Staying Safe: Deposits, Verification and Red Flags

Fraud in this space is simple and survives because almost nobody who gets caught by it ever reports it. Here are the common schemes and the signs that show up before any money changes hands.

Card deposits

The most common scheme by far. A deposit is requested "to confirm you're serious," and then the contact disappears. Sometimes a second transfer is requested — "the first one didn't go through." The rule is simple: a stranger doesn't get money up front, under any pretext.

Bait-and-switch

Someone other than the person in the photos shows up. The bet is that you won't make a scene. The defense is a short video call beforehand and refusing any deposit — if there's nothing to pay for in advance, there's nothing to switch.

Agencies posing as independent listings

Dozens of ads run by a single operator, photos pulled from anywhere. Tells: identical writing style across different profiles, evasive answers to specific questions, the address only surfacing at the last minute.

Blackmail

A meeting gets recorded, then money is demanded to keep it quiet. Paying doesn't end it — the demands don't stop at one. Extortion is a crime regardless of the circumstances under which the recording was made; it's worth involving the police rather than the person demanding money.

What lowers the risk

• No deposits to strangers, ever
• A short video call before meeting
• Neutral ground for a first meeting
• Someone you trust knowing the address and time
• A separate number and email, not tied to your regular accounts

On your digital footprint

Don't use your main account to message. Don't send photos of ID — no legitimate check ever needs one. Don't mention where you work; that single detail is usually what makes blackmail possible in the first place.