The internet has its share of bad actors looking to scam people into paying for non-existent or undelivered goods. At racemarket.net, we’re committed to preventing such scams on our platform.
Our Measures to Protect You:
- Removal of Free Ads: By eliminating free ads, we significantly reduced spammy and irrelevant posts.
- Manual User Moderation: Our team diligently reviews all registrations to identify and ban suspicious users right away.
- Inquiry Moderation: We filter inquiries to ensure you only receive genuine and relevant messages, saving you from the hassle of dealing with spam.
- Integration of secure escrow-style payments: We’ve partnered with Trustap to enable you secure payments directly integrated into your user accounts.
Despite these measures, it’s crucial to remain vigilant. Here are some essential tips to help you stay safe:
Useful Tips for Buyers:
- Beware of Deals Too Good to Be True: Scammers often lure victims with incredibly low prices. For example, a fully rebuilt Peugeot 208 R2 for €16,000 is suspiciously low. Trust your instincts and research average prices.
- Ask for Proof: Request a video call to inspect the car / spares / equipment to confirm that the advertised item exists and its in property of the seller.
- Use Escrow Services: The safest way to pay is through an escrow service. We have partnered with Trustap, to enable you escrow-style transactions with KYC and AML checks, ensuring your money is secure until you confirm the item is delivered and as described. If the car or part doesn’t arrive or isn’t as agreed, your money is safe. Just mentioning escrow to a seller can deter scammers, as they prefer untraceable transactions, so it’s a good way to learn the seller intentions immediately. Using escrow might cost up to an additional 2%, but it’s a small price for peace of mind and security. Learn more about Trustap an how to use it here.
Useful Tips for Sellers:
Our inquiry moderation helps filter out suspicious inquiries, such as those asking basic questions like “How much is this item?” (or example below).
Please note that we can only moderate the initial inquiry sent through our marketplace. Subsequent conversations between you and the buyer are beyond our control, so an inquiry that initially seems appropriate may become suspicious later on.
Steps to Protect Yourself:
- Google the Buyer’s Email: Sometimes, simply searching the buyer’s email address on Google can reveal if it has been associated with suspicious activities on other sites.
- Avoid Advance Check Payments: Never accept advance check payments. A common scam involves the buyer “accidentally overpaying” and then requesting that you return the excess amount after you cash the check. Eventually, the check will bounce, and you will be responsible for the entire amount. The scammer will have disappeared with the money you sent them. There are other forms of this scam, learn more about them here.
- Beware of Fake PayPal Emails: Scammers may send fake PayPal confirmation emails or notifications prompting you to log in via a provided link. These links lead to fake PayPal sites designed to steal your login credentials. PayPal and racemarket.net will never ask for your user data through email. If you receive such a request, do not click any links and report it to PayPal immediately.
- Wait before your ship: If the agreed method of delivery is shipping, always wait until the payment is confirmed in your bank account. Never send items based on a “proof” of transaction, as these can be easily faked. Without the actual transfer, your goods could be gone with no real payment made.
- Use Escrow Services: To ensure safe transactions, use our Trustap escrow-style solution. Partnered with Stripe, Trustap ensures the buyer is a legitimate person who will deposit the agreed amount before you proceed with the deal, helping you avoid time wasters. Learn more about it here.
Remember, you are responsible for your actions. Neither racemarket.net nor any other marketplace can protect you if you fall for a scam. Always follow the rule: if it’s too good to be true, it most often isn’t.
