Verify buyers & sellers before you meet
Marketplace-related crimes are up 340% since 2021 — including robberies, assaults, and worse. Verify the identity of anyone from Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist in 10 seconds before you meet in person.
340%
Crime increase since 2021
2,847
Marketplace robberies in 2024
$770M
Total marketplace losses reported
1.228B
Monthly Marketplace buyers worldwide
Meeting strangers shouldn't be this dangerous
Police safe exchange zones aren't staffed 24/7. Bringing a friend isn't always possible. Checking their Facebook profile proves nothing. You need real identity verification.
Robbery by appointment
Chicago police coined the term "robbery by appointment" for Craigslist crimes. Most happen between 2-6 PM in residential areas — broad daylight doesn't make you safe.
Fake profiles everywhere
Facebook's "real name" policy is unenforced. Scammers create convincing profiles with stolen photos and fake friend networks. You can't tell who's real from a profile.
Safe zones have limits
1,350+ police departments have safe exchange zones — but cameras aren't actively monitored, officers won't stand by during transactions, and many close at night.
$770M in marketplace losses
The FTC reports hundreds of millions in annual losses from online marketplace fraud. Facebook Marketplace alone accounts for a growing share, with the median individual loss climbing every year as the platform scales to over a billion monthly users.
Real violence against real people
In 2023, a pregnant mother in Kansas was stabbed meeting a Facebook Marketplace buyer. She survived, but dozens of others haven't. These aren't edge cases — meetup violence is documented in every major U.S. metro area, and victims span all ages and demographics.
Common marketplace safety mistakes
The standard advice sounds reasonable but leaves critical gaps. Here's why each popular precaution falls short on its own.
"Meet at a police station"
Safe exchange zones deter violence at the location, but they don't tell you who the other person is. If a scammer hands you a counterfeit item or a stolen phone, the cameras won't help you recover your money — and most stations don't have staff monitoring the lot in real time.
"Bring a friend"
A second person improves safety, but coordinating schedules is hard for everyday transactions. Many robberies target groups of two anyway. And a friend can't verify that the person you're meeting is actually the account holder who posted the listing.
"Only accept cash"
Cash avoids payment fraud, but it makes you a bigger robbery target. Criminals specifically seek out cash transactions because the money is untraceable. You've now solved one problem and created another.
"Meet in a public place"
Coffee shops and parking lots have people around, but bystanders rarely intervene. Public settings reduce extreme violence, but not scams, counterfeit goods, or identity-based fraud. The person sitting across from you could still be using a stolen account.
SnapTrust vs Safe Exchange Zones
| Feature | SnapTrust | Safe Exchange Zones |
|---|---|---|
| Identity verification | Biometric face scan tied to the transaction | None — no ID check required |
| Availability | 24/7, works anywhere with a phone | Limited hours, fixed locations only |
| Deters scams & fraud | Yes — accountability discourages bad actors | No — cameras don't prevent fraud |
| Works before you travel | Verify remotely before leaving home | Only protects you after you arrive |
| Audit trail | Verified selfie + timestamp stored securely | Surveillance footage (if cameras work) |
| Cost | First verification free, then $0.99/session | Free (taxpayer-funded) |
Add identity verification to every meetup
Before you drive across town to meet a stranger, send them a verification link. They prove they're a real person in 10 seconds. You now have a verified face tied to the transaction.
Create a verification session from your dashboard before the meetup. Add a note like "Re: Blue iPhone 15 Pro listing."
Send the link via Facebook Messenger, text, or WhatsApp. The buyer or seller opens it on their phone.
They complete a 10-second face scan — no app download, no account needed. Our 3D liveness check confirms they're a real person.
You see the result instantly: a verified selfie proving the person you're about to meet is real and accountable.
From $0.99. No subscription required.
End-to-end encrypted
Face data encrypted on your device before transmission.
iBeta Level 2 certified
ISO 30107-3 — the highest liveness standard.
10-second verification
No app download needed. Works in any browser.
Frequently asked questions
Other ways people use SnapTrust
Verify before you meet
Police safe zones protect the location. SnapTrust protects the identity. Use both for maximum safety on every marketplace transaction.