The safety of our community is our top priority. That’s why buyers and sellers go through a multi-step verification process, while our team and technology actively monitors for fraudulent listings, among other measures. As with any purchases made online, you should still keep an eye out for suspicious activity. Here are a few tips to help keep yourself safe.

Most importantly: never share your contact information and keep all communication and transactions on Reverb. Our team can’t provide support if we don’t have access to messages or transactions. If you have any doubts about a buyer or seller, contact Reverb Support immediately. You can also flag suspicious messages directly from the "messages" section of your account.

Signs of fraud

If you notice any of the below, let us know by contacting Reverb Support or flagging suspicious messages directly from the "messages" section of your account.

The email on your Reverb account was changed.

• If this happens, change your email address back and create a new, unique password.

You see unrecognized credit card charges.

You're asked to contact or pay someone off Reverb.

• Fraudulent sellers often request payment via MoneyGram, cashier's check, money order, PayPal, Zelle, Venmo, wire transfer, Bitcoin, etc. They may even offer you a reduced price if you agree to take the purchase offsite.
• They may also ask to be contacted via email or phone. Note that we strongly advise against any offsite communication, as this voids all buyer and seller protection.
  

You're sent to a fake "Reverb" website to input personal info.

• Scammers may send emails or links that appear to be from Reverb or another trusted website.
• Always check to ensure that you’re on www.reverb.com before entering personal or financial information.

You receive odd messages or requests.

• You should never share any personal information aside from what is needed for shipping purposes. This includes screenshots from your PayPal account or banking/credit card information.
• Keep an eye out for telltale signs of a phishing email, especially poor spelling and grammar or links requesting your password, bank account details, or credit card number.
• Always carefully examine emails claiming to be from Reverb. The Reverb team will never message you onsite. Our email communications will always be from an @reverb.com domain and we will never ask for your password, banking details, or full credit card number.

Signs of fraudulent listings and accounts

• “Too good to be true” pricing: Be wary of heavily discounted items and suspicious shipping costs, such as free international shipping. Fraudulent sellers may also offer to send a “free shipping code” to your phone or email to get you to enter information into a copycat website.
  
  
• New accounts: Always check a seller’s reviews and shop policies before purchasing. Fraudulent accounts are unlikely to have any feedback ratings.
• Not all new accounts are fraudulent, but if a seller has no feedback ratings and you notice any other signs of fraud, report it to our team.

• Unable to receive messages: If you’re notified that a buyer or seller “cannot receive messages at this time,” that means that their account is suspended or under review. If the user is legitimate, you should be able to message them at a later time. If you still can’t message them, they’re likely a fraudulent user.
  
  
• Stock or stolen photos: Only authorized retailers can use stock photos, and stock photos can only be used for brand new items.
  
  
• The seller only accepts PayPal: There are legitimate sellers who can only accept payment via PayPal. Unfortunately, PayPal is also an attractive payment method for fraudulent sellers. Here’s what we recommend:
• Before purchasing from a seller that only accepts PayPal, look for other signs of fraud, such as “too good to be true” pricing and no feedback ratings.
• If you make a purchase via PayPal, make sure to complete the checkout process through Reverb. Do not accept requests to send payment via PayPal Friends and Family, as this is common in fraud attempts.

Additional resources