Staying Safe on Verra

Verra is built for real artists and real buyers, but any online marketplace can attract bad actors. Knowing how scams work helps you spot them early and protect yourself.

The "Is This Still Available?" Message

The most common scam on marketplaces starts with a simple message like "Is this still available?" or "Hello, is this for sale?" The sender is usually a brand new account with no posts, no profile photo, and no activity beyond messaging sellers. They may target your most expensive listings.

The message itself isn't the scam. It's the opener. The goal is to get you to respond so they can move to the next step. If you engage, they'll typically try to move the conversation off Verra to text, email, or WhatsApp. Once you're off the platform, there's no moderation and no record of what happens next.

From there, the scam can take several forms:

1. Fake payment. They claim to have paid via Zelle, Venmo, PayPal, or another service and send you a screenshot of a fake confirmation. They'll pressure you to ship before the payment clears. It never clears because it was never real.

2. Overpayment. They "accidentally" send too much and ask you to refund the difference. The original payment turns out to be fraudulent and gets reversed, and you're out whatever you sent back.

3. Fake shipping or escrow. They insist on using a specific shipping service or payment escrow that turns out to be a phishing site designed to steal your information.

Red Flags to Watch For

Not every unfamiliar message is a scam, but certain patterns should make you cautious:

• New accounts with no posts or followers that jump straight to messaging sellers.
• Generic messages that don't reference specific details about your listing, or that ask questions already answered by the listing itself (like whether an item is available when the listing clearly shows it in stock).
• Requests to move off Verra. A legitimate buyer has no reason to move to text or email. Verra's messaging works, and keeping communication on the platform protects both of you.
• Urgency and pressure. Scammers want you to act before you think. Real buyers are patient.
• Payment outside of Verra. If someone asks you to accept payment through Venmo, Zelle, Cash App, or any method outside of Verra's checkout, it's a scam. Verra's checkout process through Stripe is the only way to ensure both you and the buyer are protected.
• Offers that seem too good. Offering full asking price with no questions on a high-value item, or offering more than you're asking, is not how real buyers behave.

How to Protect Yourself

Keep all communication on Verra. This is the single most important thing you can do. If a buyer asks to move to text, email, or another platform, decline. There's no legitimate reason to leave the app to complete a transaction.

Only accept payment through Verra's checkout. When a buyer purchases through the app, payment is processed securely through Stripe. You'll see the order in your Seller Dashboard with full details. If someone claims they've paid you outside of the app, don't ship anything.

Don't share personal information. A buyer doesn't need your phone number, email address, or bank details to make a purchase on Verra. If someone asks for this information, don't provide it.

Trust your instincts. If something feels off, it probably is. You're not obligated to respond to every message, and ignoring a suspicious one costs you nothing.

What to Do If You Encounter a Scam

If you receive a suspicious message, don't respond to it. You can block the account from their profile using the menu in the upper right corner.

If you believe someone is attempting to scam you or other sellers, contact us at support@verra.app with the username and a description of what happened. We take this seriously and will investigate and take action on accounts that violate our policies.

Verra's Role

We actively monitor for suspicious activity and remove accounts that engage in scam behavior. But no platform can catch everything in real time, and the first line of defense is always an informed community. The more you know about how these scams work, the harder it is for anyone to pull them off.