Hello, how can we help you?

How to recognize and report fraudulent listings

Quick answer

The safety of our community is our top priority. That’s why we leverage multi-step verification processes, a specialized team, and tools to actively prevent and remove fraudulent listings. As with any purchases made online, keep an eye out for suspicious activity by using the tips below. If you feel you’ve come across a fraudulent listing, select Report Listing to Reverb on the bottom of the listing page.

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. Never submit your personal or financial information off the Reverb platform.
  • Unable to receive messages: If you see that a buyer or seller “cannot receive messages at this time,” that means that their account has been restricted. If the user is legitimate, they may be able to contact you at a later time. If you still can’t message them, they’ve likely been removed from our platform.

  • Stock or stolen photos: Only authorized retailers can use stock photos, and stock photos are typically only used for brand new or B-Stock items.

  • The seller only accepts PayPal: We don’t currently offer our Reverb Payments system in all countries, so 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, no feedback ratings, or stolen/stock images.
    • Ask the seller questions about the item you are looking to purchase. Additional photos, details about how it was acquired, or proof of purchase can help with verifying a seller before making a purchase. 
    • 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 or Goods and Services, as these methods are commonly used to defraud buyers. Remember, payments submitted outside of Reverb do not qualify for Reverb Protection.

  • New accounts: Always check a seller’s reviews and shop policies before purchasing. Fraudulent accounts generally don’t 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.
    • On the flip side, not all accounts with feedback are legitimate. It’s good to factor in multiple pieces of information before deciding to move forward with a purchase. 

How to report listings to Reverb

Use the Report Listing to Reverb link on any listing to notify Reverb’s Marketplace Integrity team of any potential listing issues or listing guidelines violations. You can find this button right above the 'Similar Products' section towards the bottom of each listing page.

Screenshot 2023-10-23 at 11.30.30 AM.png

Note: You must be signed into your Reverb account to report a listing to Reverb. Additionally, we may restrict the ability of new accounts to report listings at our discretion.

Reporting a listing on the Reverb app

On the app, use the Report item to Reverb button under the 'Recently Viewed Products' section.

Image_from_iOS.png

Was this article helpful?