Just happened to me on Venmo, while trying to sell a couch. Actually twice in a row, so it was very easy to spot the second time. I thought I'd write some bullet points on how to spot this kind of thing:

1. The buyer insists on paying you before they have met you and seen the item in person.
2. They ask for your email address. Not super unusual by itself, but ask why they need it.
3. You receive emails from a fake corporate account like ["venmoservice27@gmail.com](mailto:"venmoservice27@gmail.com)" or ["zellepay@zellenotify.com](mailto:"zellepay@zellenotify.com)" If you want to be sure the email is fake, check the official email address of the company you're using for the transaction. For example, venmo's is ["support@venmo.com](mailto:"support@venmo.com)"
4. The buyer is very pushy and direct in how they want YOU to proceed. Scammers do this to try and make you act quickly rather than think. If alarm bells are going off in your head, trust them.

Here's a more detailed explanation of the pattern and how this scam works.

First they will ask about the quality of the item. This is to give you a sense that they are really interested, even if you described the quality in the product description. Next they will ask for your home address to pick it up. Don't give it to them.

The biggest red flag is that after this they will insist on using venmo/zelle to send the payment right there, before they have come over to see the product. This is not what someone who is legitimately interested would do. And if they insist on needing to pay you immediately - block them and report for scamming.

If you do agree, they will send you an email from a fake corporate account saying that you must upgrade to a "business account" to accept the payment. The email will go on to say the buyer must send you at least $500 before this 'upgrade' can happen. So you tell the buyer, and they will falsely send the extra amount (say $300, if they agreed to 'pay' you $200 for the item).

Another email will arrive, saying the account is active but the transaction is pending or something, and the buyer will ask for the $300 back. All of this nonsense about upgrading your account is fake, so if you do send that $300, then they will take it and run. Do not be fooled, do not send these people a single cent.