What violates our Community Standards and puts you at risk of fraud and privacy breaches?
You guessed it! It’s taking business off-platform.
I know that many of you know that conducting transactions off-platform goes against our policies. Still, we're excited to share that we've recently updated this guideline and included it on our Community Standards page for easy access. As always, we'll support you and actively ensure this policy is followed, taking necessary steps to protect our community from off-platform activities. Let’s review everything you need to know to safeguard your account and stay informed about potential off-platform sanctions.
What is considered an off-platform transaction?
- Offering or accepting payments outside of Fiverr: Our system is designed so that all payments can and should be made directly on our platform. Any proposals or agreements to otherwise are not allowed.
- Communication: You and your client should remain exclusively on the platform. This means, moving to other external platforms, such as WhatsApp or Discord is not allowed. Additionally, sharing personal contact details such as email addresses and phone numbers to conduct off-platform business is also prohibited.
Why is this so important?
Choosing to operate off-platform not only violates our policies but also restricts Fiverr's ability to assist you if issues arise. For example, if misunderstandings lead to order conflicts, we won’t be able to review the communication to support you, as it occurred outside our platform.
Further, a common tactic of fraudulent users is to try to lure others off the platform since they know that offline transactions aren’t protected. If someone suggests this, it’s a clear red flag, and it’s best to approach the user with caution and not continue with their request.
Navigating necessary off-platform interactions
We understand that to complete certain projects, you may need to share personal information or perform specific tasks offline. Examples include sharing personal information to build a website or receiving products for a UGC or product photography project. Please note that special cases like these do not violate our policies, however, keep the following points in mind to ensure that you stay within the guidelines and protect yourself from any issues:
- Only share as much information as required to complete the project. If you need to collect your client's personal information, only prompt them to share what is relevant and necessary for the completion of the project.
- Use the platform for all communication. While there might be times when certain parts of the project need to be completed using more suitable external tools, it’s really important to keep expectations, order requirements, revisions, and all other important communications on the site. This will allow us to be able to mediate if need be.
- Always send proof the service was completed. If commissioned for a project that exists off-platform, like creating a website or setting up social media ads, please attach some proof in your final delivery. This could be a screen recording or a screenshot showcasing the final product. Providing this helps us confirm that the work was successfully completed. Additionally, if you need to mail something related to the project, don’t forget to include a tracking number to verify that everything was mailed out as you and your client agreed.
All in all, it is important that all users take heed of this policy to help ensure that we can maintain a secure and fair environment and provide a smoother experience for both the client and freelancers.
If you encounter any attempts to conduct business off-platform, please report them to us. Your cooperation will ensure clients keep coming back to Fiverr, providing you with more projects and opportunities.
You can always find more information in our Help Center and check out the full policy for more details. 
