Stay Safe on Open Bazaar
How to spot scams, protect your personal information, and report suspicious listings.
5 min read
The golden rules
Follow these rules for every transaction and you will avoid the vast majority of scams.
- Meet in a busy, public place — a mall, petrol station, or police station car park
- Always inspect the item before paying
- Never pay in advance to someone you have not met
- Do not share your OTP, Aadhaar, or bank details with anyone
- Trust your instincts — if something feels wrong, walk away
Common scams to watch for
Being aware of how scammers operate is the best defence.
- Overpayment scam: buyer "accidentally" pays too much and asks for a refund before the original payment clears
- Advance fee scam: seller asks for a deposit to hold the item, then disappears
- Fake escrow: scammer suggests using a fake "Open Bazaar payment service" — we do not offer one
- Counterfeit goods: always verify high-value items (electronics, luxury goods) are genuine
- Phishing links: suspicious messages asking you to "verify" your account via an external link
Protect your personal information
You do not need to share sensitive details to complete a transaction.
- Never share your OTP, PIN, or password — Open Bazaar staff will never ask for these
- Avoid sharing your home address until you are confident in the buyer/seller
- Use the Open Bazaar in-app chat rather than moving to WhatsApp immediately
How to report a suspicious listing
If you spot a listing that looks fraudulent, report it immediately. Click the "Report Ad" flag on any listing page — our team reviews all reports within 24 hours. You can also email safety@open-bazaar.com.