Common Scams & How Matchouse Prevents Them

Online marketplaces can attract fraudsters — but Matchouse is built with multiple layers of protection, verification, and smart detection to stop scams before they reach you. Here's what to look out for and how we keep your experience safe.

Last updated 8 months ago

1. 🚨 Common Scams to Watch Out For

Understanding the most frequent scam types can help you avoid risk:

a. Fake Listings

  • Scammers post attractive properties at very low prices to bait users.

  • They often ask for a holding deposit upfront without a proper viewing.

🚫 On Matchouse: Property listings are allowed only from landlords and estate agents, not buyers or tenants. We verify users before their listings go live.

b. Off-Platform Payment Requests

  • A fraudster may ask you to pay through bank transfer, crypto, or another app instead of using the platform.

🚫 On Matchouse: We never handle payments, and we strongly warn users not to send money outside verified service channels.

c. Service Provider Impersonation

  • Scammers may pretend to be professionals (e.g. a gas engineer or solicitor) without real credentials.

🚫 On Matchouse: Verified service professionals can add ID checks, business details, and reviews. You're always encouraged to check their profile and ID-verification badge.

d. Phishing or Link Scams

  • You receive a suspicious message with a link to an outside website.

🚫 On Matchouse: Messages are automatically scanned for harmful links. Report anything unusual immediately.

e. Overpayment Refund Scams

  • A scammer offers to pay more than the asking price, then asks for the difference to be refunded.

🚫 On Matchouse: All messaging is traceable, and suspicious behaviour can be reported directly. Overpayment tactics are flagged by our system.

2. 🔒 How Matchouse Keeps You Safe

Our platform is built with security at the core. Here’s how we help stop fraud:

Feature What It Does

User Role Restrictions

Only landlords and agents can list properties, which limits fake listings.

ID Verification

Users can verify with ID and badge for increased credibility.

Listing Review System

All listings are checked for red flags before going live.

Lead Access Controls

Only verified professionals can buy leads and respond to service requests.

Smart Chat Protection

Spam filters and link scanners prevent phishing and block risky content.

Behaviour Monitoring

Our system tracks unusual behaviour and takes action instantly.

3. 🔐 Your Role in Staying Secure

Even with platform protection, you should:

  • ✅ Keep communication and negotiations within Matchouse

  • ✅ Avoid sharing personal or banking details

  • ✅ Check for verified badges on user profiles

  • ✅ Be cautious of too-good-to-be-true offers

  • ✅ Use the Report button whenever something feels off

4. 🧠 Example Scenarios

❌ Suspicious Message Example:

"Hi, I’m moving abroad. You can secure the flat by sending a deposit to my Revolut account. I’ll mail you the keys."

➡ What to do: Stop communication, click "Report", and do not send money.

✅ Safe Service Scenario:

You post a job for a boiler service. A verified heating engineer replies, shows their profile with reviews, and agrees to quote after a site visit.

➡ This is how Matchouse is meant to work — direct, safe, and traceable.

5. 📣 What to Do if You Suspect a Scam

  • Click “Report” on the chat or listing

  • Open Live Chat with our team

  • Describe the issue clearly — we investigate all reports

  • In serious cases, we may suspend or permanently ban the user

FAQs

Can scammers still get through the system?
While no platform can prevent 100% of attempts, our smart moderation and user controls reduce this risk significantly.

Can I get my money back if I was scammed off-platform?
Unfortunately, if the transaction occurred outside Matchouse, we cannot assist with refunds. That’s why we urge all users to keep deals on-platform.

Is Matchouse a payments platform?
No. We connect users and provide lead matching, chat, and listings — not escrow or payment handling.

Need Help?

Think you've encountered a scam or want tips on staying safer?
Visit the Trust & Safety section or start a Live Chat with our support team.