OfferUp San Diego: Is It Safe? Trust Score & Scam Guide

If you're checking whether OfferUp San Diego is safe before you buy or sell, HasTrust gives the marketplace a Mixed trust score of 62/100. OfferUp is a legitimate and widely used app, but it works essentially as a digital garage sale where safety depends heavily on your own caution. The platform offers in-app payments and buyer protection for shipped items, yet local cash transactions carry zero protection and are considered final, and users frequently report scams and poor support.

offerup.com
66
Mixed🏪 MarketplaceBuy
🔗https://offerup.com
Why this score?
Base reputation62
Among the most-visited sites (rank #23272)+4
Trust score66

OfferUp is a legitimate and widely used marketplace, but it functions essentially as a digital garage sale where safety depends heavily on your own caution. While the platform provides tools like in-app payments and buyer protection for shipped items, local cash transactions offer zero protection and are considered final. Users frequently report scams, poor customer support, and billing issues, so you should only use it if you are prepared to screen buyers or sellers carefully and stick strictly to the platform's safety guidelines.

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OfferUp product imageOfferUp product imageOfferUp product imageOfferUp product image

Video reviews

Pros

  • Legitimate, widely-used US marketplace
  • Effective mobile app design for local search
  • Built-in buyer protection for shipped, app-paid items
  • In-app messaging protects personal contact information

Cons

  • Local cash deals have no protection and are final
  • Frequent scam reports and common fraud tactics
  • Poor customer support and reliance on AI/automated responses
  • Billing/subscription transparency issues and difficult cancellation processes
  • Inconsistent user experience with glitches and navigation issues

⚠ Red flags

  • Requests to move communication off the platform (e.g., text, WhatsApp)
  • Requests to pay outside the app (e.g., Zelle, CashApp, gift cards)
  • Urgent or suspicious behavior, such as overpayment offers or "verification codes"
  • "Too good to be true" pricing or stock photos instead of real images

Safety signals

Established business (BBB accredited)
Secure in-app payment options (for shipping)
Presence on scam-report sites (frequent complaints)
Clear contact info/Customer support quality

Third-party ratings

BBBB+
Trustpilot1.1/5

Facts

Domain registered 2002-09 · 23 years old
Connection Valid HTTPS certificate
Certificate valid until 2026-08-21 (59 days) · Google Trust Services
Founded Year: 2011
BBB Accreditation: Accredited with B+ rating
Buyer Protection: 2-day window for shipped items paid via app only

Better options

💡 Smarter pick
Facebook MarketplaceFree to use (local); 12.9% fee on shipped items

Why switch: Ties users to social profiles, often reducing anonymity and potential for scam behavior.

E
eBayVaries by item/listing fees

Offers more established buyer/seller protection frameworks for shipped items.

HasTrust summarizes public web sources and can be wrong or out of date. Not a guarantee of safety or quality — always verify before you buy or pay.

🛡️ Site safety check

Domain registered 23+ years ago
Valid HTTPS encryption (certificate by Google Trust Services)
On the public web since 2001 (Internet Archive)
Among the ~1M most-visited sites on the web (Majestic Million #23272)

What you should do

  • Use a payment method you can charge back (credit card or PayPal) — skip bank transfer or "friends & family".
  • Place a small first order before trusting it with a big one.
  • Search the shop's name plus "reviews" or "scam" for recent experiences before paying.
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Checked 48 days ago. · How we score →

Frequently asked

Is OfferUp legit?

Mixed. HasTrust trust score: 66/100. OfferUp is a legitimate and widely used marketplace, but it functions essentially as a digital garage sale where safety depends heavily on your own caution. While the platform provides tools like in-app payments and buyer protection for shipped items, local cash transactions offer zero protection and are considered final. Users frequently report scams, poor customer support, and billing issues, so you should only use it if you are prepared to screen buyers or sellers carefully and stick strictly to the platform's safety guidelines.

Is OfferUp a scam?

Possible concerns from our check: Requests to move communication off the platform (e.g., text, WhatsApp); Requests to pay outside the app (e.g., Zelle, CashApp, gift cards); Urgent or suspicious behavior, such as overpayment offers or "verification codes"; "Too good to be true" pricing or stock photos instead of real images

What is the OfferUp trust score?

HasTrust rates OfferUp 66/100 (Mixed). Buy

Is OfferUp San Diego safe to use?

OfferUp scores 62/100 (Mixed) on HasTrust. It is legitimate and widely used, but functions like a digital garage sale where safety depends on your caution. Local cash deals offer zero protection and are final, so screen buyers and sellers carefully.

Does the OfferUp app protect me when buying cars or other items locally?

Only partly. The OfferUp app provides in-app payments and buyer protection for shipped items, but local cash transactions—common for cars and bulky goods in San Diego—offer zero protection and are considered final. Stick strictly to the platform's safety guidelines.

Why do people report problems with OfferUp?

Users frequently report scams, poor customer support, and billing issues, which is why HasTrust rates OfferUp Mixed at 62/100. It remains a legitimate platform, but you should only use it if you're prepared to screen the other party carefully.

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