Always remain vigilant
Even thorough checks cannot completely rule out fraud. You should therefore not rely on any single factor, but should assess the offer, profile, communication, payment method and handover together.
Do not let time pressure, an exceptionally cheap offer or an alleged last opportunity push you into a quick decision.
End the transaction as soon as details become contradictory, additional payments are demanded or you feel pressured into taking an unsafe action. A legitimate transaction should allow reasonable questions and sufficient time for checks.
Communicate via the messaging function wherever possible
Conduct communication and important arrangements preferably through the suchen.expert messaging function. This keeps the offer, follow-up questions and agreements traceable within a single context.
External links or contact details may be exchanged. However, quickly switching to email, a messenger, SMS or telephone makes it harder to associate and document the communication later.
You should therefore briefly confirm any important telephone or face-to-face arrangements afterwards via a platform message.
In particular, make a written record of:
- the specific item or the agreed scope of services,
- condition, known defects and included accessories,
- price, additional costs and method of payment,
- handover, dispatch, delivery time and deadlines,
- return, cancellation or amendment agreements,
- any subsequent deviations from the original agreement.
Do not click external payment, shipping or sign-in links without checking them first. Guidance on recognising such deception can be found in How do I recognise phishing attempts and fake messages?
Assessing profiles, reviews and verifications correctly
Profile details, previous activity, reviews and any verification indicators displayed can help with your assessment. However, they are no guarantee that an offer is accurate, an item is authentic or a transaction is secure.
Reviews are based on individual experiences and may be incomplete, out of date or relate to other transactions.
A newly created profile is not automatically fraudulent. Conversely, a long-standing or well-rated account may have been taken over or misused.
Verification confirms only the particular aspect checked and the time of that check. It does not replace checking the current offer, payment details or the person’s actual authority to dispose of the item.
Check listings and offers carefully
Compare the price, description, images, location and communication behaviour.
It is advisable to exercise particular caution if:
- the price is significantly lower than comparable offers without a plausible explanation,
- the images and description do not match,
- details regarding condition, origin, availability or location keep changing,
- many very different items are being offered using the same photos or text,
- only general product images are available and specific enquiries remain unanswered,
- you are asked to confirm an alleged delivery or payment service via a link sent to you,
- you are pressured into making a quick deposit,
- the other person refuses any reasonable verification or secure handover.
A reverse image search can reveal whether photos have already been used elsewhere. However, a lack of results does not prove that the images were taken by the seller themselves or that the listing is genuine.
If necessary, ask for additional recent photographs taken from plausible angles, without requesting unnecessary personal documents.
Risks associated with marketplace listings
Clarify the model, condition, functionality, accessories, serial or identification details, and the seller’s authorisation to sell.
Where possible, inspect high-value items before making payment. Proof of purchase or proof of ownership can be helpful, but should only be shown with the details necessary for verification.
A photograph, receipt or document may be forged or taken from a different transaction. It is therefore no substitute for a comprehensive check.
As the seller, you should not rely solely on a payment receipt sent to you, a screenshot or an alleged confirmation email. Only verify receipt of payment via a bank or payment account that you have opened yourself.
Risks associated with services
Agree on the exact scope, the desired outcome, material and ancillary costs, dates, change requests and when payment is due.
Independently verify any necessary qualifications or licences if the work requires them.
For larger jobs, clearly verifiable stages of work and corresponding payments can reduce the risk. Do not pay solely on the basis of photographs or claims if the agreed stage of completion cannot be verified.
Document any changes, additional work and extra costs before they are carried out.
Security regarding lost and found items
Do not disclose all the distinctive features of a found item.
Keep certain details to yourself, for example:
- engravings,
- serial numbers,
- the exact contents,
- specific damage,
- features not visible to the public.
Let the person collecting the item describe these features themselves. Proof of ownership can also be provided through relevant details not known to the public or by means of suitable supporting documentation.
Do not request or send complete copies of identity documents unless absolutely necessary.
In the case of official documents, payment cards, keys or valuable items, it may be advisable to hand them in to the relevant authority or the lost property office.
Be cautious if a supposed finder requests money, a confirmation code, payment details or an advance payment for postage or insurance before returning the item.
Risks relating to events and tickets
Check the organiser, date, venue, seat, personalisation and transferability via the official event website.
A screenshot of a ticket or QR code does not prove its validity, nor does it prove that it has not been shared multiple times.
Do not share full barcodes and QR codes unnecessarily. Another person could try to use them before you do.
Use an official transfer method provided by the organiser if one is offered. Open it directly through the organiser’s website or app that you accessed yourself.
Assess payment risks realistically
Every payment method has its own terms and risks. Before making a payment, check the recipient, amount, payment reference, fees and any protection schemes directly with the relevant payment provider.
