Help us keep you safe. Running your business online comes with opportunities but also responsibilities. To help keep your interactions secure, please review these essential guidelines before listing your products, services, or properties. Staying informed helps protect you, your customers, and our entire community.
- Do not accept unusual payment methods. Never accept payment via wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. Only use secure, traceable payment methods.
- Be aware of the “Overpayment” scam. A user sends a payment for more than the agreed-upon amount, and then asks you to refund the difference. The original payment is often fraudulent and will later be reversed, leaving you at a financial loss.
- Keep communication within the platform. While our platform allows for off-site communication, keeping conversations on the marketplace’s messaging system provides a record in case of disputes. Take care when a user pressures you to move a conversation off-site.
- Use tracking for deliveries. If you are shipping a product, always use a tracking number to have proof of delivery.
- Verify all payment confirmations. Never rely solely on email notifications for payment confirmation. Always verify the transaction through the official payment provider’s app or dashboard.
Real Estate Vendors
As a real estate vendor, you may encounter unique scams. Be vigilant for users who:
- Offer to make a large deposit without viewing the property.
- Propose unusually high offers to pressure you into a quick, off-platform deal.
- Attempt to get you to verify wire instructions via email instead of a secured, verbal confirmation.
For Freelancers
Protect your time and payments when taking on new freelance clients:
- Beware of “Free Test Work.” Do not perform extensive unpaid work or provide free samples for a client who has a history of not hiring.
- Document your work. Keep a detailed record of all work and communication related to a project.
- Require payment for milestones. For large projects, establish a milestone-based payment schedule to ensure you are paid for work as it is completed.
For Job Recruiters
If you are posting job openings, be cautious of fraudulent applicants who might:
- Apply with generic, copied resumes and no relevant experience.
- Attempt to gain access to company information under false pretenses.
- Push for a quick interview outside of standard hiring procedures.
For Business Operators
When listing and communicating about your business, please be aware of these safety guidelines:
- Do your due diligence on buyers. Take time to verify the identity and legitimacy of potential buyers or investors, especially for significant transactions. Look up the person or company and check for any red flags.
- Protect your financial information. Never share your bank account numbers, tax IDs, or other sensitive business financials via insecure channels like unencrypted email or text. Legitimate business inquiries do not require you to share this information prematurely.
- Be wary of upfront payments for inspections or services. Some scammers may pose as an interested buyer who needs you to pay for a “required” inspection or service upfront. Legitimate buyers and investors typically handle these costs themselves as part of the formal process.
- Refuse requests for “excess” information. Only provide the information necessary to advance the negotiation. Be cautious if a user requests extensive, non-public details about your operations before they have made a serious, formal offer.
- Keep transaction records. For any transaction, maintain a clear, auditable record of all communications, negotiations, and payments. This helps in the event of a dispute.
- Secure your communication. While off-platform communication is allowed, be careful. If you need to discuss sensitive matters, use secure and verifiable communication channels.
Note: When conducting business it is always, if in-person dialogue is necessary, it is best to meet during the day time at a secure location, preferably accompanied by a trusted individual.
Report suspicious or misleading business listings directly to YCDA Market.
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