If you’ve been contacted by someone you don’t know, look at their profile.

Check the Member Since field. We have good systems in place for weeding out fraudsters so it’s a good sign if someone has been a member for a long time. And watch out for very new members, people who’ve joined in the last few days. Many fraudsters use a hit-and-run approach. They sign up, send a bunch of messages, collect responses, and abandon their account.

Next, check the member’s type of membership. All Pro Buyer and Promoted Seller members undergo a fraud check when they submit their payment information, so it’s a good sign if someone is a Pro Buyer or Promoted Seller member.

Check if the member has earned the Verified By Photo ID TrustShield. Verified members (with Yes in this field) have submitted a physical ID (passport, drivers license, etc), to prove they are who they say they are, so it’s a good sign when someone is a verified member.

And remember that none of these methods is 100% reliable. You should always exercise caution when dealing with people you don’t know.