Most local marketplace deals are simple: a clear listing, a normal conversation, and a fair exchange. Trouble usually starts when the deal shifts away from the item or service and turns into pressure, links, codes, refunds, or unusual payment instructions.
If you are buying or selling locally, start by browsing posts on Explore and keep early messages focused on the deal. If you are new to the basics, the Support Center is a good starting point.
Do not share verification codes
A real buyer or seller does not need a one-time passcode from your phone, email, bank, or payment app. If someone says they need a code to prove you are real, stop the conversation. Verification codes are for signing in to your own accounts.
Be careful with overpayments
If a buyer sends too much money and asks you to refund the difference, slow down. Overpayment scams often rely on a payment that later fails or reverses while the refund you sent is gone. The cleaner answer is to cancel and restart the payment for the correct amount.
Avoid gift cards, wire transfers, and crypto for local deals
The FTC has repeatedly warned that scammers favor payment methods that are hard to reverse. Gift cards are for gifts, not marketplace payments. Wire transfers, cash reload cards, and cryptocurrency can leave you with little practical recourse if the other person disappears.
Check payment in the app, not in a screenshot
Screenshots and forwarded emails can be faked. If you accept a digital payment, verify it by opening your own payment app or bank account directly. Do not ship, hand over an item, or mark a job complete based only on a notification someone sent you.
Use local judgment
Meet in public when it makes sense, bring another person for higher-value exchanges, and keep personal details private until they are needed. If the other person pressures you to move fast, leave the platform, or ignore your own checks, that is a sign to pause.
Before any meetup, review Safety Tips and keep exchanges in well-lit public places. When you are ready to post, publish from Create a post so local buyers can find you on Explore.