How it works
How Before You Pay assesses a transaction
Before You Pay reviews the information you provide for potential warning signs and helps you understand what may need further verification before you send money.
It does not determine with certainty whether a person, business, listing, or transaction is legitimate or fraudulent.
The process
Step 1
You provide the transaction information
Submit the information you actually received, such as a listing link, message, payment request, invoice, screenshot, document, or other transaction evidence. Optional context can help the assessment understand the situation.
Step 2
We examine the evidence
Before You Pay reviews the submitted information for transaction details and potential warning signs, such as unusual payment requests, urgency, inconsistencies, or other concerning patterns.
Step 3
Available information may be checked
When applicable, Before You Pay may use available technical or reputation information to provide additional context about submitted links or websites. Not every piece of information can be independently verified.
Step 4
We assess potential risk indicators
The information is evaluated together to identify potential warning signs. The assessment also considers how much relevant information was available and how much could be checked. A higher Risk Indicator means more or stronger warning signs were identified. It does not prove fraud. A lower Risk Indicator does not guarantee that a transaction is safe.
Step 5
You decide what to do next
Before You Pay explains what it found, what remains uncertain, and practical steps you can take before paying. The final decision remains yours.
Understanding your assessment
Risk Indicator
Shows the level of potential warning signs identified in the information analyzed. Higher risk means stronger or more numerous warning signs were identified. It is not a probability that the transaction is fraudulent.
Confidence
Shows how confident the assessment is based on the quality and relevance of the information available. Limited or unclear evidence can reduce confidence.
Verification Coverage
Shows how much relevant information could be checked or supported during the assessment. Low coverage means important information may still need independent verification.
What Before You Pay cannot guarantee
Before You Pay is designed to help you notice potential warning signs and make a more informed decision. It cannot guarantee that a transaction is safe or fraudulent.
Depending on the evidence available, it may not be able to confirm:
- who is actually behind a transaction
- whether a seller or business is legitimate
- whether an item or service actually exists
- whether submitted information is complete or accurate
- whether a payment recipient is trustworthy
- whether circumstances change after an assessment
A low-risk assessment should never be treated as a guarantee that it is safe to send money.
Help us assess the actual transaction
For the most useful assessment, provide the real information you received rather than a general description of the situation.
- the actual listing link
- screenshots of messages
- the payment request
- an invoice or document
- relevant email or website information
You can also add context about the transaction. More relevant evidence may improve the assessment, but submitting more information does not guarantee that everything can be verified.
Your information and your assessment
The information you submit is used to produce your assessment and to operate the service. Your checks and reports are tied to your account and are not visible to other users unless you create a share link yourself. A shared report is a redacted snapshot, and you can revoke the link at any time.
This assessment is an automated risk assessment based on the information provided and available evidence. It is not a guarantee that a person, business, listing, website, or transaction is legitimate or fraudulent.