Safety Tips

Your safety is your responsibility. ListCrawler does not verify or endorse any listings on the platform. Please take the following precautions when connecting with people through online classifieds.

Before You Meet

• Do your research. Look for red flags in listings such as stolen photos, vague descriptions, or pressure to act quickly. If something feels off, trust your gut.
• Communicate first. Exchange a few messages or have a phone call before agreeing to meet in person. Pay attention to inconsistencies in what the other person tells you.
• Never send money upfront. Legitimate people will not ask you to wire money, send gift cards, or make payments before meeting. This is almost always a scam.
• Verify photos. Use reverse image search tools to check if profile photos appear elsewhere online. Stolen photos are a common sign of fake listings.
• Keep personal info private. Do not share your home address, workplace, financial details, or other sensitive information with someone you haven't met.

Meeting In Person

• Meet in a public place. For a first meeting, choose a busy, well-lit public location such as a coffee shop, restaurant, or hotel lobby.
• Tell someone where you're going. Let a trusted friend or family member know who you're meeting, where, and when. Share your live location if possible.
• Arrange your own transportation. Drive yourself or use a rideshare service. Do not rely on the other person for a ride, especially for a first meeting.
• Stay sober and alert. Keep a clear head during any meetup. Avoid excessive alcohol or substances that could impair your judgment.
• Trust your instincts. If anything feels wrong or uncomfortable at any point, leave immediately. You are never obligated to stay.

Protecting Your Privacy

• Use a secondary phone number. Consider using a free app like Google Voice or TextNow to communicate without revealing your real phone number.
• Use a separate email. Create a dedicated email address for online classifieds rather than using your personal or work email.
• Be cautious with photos. Avoid sharing photos that reveal identifying information such as your home, car, license plate, or workplace.
• Watch for phishing. Do not click suspicious links sent through messages. They may lead to phishing sites designed to steal your information.

Common Scams to Watch For

• Advance fee scams. Someone asks for payment before meeting, often claiming it's for "verification," "booking," or "safety deposits." Real people don't do this.
• Bait and switch. The person you meet looks nothing like their photos or is a completely different person. Leave immediately if this happens.
• Blackmail and extortion. Be cautious about sharing compromising photos or information. Scammers may use them to extort money from you.
• Fake verification sites. Links to "age verification" or "safety verification" websites are almost always scams designed to steal your credit card information.
• Robbery setups. Be wary of invitations to unfamiliar, isolated locations, especially late at night. Always meet in safe, public areas first.

If Something Goes Wrong

• Leave the situation. Your safety comes first. Remove yourself from any uncomfortable or dangerous situation immediately.
• Call 911. If you are in immediate danger or witness a crime, call emergency services right away.
• Report the listing. Help protect others by reporting suspicious or abusive listings to us at abuse@listcrawler.date.
• File a police report. If you've been the victim of a scam, theft, assault, or any other crime, file a report with your local police department.
• Contact the FTC. For fraud and scams, you can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.