Recognising and avoiding scams on Tori.fi
Tori.fi is Finland’s most popular peer-to-peer marketplace, and most deals go through without any problems. Scammers, however, have found their way to Tori too, and especially ToriDiili and payment scams targeting sellers have increased.
How do you recognise a trustworthy seller?
- Check the seller’s profile and reviews - A trustworthy seller often has positive reviews. The more reviews, the more reliable.
- Age of the profile - An account that has been active longer is usually more trustworthy than one just created.
- Number of items for sale and sold - An active seller with several successful deals is usually reliable.
- Contact details - Trustworthy sellers often provide a phone number and reply to messages quickly.
- Quality of the listing - A good listing has accurate product details, genuine photos and a realistic price.
The most common signs of a scam on Tori.fi
- An offer that is too good - If the price is significantly below the market price, it may be a scam.
- Vague or images copied from the internet - Scammers often use images copied from elsewhere.
- Urgency in the deal - Pressure to make a quick decision is a typical sign of a scam.
- Unusual payment arrangements - A request to pay by special methods (Western Union, cryptocurrency) is a warning sign.
- The seller refuses to meet in person - Excuses for why the item cannot be seen before purchase.
- Shipping abroad - A proposal to ship the item abroad is often a sign of fraud.
- Grammar mistakes and poor Finnish - Many scam messages contain clumsy Finnish.
ToriDiili scam and phishing carried out in Tori’s name
The most common Tori scam circulating at the moment targets the seller. The scammer poses as an eager buyer, claims to have paid for the item through an intermediary service and sends a link asking the seller to confirm their bank details. The link leads to a fake page that phishes for banking credentials.
Fake payment screen and the "the payment did not arrive" trick
Another common scam is a fake payment screen. At handover, the buyer may show a picture on their phone of a "successful" MobilePay payment, even though no money has been transferred. Always check yourself that the money has arrived in your own account before handing over the item.
Checking the images with a reverse image search
One of the most important checks is to find out whether the listing’s images are genuine. Here are instructions for using a reverse image search:
Right-click the image in the Tori listing and select "Save image as...". On a mobile device, press and hold the image until the save option appears.
Go to the reverse image search tools and upload the saved image to the service. You can try several services for a reliable result.
If the same image is found elsewhere on the internet, especially on foreign websites or among product photos in online shops, it is a strong sign of a scam.
Ask the seller to take a new photo of the item with something unique, such as a piece of paper with your name or the current date.
Safe trading
- Meet the seller in a public place - Shopping centres or cafés, for example, are good meeting places.
- Inspect the item carefully - Make sure the item matches the listing and works correctly.
- Prefer cash - Cash is a safe option when the deal is made in person.
- Use Tori Turva - Tori Turva is Tori’s own payment intermediary service that protects both the buyer and the seller.
- Document the deal - Ask for a receipt or write a simple sales agreement for more valuable items.
What to do if you suspect a scam?
If you suspect you have been targeted by a scam on Tori.fi, act quickly according to these instructions:
Report a suspicious listing to Tori by pressing the "Report listing" button found below every listing.
If you have lost money because of the scam, file a police report. You can file the report online at poliisi.fi.
Save all messages, images, payment details and listing information. Take screenshots of everything, including the listing.
If you paid by bank card or bank transfer, contact your bank as soon as possible and find out whether the payment can be stopped.