Most deals on Jinu go smoothly because they are local and in person. But scams do happen. This guide covers what you need to protect yourself, your money and your personal information.
If any of these are true, slow down. Multiple flags at once is a near-certain scam.
Rule of thumb: One red flag means be cautious. Two or more means walk away. Scammers count on you feeling awkward about backing out. You owe a stranger nothing.
Knowing the playbook is the best defense. These are the scams we see most often on local marketplaces.
A buyer offers to pay by cheque or money order, often for more than the asking price. They ask you to deposit it and wire back the difference. The cheque bounces days later, after you have already sent real money.
Rule: Never accept overpayment. Never wire money to a stranger. Cashier's cheques and money orders can be forged; they are not safe.
Scammers steal listing photos from real rental sites and repost the property below market. They claim to be overseas and cannot show it in person. They ask for a deposit or first month's rent up front, then vanish.
Rule: Never pay for a rental you have not visited in person. Always meet the landlord at the property. If they cannot show it, walk away.
A fake employer contacts you about a job, sometimes one you never applied for. After some back and forth they ask you to buy equipment, software, or gift cards for the role, promising a reimbursement that never comes.
Rule: Legitimate employers never ask new hires to buy equipment up front or to pay any kind of fee to start work.
A buyer insists on a specific escrow service for safety and sends a link to a convincing but fraudulent website. You send the item, or the seller sends their banking details, and the escrow disappears.
Rule: For local deals, cash in person is safest. If you must use escrow, use Escrow.com and type the address yourself, never from a link.
A buyer asks to check that you are real by texting you a code and asking you to read it back. They are setting up a Google Voice number in your name to use for future fraud.
Rule: Never share a verification code you did not request. No real buyer needs to verify you this way.
A buyer says they are too busy to meet but will send a courier to collect the item and pay afterwards. The courier collects the item; the payment never arrives.
Rule: Payment has to be received and confirmed before you release anything, especially to a third party you have never met.
Someone sends a link claiming to be a shipping label, a payment confirmation, or a verification page. The site looks real but steals your login details or payment information, or installs malware.
Rule: Do not click links from people you do not know. Everything legitimate on Jinu happens in the in-app messages, not through outside links.
Items are advertised as brand-name, authentic, or in better condition than they are. The usual targets are electronics, designer goods, concert tickets and collectibles.
Rule: Inspect thoroughly before paying. For anything expensive, have an expert verify it on the spot. Buying tickets? Only pay after checking them in the venue's own app.
How you pay matters as much as what you pay. Some methods offer chargeback protection; others are final the moment you send.
| Method | Safety | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cash, in person | Best for local | Inspect the item and count the cash before handing anything over. Meet in public. |
| Credit card | Good | Comes with chargeback protection. Best for shipped items through a proper checkout page. |
| PayPal Goods and Services | Good | Buyer protection applies. Never use Friends and Family with a stranger; it waives that protection. |
| Bank or wire transfer | Risky | Irreversible once sent. Only for people you know personally. |
| Zelle | Risky | No buyer protection. Transfers are instant and permanent. Only with people you trust. |
| Venmo | Risky | Friends and Family has no protection. The Goods and Services option exists but is not always available. |
| Cash App | Risky | No buyer protection. Transactions cannot be reversed. |
| Cryptocurrency | Risky | Irreversible, anonymous, and a scammer favourite. Avoid it for marketplace deals. |
| Gift cards | Never | No real seller or buyer ever needs gift cards. This is always a scam. |
| Cheque or money order | Never | Can be forged. Banks may credit the funds before the cheque clears, then it bounces days later. |
| Fake escrow sites | Never | If a buyer recommends a particular escrow site, assume it is fake. Only use Escrow.com directly. |
Most local transactions involve meeting a stranger. These steps lower the risk to almost nothing.
Safe exchange zones: Many police departments designate their parking lots as official safe exchange zones for online transactions. They are well lit, usually have cameras, and have officers nearby. Search for a safe exchange zone in your city to find one near you.
Shipping introduces more risk than meeting in person. Both sides need to take extra care.
Every category has its own common scams. Here is what to watch for in each.
Act quickly: the sooner you report and contact your bank, the better your chances of recovery.
First 24 hours matter most. Banks can sometimes recall a wire if you call within hours, but the window closes fast.
Whatever the scammer says, that they can get your money back, that they are from law enforcement, that you only need to pay one more fee, stop.
Screenshot every message, the listing, any payment confirmations, email addresses and phone numbers. Delete nothing.
If you paid by card or PayPal, request a chargeback. If you wired money, call your bank's fraud line: some wire recalls are possible in the first 24 hours.
Use the report link on the listing page so we can remove it and protect other people. For urgent help, email safety@jinu.app.
Contact your local police, especially if you met in person, then report to the FTC and the FBI below. Reports help investigators build cases even when your own money cannot be recovered.
Scammers sometimes come back posing as recovery agents who charge a fee to get your money back. They will not, and that is another scam.
When something serious happens, these are the agencies to contact. Bookmark them.
Tap through these before you commit. If any item gives you pause, slow down.
Report it. We review every flag within hours. Your report protects everyone who sees the listing next.