Verify the seller before sending money

Verified farmers have completed more trust checks than unverified sellers, but every deal still needs clear proof and terms.

Prefer verified farmers when you have a choice, then review the farm profile, badges, account age, listing history, and public activity.
Treat unverified sellers as higher risk until the listing photos, farm policy, public activity, and account details all line up.
Review the listing photos, item description, farmer profile, shipping policy, and DOA policy before you send payment.
Be careful with sellers who avoid questions, pressure you to move fast, or will only communicate off-platform.

Keep payment terms boring and documented

Scams usually hide inside urgency, vague guarantees, and payment methods with no practical recourse.

Confirm the exact item, price, quantity, delivery method, live-arrival terms, and refund policy before paying.
Avoid friends-and-family, gift cards, crypto, wire transfers, and payment instructions that do not match the seller identity.
Keep screenshots, payment records, shipping details, and all agreement terms until the coral is settled.

Farmers publish their own shipping and DOA policies on farm profiles and listings; read those terms before you agree to the deal.

Review the farmer profile policy and the listing policy for ship days, carrier, service level, weather holds, packaging, heat/cold packs, tracking, and pickup options.
Confirm the DOA window, required photos or videos, claim deadline, refund or credit terms, and what happens if a package is delayed or damaged.
Do not accept vague or missing shipping and DOA terms for sensitive livestock, especially during temperature swings or holidays.

Most reef marketplace scams are not clever; they repeat the same pressure, identity, and payment patterns.

Price is far below market and the seller says several people are waiting.
Listing photos look reused, inconsistent, or disconnected from the farmer profile and listing details.
Seller asks you to pay a different person, use a risky method, or leave Garage Farmers before basic questions are answered.

The safest move is often to pause, ask for clearer proof, or walk away before money changes hands.

Do not pay until the listing, seller identity, shipping terms, and refund expectations make sense together.
Use Garage Farmers messages and transaction records so there is a clear timeline if a dispute happens.
Report suspicious behavior so admins can review the account and protect other reefers.