How do I spot fake or fraudulent accounts?

Every account needs a confirmed e‑mail, and a verified phone number is required to post listings or start conversations. Automated sign‑ups and login attacks are blocked with CAPTCHA and limits on failed login attempts, and messaging is rate‑limited.

To protect yourself, watch out for:

New accounts with no ratings and prices that look too good to be true.
Requests to talk or pay off the platform – these break the rules and remove your Buyer Protection.
Pressure to decide quickly or evasive answers to basic questions.

A seller with the checkmark badge (“Verified seller with buyer protection”) has completed Stripe’s identity verification. If something feels off, report the account – the team investigates within 24–48 hours.

More in “Safety and community”

How do I report a user? How do I report a suspicious listing? How do I block or unblock a user? How do I communicate with other users? How do I follow a user? How does PC Parts keep the platform safe? How are buyers protected from scams? How are sellers protected from scams?

Need more help?

Contact the PC Parts team