Recommendation

Caution

Overall Summary

Suspicious

Why we think so

Trade Me (trademe.co.nz) is a well-established New Zealand e-commerce platform focusing on auctions and shopping, with strong local traffic and reputable domain registration since 1999. It attracts about 18.7 million visits monthly, primarily from New Zealand users. The site uses various industry-standard technologies and advertising partners, and maintains social media presence across platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. While the website is legitimate and ranked high in traffic, there are numerous user reports of scams and fraudulent activities on the platform. Users often face losses due to scams involving sellers or buyers, and Trade Me's protections apply mainly when using their official payment methods like Ping. The platform has legal history defending its trademarks and manages disputes through a designated arbitration tribunal, but customer service and scam handling have been criticized. Overall, Trade Me is a large, technically sound marketplace with some inherent risks from user scams.

Confidence Score

78%

Risk Insights

📊

High Traffic and Popular Platform

About 18.7 million visits monthly, mostly from New Zealand.

Ranks #1,662 globally and #5 in New Zealand across all sites.

Users spend over 6.5 minutes per session on average.

⚠️

User Reports Highlight Scam Risks

Many users report scams causing financial loss.

Trade Me protections apply primarily when using their Ping payment service.

Customer service complaints and unresolved disputes are common.

🛡️

Strong Domain Security and Legitimacy

Domain registered since 1999.

Uses trusted registrar and SSL certificate issued by GlobalSign.

No blacklists or phishing reports.

Contradictory Signals

While the site itself is authentic and reputable, user safety concerns stem from fraudulent users exploiting the marketplace.

Signal A: High reputation and domain legitimacy

Signal B: Significant reports of scams and poor dispute handling

Category Scores

Identity 90/100

Reputation 50/100

Technical 85/100

Content 60/100

Legal 75/100

Business Validity 80/100

Red Flags & Warnings

Multiple verified reports of scams causing significant financial loss to users on the platform.
Users frequently report poor customer service and limited support during fraud or dispute incidents.

🔎 Detailed Checks & Analysis

Domain Verification

Score: 95/100

Passed

"Long-term ownership and strong domain security reduce risk of fraudulent spoofing."

Reason: Domain is registered since 1999 with a reputable registrar and uses a valid SSL certificate.

Traffic and Popularity

Score: 90/100

Passed

"Engagement metrics like low bounce rate and long time on site suggest active and genuine usage."

Reason: High traffic volume (~18.7M visits) mainly from local NZ users confirms platform popularity.

Technology and Infrastructure

Score: 85/100

Passed

"Presence of various ad partners indicates monetization but with known vendors."

Reason: Use of trusted technologies such as Stripe, Google Analytics, and Cloudflare supports professional platform operation.

User Safety & Fraud Reports

Score: 40/100

Failed

"Safety measures exist but do not cover all transactions, leading to significant user risk."

Reason: Numerous user reports detail scam losses, poor support response, and unresolved fraudulent activity.

Legal and Dispute Resolution

Score: 75/100

Passed

"Customer disputes are common but managed via arbitration; Trade Me's role is limited."

Reason: Trade Me actively defends brand trademarks and provides dispute resolution channels.

Blacklist and Scam Databases

Score: 100/100

Passed

"No evidence of domain being flagged for phishing or malware."

Reason: No listings found on crypto scam or Google Safe Browsing blacklists.

Your Next Steps

1

Exercise caution when purchasing or selling on Trade Me; prefer using the official Trade Me payment service Ping for enhanced protection.
2

Review user feedback and scam reports before engaging with unfamiliar sellers or buyers.
3

Report suspicious listings or transactions directly to Trade Me to help improve platform safety.
4

Consider using dispute resolution services such as the Disputes Tribunal for unresolved issues.
5

Monitor news and updates related to Trade Me’s scam prevention measures and reimbursement policies.

Evidence & Citations

Trade Me reports record property listings in New Zealand
Demonstrates business growth and market presence.
User reports of Trade Me scams and frauds
Provides evidence of scam incidents and user experiences.
Trade Me Whois and DNS Records
Confirms legitimate domain registration and security certificate.

🕵🏻 Keep investigating

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