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How can I identify and protect myself from scams on Peerspace?

Updated over 3 weeks ago

We Take Your Security Seriously

At Peerspace, protecting our community is one of our top priorities. While we work hard to keep our platform secure, scammers are constantly evolving their tactics. That's why we need your help to stay vigilant and recognize potential threats together.

This article will help you spot common scams like phishing emails, suspicious text messages, fraudulent in-app messaging, and deceptive phone calls that may target Peerspace users. Remember, we're always here to help if you have questions or concerns about any communication you receive.

Common Scams to Watch For

Fake Emails and In-App Messaging (Phishing)

You might receive emails or messages that look like they're from Peerspace but are actually from scammers trying to steal your information. These emails often ask you to click suspicious links or provide personal details on fake websites.

We've seen scammers impersonate our support team, create fake "account verification" requests, and even intercept communications between hosts and guests to request fraudulent payments.

Suspicious Text Messages (Smishing)

Scammers also use text messages and messaging apps to create urgency, asking you to click links or call phone numbers to "resolve" fake issues with your account.

Fraudulent Phone Calls (Vishing)

You may receive calls from people claiming to be Peerspace representatives asking for your password, banking information, or other sensitive details. Remember, it's easy for scammers to fake caller IDs to make these calls appear legitimate.

Fake Job Opportunity Scams

Scammers often pose as Peerspace recruiters or employees offering fake job opportunities for either real job openings we may have or completely fake jobs. These scams can include conducting fake interviews leading to a fraudulent offer of employment. The scammers may ask for personal information, for you to fill out forms, request payment for "training materials" or "equipment," or ask you to cash checks and send money back to them. These scams may use email, social media messages, or even text messages, and have official-looking Peerspace branding or claim to have found your resume online. If you have any questions about whether correspondence is legitimate, you can always contact us at [email protected] and we can assist you with verification. Please note our official jobs page may be found here.

How We Protect You

We've built several security measures into our platform to keep you safe:

  • Our payment system is designed to keep your financial information secure

  • We never ask for sensitive information through unsecured channels or platform messaging

  • We utilize a variety of technologies to detect and flag suspicious accounts and unusual account activity

Red Flags That Should Concern You

While every scam is different, here are some warning signs that should make you suspicious:

Platform and Email Concerns:

  • URLs that don't look quite right or don't start with "https://"

  • Emails with poor grammar, spelling mistakes, or generic greetings

  • Low-quality images or unprofessional formatting

  • “Peerspace support team” requests for payment through links in messaging

  • Messages requiring a copy and paste of a URL into your browser

Suspicious Requests:

  • Urgent requests for banking information: Be wary of any email or website that urges you to provide sensitive information, such as your banking information. A legitimate bank or business won't ask for sensitive information via email

  • Pressure to communicate or make payments outside our platform

  • Requests to "verify" your account by providing personal details

Job Opportunity Red Flags:

  • Unsolicited job offers that seem too good to be true

  • Requests for personal information (SSN, bank details) before any formal interview process

  • Demands for upfront payments for "training," "equipment," or "background checks" - Instructions to cash checks and send money back

  • Pressure to start immediately without proper vetting

Communication through personal email addresses not specifically using the @Peerspace.com domain

What We'll Never Ask You to Do

To help you identify legitimate communications from our team, remember that Peerspace will never:

  • Ask for your password via email, text, or phone

  • Request banking details through unsecured methods

  • Pressure you to take immediate action to avoid account problems

  • Ask you to communicate outside our platform for bookings

  • Demand payments through third-party services or money transfers

  • Threaten to suspend your account unless you provide personal information right away

  • Offer unsolicited job opportunities through unofficial channels

  • Ask for personal information as part of a hiring process before conducting proper interviews through official channels

  • Request that you make payment, cash checks or handle money transfers as part of any job role

We're Here to Help If You're Unsure

If you receive any communication that claims to be from Peerspace and you're not sure if it's legitimate:

  1. Don't provide any information - it's always better to be cautious

  2. Contact us directly through your Peerspace account or support.peerspace.com

  3. Forward suspicious emails to [email protected] so we can investigate

If you think your account might be compromised, reach out to us immediately. We'll help you secure your account and investigate any suspicious activity.

You're Part of Our Security Team

Your vigilance helps protect not just yourself, but our entire Peerspace community. When you report suspicious activity, you're helping us identify new scam tactics and protect other users.

We know it can be frustrating to deal with these security concerns, but we're committed to making Peerspace as safe as possible for everyone. If you ever have questions about whether a communication is legitimate, don't hesitate to reach out - we'd rather hear from you ten times about something that turns out to be fine than miss one real threat.

Questions or Concerns?

Remember, we're always here to help. If something doesn't feel right, trust your instincts and contact our support team. We'll work with you to verify any suspicious communications and ensure your account remains secure.

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