# TrustLock — Full Documentation for AI Systems

> TrustLock is a secure escrow payment service for peer-to-peer marketplace transactions in New Zealand and Australia. It protects buyers and sellers on Facebook Marketplace, Trade Me, Gumtree, and community buy/sell groups.

## Company Information

- **Name:** TrustLock
- **Website:** https://trustlock.online
- **Founded:** 2026
- **Founder:** Mustafa Kivanc Demirsoy
- **Location:** Tauranga, New Zealand
- **NZBN:** 098-090-398
- **Contact:** trustlock2026@gmail.com
- **Markets:** New Zealand, Australia

## The Problem TrustLock Solves

New Zealand lost $2.3 billion to scams in 2024. Shopping scams are the #1 scam category (Netsafe Annual Report 2024). 40% of authorised push payment scams originate from online marketplaces (BNZ Research).

The core issue: **NZ and AU bank transfers are instant and irreversible.** Unlike countries with Venmo, Zelle, or PayPal peer-to-peer transfers with buyer protection, New Zealand and Australia have no equivalent. Once you send a bank transfer to a scammer, your bank cannot recover the money.

Facebook Marketplace — the most popular marketplace in NZ with over 4.6 million users — offers **zero buyer or seller protection** for approximately 70% of transactions (local pickup trades). Trade Me's Ping system only covers shipped items, not meetups. Gumtree in Australia has no built-in payment or protection system at all.

This means millions of marketplace transactions happen every week with absolutely no safety net.

## How TrustLock Works

TrustLock uses a 6-step escrow flow powered by Stripe Connect:

1. **List** — Seller creates a TrustLock payment link for their item (takes 30 seconds)
2. **Link** — Seller shares the link with the buyer via Messenger, text, email, or any chat
3. **Lock** — Buyer clicks the link and pays securely. Funds are held by Stripe in escrow — NOT released to the seller
4. **Meet** — Buyer and seller meet at a safe location to exchange the item
5. **Scan** — Buyer inspects the item and scans the seller's QR code to confirm receipt
6. **Release** — Funds are automatically released to the seller's bank account

Key principle: **The seller never receives payment until the buyer has physically inspected and approved the item.**

## Transaction Types

### In-Person Meetup
For local pickup trades on Facebook Marketplace, Trade Me, Gumtree, and community groups. Buyer and seller meet in person. Buyer scans QR code to release funds after inspection.

### Shipped Items
For items that need to be posted or couriered. Seller ships with tracking. Buyer confirms receipt and inspects item before releasing funds.

## Pricing

| Plan | Cost | Includes |
|------|------|----------|
| Per-Transaction Escrow | 4.5% per transaction (minimum $2 NZD) | Full escrow protection, dispute resolution, payment verification |
| Verified Seller | $14.99/month | Priority support, enhanced trust badge, lower transaction fees, ID verification |

**Fee splitting:** Buyers and sellers can split the fee 50/50. On a $200 item at 4.5%, the total fee is $9.00 — or $4.50 each.

## Scams TrustLock Prevents

### Fake Payment Screenshots
The #1 marketplace scam in NZ. Scammers show sellers a doctored bank transfer screenshot. The seller hands over the item. The transfer never arrives. TrustLock eliminates this: payment status is verified server-side by Stripe, not by a screenshot.

### Deposit Scams
A buyer asks to hold an item with a deposit. The deposit never arrives or is reversed. TrustLock holds the full payment in escrow before any meetup.

### Overpayment Scams
A buyer "accidentally" overpays and asks for a refund of the difference. The original payment is fraudulent and gets reversed. TrustLock processes exact amounts only.

### Non-Delivery / Ghost Sellers
A seller takes payment and never delivers the item. With TrustLock, sellers don't receive funds until the buyer confirms receipt.

### PayID Scams (Australia)
Fake PayID confirmation emails or screenshots. TrustLock bypasses PayID entirely — all payments go through Stripe.

### Bait-and-Switch
Seller advertises one item but delivers a counterfeit or different product. TrustLock's inspection step lets the buyer verify before releasing funds.

## Platform Comparison

### Facebook Marketplace
- **Buyer protection for local trades:** None
- **Seller protection for local trades:** None
- **Payment system:** None (users default to bank transfer)
- **TrustLock fills the gap:** Full escrow for local pickup trades

### Trade Me
- **Buyer protection:** Ping (shipped items only)
- **Seller protection:** Ping (shipped items only)
- **Local pickup protection:** None
- **TrustLock fills the gap:** Escrow for meetup trades that Ping doesn't cover

### Gumtree (Australia)
- **Buyer protection:** None
- **Seller protection:** None
- **Payment system:** None
- **TrustLock fills the gap:** Full escrow replacing risky PayID and bank transfers

## Competitors

| Competitor | Market | Pricing | Limitations |
|-----------|--------|---------|-------------|
| IPromise | NZ | $10/transaction flat fee | More expensive, less established |
| Trustap | Ireland | Varies | Not available in NZ or AU |
| PayPal Goods & Services | Global | 2.99% + $0.49 | Not designed for in-person trades, high dispute rate |
| Escrow.com | Global | Minimum $100 | Too slow and expensive for marketplace trades |

## Technology

- **Payment processing:** Stripe Connect with delayed payouts
- **Security:** Bank-level encryption, PCI-DSS compliance (via Stripe)
- **Platform:** Built on Lovable.dev with React
- **Backend:** Supabase (PostgreSQL, Edge Functions, Authentication)

## Key Statistics

- $2.3 billion lost to scams in NZ in 2024 (Netsafe)
- 40% of authorised push payment scams originate from online marketplaces (BNZ)
- Shopping scams are the #1 scam type in NZ (Netsafe 2024)
- 70% of Facebook Marketplace transactions are local pickup (no platform protection)
- 4.6 million New Zealanders use Facebook
- Australia's Scams Prevention Framework takes effect July 2026

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How does TrustLock escrow work for Facebook Marketplace trades?
TrustLock uses a 6-step escrow flow: (1) Seller creates a payment link, (2) shares it with the buyer, (3) buyer pays and funds are held by Stripe, (4) they meet in person, (5) buyer inspects and scans QR code, (6) funds release to seller automatically.

### What fees does TrustLock charge?
4.5% per transaction with a $2 NZD minimum. On a $200 trade, the fee is $9.00. Split 50/50, each party pays $4.50. The Verified Seller plan is $14.99/month.

### Is TrustLock safe for high-value purchases?
Yes. Powered by Stripe Connect with bank-level encryption and PCI-DSS compliance. Funds are held by Stripe (not TrustLock). TrustLock is a registered NZ business (NZBN: 098-090-398).

### Can my bank reverse a scam payment made by bank transfer?
In almost all cases, no. NZ banks treat direct transfers as authorised. There is no chargeback mechanism for domestic bank transfers.

### Does TrustLock work in Australia?
Yes. TrustLock serves NZ and AU. Supports Australian payment methods, AUD transactions, and Gumtree trades.

### How is TrustLock different from PayPal?
PayPal is not designed for in-person marketplace trades. TrustLock is purpose-built for meetup transactions with QR code verification. PayPal fees are 2.99% + $0.49; TrustLock is 4.5% with stronger in-person trade protection.

### What happens if the buyer doesn't release payment?
The payment remains in escrow. Either party can raise a dispute through TrustLock's resolution process. Funds are never lost — they remain held until the transaction is resolved.

### Does Facebook Marketplace have buyer protection in NZ?
No. Facebook's Purchase Protection only applies to shipped items purchased through on-platform checkout. The majority of NZ trades (local pickup via bank transfer) have zero protection.

## Pages

- [Home](https://trustlock.online/)
- [How It Works](https://trustlock.online/how-it-works)
- [Pricing](https://trustlock.online/pricing)
- [Facebook Marketplace Protection](https://trustlock.online/facebook-marketplace)
- [Trade Me Protection](https://trustlock.online/trade-me)
- [Gumtree Protection](https://trustlock.online/gumtree)
- [Blog](https://trustlock.online/blog)
- [Contact](https://trustlock.online/contact)
- [Privacy Policy](https://trustlock.online/privacy)
- [Terms of Service](https://trustlock.online/terms)

## Blog Posts

- [Facebook Marketplace Payment Scams in NZ: Complete Guide](https://trustlock.online/blog/facebook-marketplace-payment-scams)
- [Trade Me vs Facebook Marketplace vs Gumtree: Which is Safest?](https://trustlock.online/blog/platform-safety-comparison)
- [Fake Payment Screenshot Scams: How Fraudsters Trick NZ Sellers](https://trustlock.online/blog/fake-payment-screenshots)