- Advance payments are not automatically fraudulent, but they increase your risk if the goods or services have not yet been checked. Further guidance can be found in How should I handle advance payments on suchen.expert?
- With PayPal and similar services, any protection or refund rights depend on the chosen payment type, the transaction and the applicable terms and conditions. Open the payment service yourself via the official app or website.
- If a seller you do not know explicitly requests a PayPal payment through ‘Friends and Family’ when you are purchasing goods, refuse. PayPal states that this option is intended for personal payments and that such payments are not covered by Buyer Protection. ‘Goods and Services’ is, in turn, subject to conditions and exceptions. Further information can be found in the official PayPal Help.
- Card payments should be made only on a verifiable, trustworthy payment page. Never disclose your card PIN, confirmation codes or other security details to the other party.
- A bank transfer can be difficult to reverse once it has been processed. Check the recipient and IBAN carefully and heed any warnings from your bank.
- Payments made using voucher codes and cryptocurrencies are often difficult to recover. An unexpected request for such a payment is a clear warning sign, particularly when time pressure is applied.
Do not rely on a screenshot sent to you, an email claiming to be a payment confirmation, or a message about a pending credit.
Check for incoming payment only by opening your bank or payment account yourself.
Recognising fake payment, escrow and shipping pages
Fraudsters may claim that a payment, an escrow service, a shipping booking or an identity check must be completed through a link.
Logos and names of well-known companies do not prove that the page is genuine.
Open the service in question manually through its known website or app and check there whether the transaction actually exists.
Do not enter online-banking details to supposedly receive money. Do not scan a QR code to ‘unlock’ a payment and do not pay an additional insurance, release or verification fee without an independently confirmed reason.
If someone claims that suchen.expert offers a particular payment, shipping or escrow feature for the transaction in question, check this on the website you accessed yourself or through the official contact form. A page sent to you or a suchen.expert logo is not proof.
You should check parcel tracking details via the courier company’s website, which you have accessed yourself, using a separately verified tracking number.
Further examples of typical scams on classifieds platforms can be found at the Consumer Advice Centre.
Plan in-person handover meetings safely
Where possible, arrange a handover at a suitable, clearly visible location and at a time when other people are present.
Inform someone you trust of the location and time or arrange to be accompanied. Do not disclose your home address until it is genuinely necessary for the transaction.
Check the item and any agreed accessories before completing the handover, provided this can be done safely and without causing damage.
Technical or hazardous items, or items requiring authorisation, should be inspected only by someone with the appropriate expertise.
Do not allow yourself to be pressured into changing the location or accepting a sudden change to the price or payment method. Abort the handover if you feel uncomfortable or if the situation differs from what was agreed.
When making a digital payment, do not rely on the other person’s screen; check your own account instead.
Protect your account and personal data
Only share the details that are necessary for the specific transaction.
Never disclose the following information to other users:
- your suchen.expert or email password,
- one-time, confirmation or recovery codes,
- PINs or TANs,
- full activation or password-reset links,
- session cookies or other sign-in details,
- full card or online-banking credentials.
Send a copy of an identity document only if there is a clear and lawful reason to do so and a suitable, secure transmission method is used.
Redact any unnecessary details, insofar as this is permissible for the intended purpose. The other party does not require access to your account or remote access to your device for routine enquiries.
Further guidance can be found in How can I protect my personal data and privacy online?
Preserve documents and records
Retain the information relevant to the transaction in its original form.
This may include:
- listing title, URL and listing ID,
- profile name and publicly visible profile details,
- messages and written agreements,
- price, payment and shipping details,
- payment receipts and transaction numbers,
- tracking numbers and delivery information,
- photographs, documents, dates and times,
- subsequent changes or additional demands.
Briefly confirm any agreements made during a phone call or meeting via the messaging function.
Do not record conversations without consent. Save only relevant data and do not publish the message history or the other person’s personal details without authorisation.
If you have any suspicions, stop and take action promptly
Do not send any further money and do not disclose any additional details.
First, save the relevant messages, payment details and listing information before blocking a contact or deleting any content.
Report the incident using the official suchen.expert contact form. A report allows the matter to be reviewed under the applicable rules, but does not guarantee any particular action, a refund or the enforcement of private claims.
If you have already paid or disclosed payment details, contact your bank, card issuer or payment service provider immediately via their official channels.
Guidance is available in What should I do about suspicious PayPal or payment transactions?
If you notice unusual account activity, follow the steps in What should I do if I suspect unauthorised access to my account?
If personal data has been disclosed or misused, further steps can be found in What should I do if my personal data has been misused?
In the event of financial loss, misuse of your identity, a threat or any other suspected criminal offence, you can also contact the police. Keep the original messages and evidence for this purpose. You do not have to report the matter to suchen.expert beforehand.
