Guides
Payment Safety & Scam Prevention Guides
These guides help you recognize warning signs in listings, sellers, websites, invoices and payment requests before you send money. Each one explains what to look at, what the signal usually means, and what it cannot prove on its own.
Buying online · 8 min read
How to Check an Online Seller Before Paying
What to look at on a seller's profile, listing, photos and messages before you pay someone you don't know.
Read guidePayments · 9 min read
Red Flags to Check Before Sending Money Online
A plain-language list of payment warning signs, plus why a single signal is rarely proof on its own.
Read guideWebsites · 9 min read
How to Check a Suspicious Website Before Buying
What a domain, a padlock and a polished design can and cannot tell you about an online store.
Read guideMarketplaces · 9 min read
Marketplace Scam Warning Signs to Check Before Paying
Deposits, shipping stories, fake payment screenshots and overpayments — what to check before a marketplace deal.
Read guideCanada · 9 min read
E-Transfer Scam Warning Signs in Canada
Unexpected requests, fake notification emails and impersonation — how to slow down before sending an e-transfer.
Read guideThese guides provide general information only. They do not guarantee that a transaction, seller or website is safe or fraudulent, and they are not legal, financial or law-enforcement advice. Before You Pay is an automated risk assessment tool, not a bank, credit bureau, seller-verification service or official fraud authority.