Buying from the flea market in Tarkov can be a risky business if you’re not paying attention. There are players out there who exploit the system to scam unsuspecting buyers out of their hard-earned Rubles. A YouTube video by a streamer named Tucoof illustrates just how easy it is for scammers to make millions off players who aren’t careful.
The Scam Explained
The scam works by manipulating the way the flea market sorts items by price per unit. Here’s how it’s done:
Identify a Popular Item: The scammer picks an item that is frequently and rapidly bought and sold on the flea market. Any item in very high demand will work.
Manipulate the Price: The scammer buys out all the cheaper listings of the item, driving the price up. For example, if chocolates are selling between 30,000 and 50,000 Rubles, the scammer buys out all listings at the lower end, effectively pushing the minimum price up.
Create a Pack Listing: Here’s where the scam gets clever. The scammer lists a pack of the item (e.g., 69 chocolates) at a significantly higher price per unit than normal (e.g., 50,000x69=4,140,000 Rubles), while manipulating the price and ensuring that the price per unit of teir listing is still lower than any other listing. Because the flea market sorts items by the lowest price per unit, the scammer’s pack listing appears at the top, even if it's a pack of several units that costs millions of Rubles.
Continual Manipulation: The scammer keeps an eye on the flea market and buys any new listings that are cheaper than their own, ensuring their overpriced pack remains at the top of the list.
Autopilot Buyers Fall Victim: To save time, many players buy items on the flea market quickly, often without checking the details. They instantly purchase the first item on the list, assuming it's the cheapest because their list is set to sort by price. What the reckless buyers don’t realize is that this top listing is actually a stack of multiple overpriced items. As a result, they not only pay more than the normal price per unit, but they also end up buying a large quantity, spending much more money than if they had bought just one overpriced item.
Repetition: While executing his diabolical plan, the scammer purchases any new listings that are priced below his pack's cost per unit, accumulating more of the item to sell. The scam can be repeated as many times as the scammer desires.
Yes, you've been scammed!
The buyers who fall for this scam end up spending millions of Rubles on items that are worth a fraction of what they paid. In a YT video, Tucoof shows several streamers falling into his trap. One is Lvndmark, who doesn't take it very sportingly and looks a little annoyed (can't blame him, it probably doesn't feel great being duped in front of the thousands of people watching his stream!). Others just laugh at the scam, probably because it’s the end of the wipe, and we are all rich.
How to Avoid Getting Scammed
Here are a few tips to help you avoid falling victim to these types of scams on the flea market:
Avoid Buying in a Rush: Scammers rely on players being in a hurry and not paying attention. Take a moment to review the listing details before confirming a purchase. This is important also when a certain type of item is sold very quickly, and you keep clicking "Purchase" and hitting "Yes" to buy the cheapest before anyone else. If in the meantime a scammer lists a large stack, and you have the money to buy it, you will buy the whole pack.
Be Aware of Market Prices: Know the average price range of items you regularly buy. This way, you can notice if something is overpriced. Just wait, and the price should stabilize again shortly.
Stay Informed: We will keep posting about future possible scam when we get to know them. Keep checking TTC and subscribe to our newsletter to receive the most important news directly in your inbox!
Check Tucoof's video to see Lvndmark's and other streamers' reactions to the scam.
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