Trust & Safety

Transacting safely on Off-Grid Marketplace.

Most users here are honest people doing honest business. The handful who aren’t can be avoided with a few common-sense practices.

For buyers

• Look at the seller’s profile. Real avatar, real bio, member-since date, history of other listings? Good signs.
• Read messages, watch for red flags. Pressure to move fast, requests to pay outside the platform, prices that are too good to be true.
• Pay through the platform. Stripe-protected marketplace purchases give you recourse if something goes wrong. Wire transfers, gift cards, crypto, or cash apps off-platform do not.
• Inspect before you buy big items. For real estate especially: get an independent inspection, walk the land, verify boundaries and access.
• Verify identity for high-value transactions. Video call, in-person meet, photo of ID — whatever’s appropriate for the value.

For sellers

• Communicate through the platform. Keeps a record if there’s ever a dispute.
• Don’t ship before payment clears. Wait for confirmation from Stripe or the order system.
• Beware of overpayment scams. “I’ll send you more than the price, you refund the difference” is always a scam.
• Use tracked shipping with signature confirmation for valuable items.

For real estate buyers specifically

• Verify the agent is licensed in the state where the property is located.
• Use a title company and escrow service — never wire funds direct to a seller before closing.
• Confirm boundary lines, easements, mineral and water rights, and zoning before signing anything.

Reporting

If you see fraud, harassment, prohibited items, or any other policy violation, report from the listing or message page. We review every report.

Disclaimer

Off-Grid Marketplace provides the platform but is not a party to private transactions and cannot guarantee outcomes. Always do your own due diligence.