgent, it is rarely an opportunity. Most of the time, it is a warning.
