Fraud Policy

Last updated: March 16, 2026

1. What we consider fraud

• Identity impersonation, fake ownership, or misrepresentation of authority to sell.
• Payment diversion attempts, off-platform pressure, or fake escrow/payment instructions. Note: Equimeta itself is not an escrow service — anyone claiming to "release Equimeta funds" outside the Deal Room or asking you to wire money to an "Equimeta escrow account" is impersonating us. In the Deal Room, payment is processed by Stripe directly to the seller's connected Stripe account; we do not take custody of funds.
• Fabricated documentation, manipulated veterinary or transport records, or knowingly false disclosures.
• Coordinated abuse, scam networks, account takeovers, and repeated deceptive activity.

2. Prohibited conduct

Users may not use Equimeta to deceive buyers or sellers, solicit payments outside approved flows, evade moderation, submit malicious reports, or impersonate another person or business.

3. Evidence we need for investigation

• Listing URL, profile URL, and timeline of what occurred.
• Screenshots or messages showing suspicious behavior.
• Any payment instructions, receipts, or documents involved.
• Contact details if you want a direct follow-up.

4. Response and SLA targets

For fraud reports submitted through Equimeta, we target:

• Acknowledgment: within 24 hours.
• Initial investigation: within 2 business days.
• Escalated or complex investigations: ongoing updates every 3 business days until resolution.

SLA targets are goals, not guarantees, and may vary based on evidence quality, case volume, or legal constraints.

5. Enforcement actions

We may remove content, restrict features, suspend accounts, or permanently ban users when fraud risk is confirmed. We may also preserve records and cooperate with law enforcement where required.

6. Submit a fraud report

Use the form below for fraud concerns, including reports from users without an account.