Security & Fraud Prevention

Aviators Market is the fastest growing online marketplace in aviation. Our users include both private parties and dealers, who list and advertise aircraft, engines, avionics, parts, services, and real estate.

The increasingly digital landscape can lend itself to scammers and frauds. We’re continually investing in measures to secure the marketplace. But we also encourage our buyers to be aware of best practices and guidelines for safe online transactions.

Know How to Spot and Stop Fraud

Aviators Market Will Never:

Ask you for your password.
Own, buy or sell items listed on our website.
Participate in transactions between buyers and sellers in any way.
Offer "Buyer Protection", "Escrow Services" or any type of "Certification".
Give instructions on how or where to send in payments.
Offer shipping or warehousing services.
Provide warranties or inspections.
Ask for personal or financial information via email.

Fraud Awareness Best Practices

If an offer looks too good to be true, it probably is!
Verify the buyer or seller’s identity through a quick public records search.
Meet in person in a safe location whenever possible.
When dealing with an international transaction, be wary of someone posing as an “agent” of the buyer or seller.
Remember that a photo of an item does not verify the existence of the item. See the item in person whenever possible and safe.
If using an escrow service, verify that it’s a reliable service. Don’t click to an escrow service website from a link in an email. Instead, type in the URL directly. Don’t use an escrow service recommended by the seller.
Fraud deals may involve shipping, wire transfers, overpayment or cashiers checks. Unusual requests involving the transaction may be a signal of a potential scam.
Buyers and sellers: do not wire money for any transaction without first verifying the identity of the other parties involved in the transaction.
Do not wire money for any transaction that initially began with an overpayment or to pay a shipper or pick-up agent.
If presented with an "invoice" from PayPal or other payment service, verify its authenticity.
Use your best judgment in all transactions.
Report suspected fraudulent activity to support@aviatorsmarket.com

Reporting Fraud

If you suspect fraud, file a report at www.ic3.gov and let us know.

IC3 is the Internet Crime Complaint Center, a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), and the Bureau of Justice Administration (BJA). The organization supplies victims of cyber crime with a convenient and easy-to-use reporting mechanism.

Upon receiving your case, IC3 alerts authorities by referring reports to the proper law enforcement or regulatory agencies at the federal, state, local and international levels.

If you receive a suspicious email, report it to Aviators Market immediately. You can simply forward the email to support@aviatorsmarket.com. Don’t change the subject line or send it as an attachment; just forward it directly to us. We’ll contact you if we need additional information.

Verified Seller Accounts

We provide optional seller verification as a proactive measure to keep our marketplace secure. Your verified listing badge will be proudly displayed in the search results, your listing details, and our directory.

A verified seller is three times more likely to be called than an unverified seller. In fact, most potential buyers today look for a “Verified Seller” badge to steer clear of fraudulent listings before making a purchase. We’re proud to be the first in the aviation industry offering a seller verification program.

Looking to list something today? The verification process is simple.

Get Verified

Buyers Beware

Shop Verified Sellers

These sellers have provided Aviators Market with documentation to check their authenticity. This is not foolproof, but it’s a good start. Look for the verified badge.

Know Market Value

Go into a transaction with knowledge about the market value of the item. If the item is priced significantly below market value, be suspicious.

Confirm Contact Information

Before sending any payment, confirm the seller’s physical address, including zip codes, area codes, and address. If the address for payment doesn’t match the zip or area code, think twice.

Email is Not Secure

Don’t send personal or financial information, including your social security number, credit card number, or checking account number, to any seller via email. Any information provided in a listing, through communication with a seller, or in an advertisement is provided by the seller.

Say No to Money Transfers

Don’t use Western Union or similar services to transfer money for online purchases. It’s against their recommendations and it’s a sign of a scam

Proceed With Caution Using Escrow

If you choose to use an escrow service, verify the service independently. Don’t ever click a link to an escrow service from a seller’s email. Type in the URL yourself.

Get a Receipt

Always ask the seller for a detailed receipt that lists the item being sold.

Final Tips for Staying Safe Online

Username and Password

Never give out your usernames or passwords to anyone. Always make sure you create strong passwords, using a combination of letters and numbers. Change them as frequently as you can, and don't use the same password for different online accounts.

Email attachments

Be cautious about opening email attachments; scan them with anti-virus software first. Never click on links within unsolicited emails or even emails from people you know that seem suspicious. If you receive an email from someone that looks to be a scam, contact the sender before opening or clicking links. Avoid using email providers set to preview email, as this can open a virus email before you have a chance to scan it.

Payment methods

Never send credit card numbers via email. When purchasing from a website, make sure it is secure before submitting credit card information. You can tell if a website is secure by looking for the tiny padlock icon to the left of the URL or checking to see if the web address starts with "https" instead of “http.” The "s" denotes a secure site.

Credit card purchases can usually be disputed with the credit card company if a problem arises.

If purchasing outside your local area, consider using a legitimate escrow service. Do not use an escrow service recommended by the seller, and never click to an escrow service website from an email. Instead, type in the service’s web address directly.

Beware of Text Message Fraud

We have become aware of overpayment fraud attempts that begin with a text message. This fraud will involve an overpayment for the item you are selling with instructions to wire the additional funds (the amount over your selling price) to the buyer’s pickup agent or inspector.

The current trend involves the buyer using a fake PayPal invoice to lure the seller into a false sense of security. If you receive a text message or email matching this scenario, please forward the contact information related to the message and any other pertinent information to support@aviatorsmarket.com.

Anti-Virus Software/Anti-Spyware and Firewalls

Protect your computer by using the most updated versions of anti-virus software to scan for malicious viruses. Additionally, make use of anti-spyware or adware programs to remove programs that track your Internet activity.

Engage a firewall to make your computer invisible to outside attackers. A firewall is especially critical if your computer is constantly connected to the Internet via cable or DSL

Security Updates for Operating Systems/Browsers

Make sure to download and install security updates for the browsers and operating systems you use frequently. Keeping browser versions up-to-date is critical to computer security and imperative for proper e-commerce security element functionality.