Trust and safety
Three layers of protection, not one
Trading scrap metal with a stranger involves real money and physical goods changing hands, often before either side has met. This page explains, in detail, the three specific mechanics that make that workable: who you're dealing with, what's actually being listed, and what happens to the money in between.
The problem
"How do I know this isn't going to go badly?"
"I'm sending photos of scrap metal to someone I've never met, and they're going to send me money, or I'm going to send them material, and I don't know which happens first or what stops either of us just not following through."
This is the exact anxiety a stranger-to-stranger deal creates, and it's a reasonable one. The answer isn't a single feature. It's three separate mechanics working together, each solving a different part of the problem.
The three layers, explained
KYC identity verification
Before transacting freely, every trader completes identity verification. This confirms a real, checkable person or registered business sits behind the account, removing the anonymous, no-history account as a starting risk on either side of a deal.
GPS-verified listings
An optional but strongly recommended step: recording a listing with location services active ties the timestamp and coordinates to where the material actually is at the time it's posted, making it far harder to list material that doesn't exist or isn't where it's claimed to be.
Escrow-held deposit
A 5% deposit of the agreed value is collected from the buyer through Stripe and held before pickup or delivery is arranged. It releases to the seller once the buyer confirms receipt, or once a 24-hour confirmation window passes without a dispute.
Every one of these layers starts with the same first step: verifying your own identity.
Register and verifyIf something goes wrong
What actually happens when a dispute is raised
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A dispute is opened against a specific order
Not a general complaint, a dispute tied to that exact transaction, with its own chat history and any GPS-verified listing evidence already attached.
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The held deposit stays held
Funds are not automatically released to either party while a dispute is open. Both sides can add further context or evidence during this stage.
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The order is reviewed and resolved
The evidence attached to that specific order, not general reputation or assumptions, determines whether the deposit releases to the seller or returns to the buyer.
Honest limitations
What these layers don't guarantee
No system removes all risk
KYC verification confirms identity, not honesty in every future interaction. GPS verification raises the effort needed to fake a listing, but doesn't make it theoretically impossible. Escrow protects the payment specifically, not the physical condition of material once it's out of the buyer's or seller's hands. These layers are designed to remove the easiest, lowest-effort ways a deal goes wrong, which is most of the actual risk in practice, without pretending to eliminate risk entirely.
What's included
Summary, and the next step
| Identity check | KYC verification, required before free transacting. |
| Listing proof | Optional GPS-verified listings, tying material to a real location and time. |
| Payment protection | 5% deposit held in escrow via Stripe, released after a 24-hour confirmation window. |
| If something goes wrong | A dispute process tied to the specific order, reviewed on its evidence. |
| Next step | Register and complete identity verification before your first trade. |
Frequently asked questions
What exactly does KYC verification check?
It confirms that a real, identifiable person or registered business is behind an account, using standard identity verification checks. It does not guarantee the outcome of any specific deal, but it removes anonymous, unaccountable accounts from the platform.
Can GPS verification be faked?
No verification system is unbeatable in theory, but GPS-verified listings tie a recording to a real location and timestamp at the point it was made, which raises the effort required to fake a listing well beyond what a photo alone would take. It is a genuine deterrent, not an absolute guarantee.
What happens if I raise a dispute?
The dispute is tied to the specific order, its chat history, and any GPS-verified listing evidence. Funds held in escrow stay held while it is reviewed, rather than being released to either side automatically, and both parties can add context before a decision is made.
Is my payment information itself secure?
Deposits are processed through Stripe, a widely used payment processor, rather than ScrapTrade handling card or bank details directly.
Verify once, trade with confidence
Registration and identity verification are free and take a few minutes.
Related reading: Why choose ScrapTrade · How it works · Built for sellers