Help Protect Yourself Against Common Scams on Mercari
At Mercari, our mission is to create a safe and secure marketplace for everyone. We continuously work to combat fraud and scams, protecting our community against malicious activities. However, we can't do it alone. Your awareness and vigilance are crucial in ensuring that we can keep our platform safe. By being informed and knowing what to look out for, we can work together to protect ourselves and our transactions from bad actors who may try to slip through our cracks.
Common Red Flags of a Scam
Scammers can be clever, but there are several red flags to watch for that can help you spot a scam before it’s too late:
In-App Messaging
Mercari will never send you messages within the app. If you receive a message from someone claiming to be Mercari through chat messages, be cautious. All Mercari communication will be displayed on your app as “Notifications.”
Example of scam message: Even though it looks like it’s from Mercari, this is a scam message as it is sent as a chat message instead of a notification.
Mercari will always reach out to you in the form of notifications.
Suspicious Links and Emails
Mercari will never send you a link to external sites. Additionally, any email communication from Mercari will always come from the domain "@mercari.com." If you receive emails from any other domain, it’s not from Mercari.
You can spot that this message is a scam when they are asking you to contact them with an email ending with @gmail.com.
Requests to Communicate Outside of Mercari
Be cautious if a buyer or seller asks you to communicate or conduct transactions outside of the Mercari platform. Engaging in offline solicitation can lead to scams, and Mercari will not be able to protect you if you move outside of our secure environment.
Misspellings and Grammatical Errors
Scammers often don’t pay attention to detail. Incorrect spelling and/or grammar errors in communication are often a red flag.
Protect Yourself with These Simple Rules
Staying safe on Mercari is easy when you follow these basic guidelines:
When in Doubt, Contact Us
If you're unsure about a message or a transaction, don’t hesitate to reach out to our support team via the Contact Us page. We’re here to help you.
You can contact us by going to My Inquiries from your menu.
Do Not Share Personal Information
Keep your details private. Never provide sensitive information such as your Social Security number or bank details outside of secure Mercari communications.
Use Unique Passwords
Avoid using the same password across multiple sites. If one service is compromised, bad actors could gain access to your Mercari account.
Protect Your Account
Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) on your Mercari account for an extra layer of security. For more information, visit Keeping your account protected.
Let Us Know When You See a Scam
Reporting suspicious activities is a crucial step in keeping the Mercari community safe. When you report, you not only help protect yourself but also contribute to the safety of everyone using the platform. There are two ways to report suspicious activities:
By keeping these tips in mind and staying alert, we can work together to create a safer marketplace for everyone. Your safety is our priority, and together, we can prevent scams and protect our vibrant Mercari community. Happy selling and buying!