Egidio
Security · Carousell Philippines

Carousell scams: the Abono trick and fake GCash receipts

A "buyer" who overpays on purpose then asks for a refund, a GCash screenshot that looks real but isn't, a rider who never actually picks up the item: Carousell scams in the Philippines follow patterns Carousell itself has documented. Here's how to spot them.

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The most common Carousell Philippines scams

Most reported

The "Abono" trick

A buyer overpays on purpose, claims a hidden commission or delivery fee, and asks the seller to refund the difference via GCash before the rider even picks up the item — the delivery never happens, and the seller has already sent money.

Financial

Fake GCash/Maya payment receipts

A doctored screenshot or a claim that payment is "pending/processing" convinces the seller to hand over the item before any real money has arrived.

Impersonation

Fake Carousell support

A message impersonating Carousell's own support team pressures a seller into shipping an item before real payment goes through.

2024's top scam

The fake "Digicam" listing

Fake digital camera listings were identified by Carousell itself as the most common scam type in the Philippines in 2024 — items that were never real, sold to buyers who paid upfront.

Carousell's own 2024 Regional Scam Trends Report shows the scale of the problem across Southeast Asia: 1.28 million external links blocked, 727,000 suspicious email addresses blocked, 422,000 suspicious accounts suspended, and 309,000 community reports reviewed in 2024 alone. In the Philippines specifically, fake "Digicam" (digital camera) listings were identified as the single most common scam type of the year. Carousell's own Help Centre officially documents both the "Abono" scheme and a full list of phishing patterns — fake payment receipts, fake rider pickups, and impersonated support messages — confirming these are recognized, active threats on the platform.

How to spot a scam

What to do if you're targeted

  1. Always verify payment directly in your own GCash/Maya app, never from a screenshot.
  2. Never refund an "overpayment" before the original payment is confirmed in your own app.
  3. Prefer meeting in person and inspecting the item before releasing it.
  4. Report suspicious listings or messages directly through Carousell's reporting tools.

How Egidio protects you

Egidio detects scam signals in notifications from over 180 apps — including the messaging apps scammers use to send fake payment screenshots — on top of calls and SMS, and warns you before you fall for a fraudulent claim.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the "Abono" scam on Carousell?

A buyer overpays on purpose, claims a hidden fee, and asks for a refund via GCash before the rider picks up the item — then the delivery never happens.

Should I trust a GCash payment screenshot?

No. Always confirm the payment directly in your own GCash or Maya app before releasing an item.

How do fake Carousell support messages work?

A scammer impersonates Carousell support to pressure a seller into shipping an item before real payment has gone through.

Does Egidio read my Carousell messages?

No. Egidio analyzes notifications on your phone to detect scam signals. It does not store your conversations.

Is Egidio free?

Call and SMS blocking are free, forever. Messaging protection and Family mode are included in the Premium version.