Scammers are an unfortunate reality of any online marketplace. Infinite Armory is not liable for any of the peer-to-peer transactions conducted using our platform, however, we are committed to doing everything possible to foster a safe, trusted environment for our legitimate users. It is essential to exercise caution, conduct due diligence, and stay alert for scam tactics before sending money. As the adage goes: “If it’s too good to be true, it probably is.”
Below is a few of our current strategies for combating fraud:
Invite-Only Vendor Registration
Registering to be a vendor is invitation-only. This ensures that any new vendor must be invited by an already-active member of the community. This policy serves two main purposes:
- Community-Driven Vetting: The invitation system empowers our community to monitor and control who becomes a seller. If you don’t trust someone, simply don’t invite them to the platform.
- Traceable Network: This system allows us to map and monitor the invitation network, tracking scammers by IP address, location, and, most importantly, their connection within the invite tree. If necessary, we can ban entire branches linked to fraudulent behavior.
You can learn more about vendor invites here.
Verified Transaction Feedback
Leaving feedback on Infinite Armory vendors is only available for buyers who complete verified transactions, which require payment submission and shipment tracking information provided by the vendor. This helps ensure that feedback is legitimate and reliable, in contrast to other platforms where feedback can be more easily manipulated. When considering sending an offer to buy an item, check a vendor’s feedback first. Look at the individual listings that the feedback is attached to in order to make sure they seem legitimate.
Profile Links
Users have the ability to link to their social media accounts and other marketplace profiles on their Infinite Armory profile. These external links provide an additional layer of verification for potential buyers, showcasing the vendor’s established reputation. It is significantly more difficult for scammers to create credible profiles with substantial history across multiple platforms, making this a useful tool for buyer due diligence. We recommend vetting vendors through these links, e.g., sending them a message to their social media, in order to get the complete picture of who you might be purchasing an item from. Be careful however of validating users through sites that do not validate user feedback on verified transactions.
Verified 
[BETA]
[BETA]We are currently beta testing an ID verification feature, which is poised to be one of our most effective anti-fraud tools. Vendors with a verification checkmark on their profiles have been manually verified by the Infinite Armory team. In the future, this verification process will be managed via a leading ID verification provider’s API, ensuring quicker and more scalable verification. You can learn more about verification here.
Red Flags
Even with these tools in place, scammers still target marketplaces like Infinite Armory and can find ways to work around the safety systems. It is critical to stay on high alert when purchasing and be on the lookout for common scam tactics. Some of these tactics can include:
Strange Payment Details
Legitimate vendors typically use straightforward payment addresses that match their name, username, or business name. Be wary of odd, random, or mismatched addresses. If a vendor accepts multiple payment methods and all of the addresses seem unrelated to each other, this could be a potential red flag.
Photoshopped Product Photos
It is a common tactic to request that a vendor writes their name and/or date on a piece of paper with the item they are selling. However, this is easily “faked” by photoshopping this information onto stolen photos and is a common tactic used by scammers. When in doubt, request that they send you a video of them writing this information and showing you the product… a video can be a lot harder to fake than a simple photo.
Poor Communication
Most vendors on Infinite Armory are U.S.-based and communicate clearly. Frequent typos, strange grammar, or awkward phrasing can be red flags.
Rejected Payments
If your payment is rejected by a processor like PayPal or Venmo, take it as a warning. Don’t simply switch methods. Payment processors will often ban an account for fraud before the scammer is aware of it.
Requests for Additional Funds
Scammers often ask for extra money after payment is made. This is against Infinite Armory’s rules and leads to immediate vendor-account suspension. Report any such requests immediately.
Final Reminder
No single red flag confirms a scam, but consider the overall situation. Always do your due diligence and ensure you are completely confident before making a purchase.
Maintaining a scam-free marketplace is not only a priority for Infinite Armory but also a collective responsibility that involves every member of our community. Your vigilance and proactive involvement are essential in making this platform a safe and trusted space for all users. If you notice any unusual behavior, suspect fraudulent activity, or encounter anything that seems off, please don’t hesitate to contact the Infinite Armory team immediately. Your reports enable us to act swiftly to investigate and address potential issues, ultimately protecting the integrity of our marketplace and the security of our user base.
