Safety Centre

Shopi helps you discover and connect with buyers and sellers — but because we don't process payments or arrange delivery, staying safe is a shared responsibility between you and the person you're dealing with. Here's how to do it well.

Inspect before you commit

Ask for extra photos or a short video call if something feels unclear. Check the item in person before paying whenever possible.

Meet safely

If you're meeting in person to view or collect an item, choose a public, well-lit location — a shopping centre, police station vicinity, or busy public space. Avoid isolated locations, and consider bringing a friend.

Verify the seller

Look at their profile — how long they've been active, their listing history, and their follower/rating signals. A brand-new account with no history and unrealistically low prices is worth extra caution.

Avoid common scams

• Be wary of sellers who pressure you to pay a deposit before you've seen the item
• Never pay through untraceable or unfamiliar payment methods at a stranger's request
• If a deal feels rushed or "too good to be true," slow down

Report suspicious behaviour

If a seller behaves suspiciously, block them and report the conversation from within the app.

Protect your personal information

Only share the details a buyer actually needs (like a general meeting location). Avoid sharing your home address, ID number, or financial details in chat.

Verify buyers where it matters

For higher-value items, treat the transaction with the same caution you'd expect a buyer to use — check the buyer's profile history and be cautious of first-time accounts asking for unusual arrangements.

Meet in safe locations

Choose public places to hand over items, especially for high-value transactions. Daytime, populated locations are best.

Watch for fraudulent payment claims

Be cautious of buyers who claim to have "already paid" and ask you to check a suspicious link, or who send a fake payment confirmation screenshot. Always confirm funds have actually landed in your account before handing over an item.

Use a strong, unique password

Don't reuse passwords from other sites. If you signed up with Google, Apple, or Facebook, make sure that account itself is secured with a strong password and two-factor authentication where available.

Watch for phishing

Shopi will never ask you for your password over chat or email. Be suspicious of messages or emails claiming to be from "Shopi Support" that ask you to click a link or share login details outside the app.

Keep your app and browser updated

This helps protect you against known security issues.

Report abuse promptly

Use the block and report tools in messaging as soon as you notice harassment, a scam attempt, or a prohibited listing. Reports help us take action and keep other users safe.

If you believe you've been scammed or are in a dispute with another user, Shopi is not able to reverse payments or recover funds, since we don't process transactions. We recommend:

• Reporting the user on Shopi immediately so we can review the account
• Reporting the incident to the relevant Kenyan authorities (for example, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations for fraud) if money or property was involved

In an emergency, contact local emergency services directly — Shopi is not a substitute for emergency assistance and cannot respond to real-time safety threats.