FreeNear is run by its community. Here's what we check, what we don't, and how to stay safe.
What badges mean
- Phone confirmed
- The person confirmed a phone number with a one-time code. We never show the number.
- Community verified
- Independent volunteers met the person or group in person and confirmed what's described.
- Registration checked
- Our trust team checked the organisation's registration against public records.
- Site visit
- Volunteers visited during operating hours and confirmed the service runs as described.
Badges expire
Every verification has a date and an expiry. Expired checks are shown as expired, never as verified.
What we don't verify
We don't inspect items. Likes, saves and number of listings are not verification.
Staying safe
- Everything on FreeNear is free. Never pay to collect an item.
- Meet in daylight or a public place when you can.
- Don't share your phone number or address until you're comfortable.
- Report anything that feels wrong. Moderators review every report.
Reports and appeals
Moderators review reports and can hide listings. Every action is logged. If your listing is hidden, you can appeal and a different moderator reviews it.