If you’ve been contacted by someone you don’t know, look at their profile.
Check the Member Since field. We have good systems in place for weeding out fraudsters so it’s a good sign if someone has been a member for a long time. And watch out for very new members, people who’ve joined in the last few days. Many fraudsters use a hit-and-run approach. They sign up, send a bunch of messages, collect responses, and abandon their account.
Next, check the member’s type of membership. All Pro members undergo a fraud check when they submit their payment information, so it’s a good sign if someone is a Pro member.
Check the Identity Verified field. Verified members (with Yes in this field) have submitted a physical ID (passport, drivers license, etc), to prove they are who they say they are, so it’s a good sign when someone is a verified member.
Lastly, be very wary about responding to people who put their email addresses or phone numbers in posts. Fraudsters do this to bypass our messaging system and hide their activities.
And remember that none of these methods is 100% reliable. You should always exercise caution when dealing with people you don’t know.