Trading Safely

Meet in a public place

For in-person trades, meet somewhere public and well-lit — a coffee shop, library, grocery store parking lot, or police department lobby. Many police departments have designated “safe exchange zones” for exactly this purpose.

Don't invite strangers to your home or meet at an isolated location for an initial trade.

Bring someone with you

Especially for your first trade with someone, consider bringing a friend. If that's not possible, tell someone where you're going and when you expect to be back.

Don't rush to share contact info

Use the in-app messaging system to get comfortable with the other person before sharing your phone number, address, or email. There's no need to move off-platform until you're ready.

Check their profile first

Look at a user's trade count, vouch count, and how long they've been a member. A brand new account with no vouches isn't necessarily suspicious — everyone starts somewhere — but it's worth being more cautious and meeting publicly.

Red flags to watch for

• ⚠Pressure to move off-platform or exchange contact info immediately.
• ⚠Offers that seem too good to be true.
• ⚠Vague or evasive answers about what they're offering.
• ⚠Requests for personal financial information.
• ⚠Someone claiming to be in an emergency and needing a quick trade.
• ⚠Listings that seem designed to attract vulnerable people.

Trust your instincts

If something feels wrong, it probably is. You never have to complete a trade you're uncomfortable with. Decline, withdraw your offer, and if needed, report the listing using the flag button.

How to report something suspicious

Every listing has a “Report listing” button at the bottom of its page. Use it if you see something that violates our guidelines or feels unsafe. Reports are reviewed by admins promptly.

For serious concerns — especially anything involving exploitation or trafficking — contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline directly: