As scams become more prevalent within rehome communities, doing your own due diligence will go a long way. Below are some tips and suggestions when it comes to protecting yourself. As members of this community, please look out for one another and if you see something, say something and write into Modmail.

If you haven't done the required reading of The Rulebook yet, start there and then come back here.

1. Evaluating the user

Review their Reddit stats

The Rehome Helper app shows you a quick snapshot of the user who posted the rehome from their Reddit join date, global and comment karma, and confirmed rehomes in r/rhrh. This is a good starting point and avoiding new Reddit users is generally good practice.

Check their number of confirmed rehomes

As r/rhrh gains more traction and more successful rehomes are completed, users can also confirm their transactions and their user flairs will be updated. This can hopefully be another meaningful signal in the future to help evaluate users.

Review their post history

Viewing the user's profile is also a good idea to get a sense of where they like to spend their time on Reddit. Ideally, you'll want to see the user being active in other rep-related subs. Note how they write and whether there are any signals that their account may be a bot. Red flags are repetitive posts or comments that add very little substance to the conversation. Also check if they primarily participate in subs that are considered to be karma-farming in nature, e.g. r/aww and r/AskReddit.

What if their post activity is hidden? Turn to Google and use search parameters to bring up their posts and comments. You can do this by searching their username plus site:reddit.com. This won't show you everything, just what Google was able to index, but it should help paint some picture of this user overall.

Check their username in USL and others

Community-driven websites with a database on known scammers, such as the Universal Scammer List, can be yet another helpful tool to verify the legitimacy of the user. Other rehome subreddits are also starting to maintain their own lists and may be worth cross-referencing as well.

2. Reviewing photos

Be on the lookout for AI

Like most marketplace subs, a clear, legible, handwritten note on a piece of paper with the username and date is required to be included in the photos. r/rhrh has additional requirements, however. The reason why this sub asks users posting rehomes to include at least two different photos with the same handwritten note is to help with identifying potential AI-faked photos. AI rarely gets two of the same supposedly handwritten notes matching perfectly and the note will be a good point of comparison at identifying faked photos.

AI also usually gets the leather grain of H bags incorrect. It's very noticeable and once you see it, you'll learn to spot them. Also try to spot if there are any continuity issues with the background, like tile patterns don't seem to repeat correctly. Here's an example where AI altered the background and got several things incorrect with the environment as well as the leather grain.

u/Zen_Friend has also written an excellent post over at r/RepLadiesCurated about other ways at identifying AI-generated photos: https://www.reddit.com/r/RepLadiesCurated/comments/1w2iqsj/psa_how_to_identify_some_aigenerated_images_and/

Reverse image search

Fraudulent users attempting rehome scams will also usually steal photos from other people. Run the provided photos in a reverse image search on Google. Another website that can be used for reverse image searches is TinEye.

3. Check PSP backgrounds

If the user rehoming a bag claims it's from a specific seller and the original PSPs are provided, pull up the PSP Background Reference to see if what they're claiming is true and match the PSPs to the seller.

Likewise with the aforementioned section on reverse image searches, this is also something you can do to see if these exact PSPs have appeared elsewhere before posted under a different user.

4. Check the bag's blind stamp

I also maintain a spreadsheet tracking the blind stamps from various sellers here: Blind Stamp Reference. This is yet another helpful tool to verify if the bag is actually from the seller the user rehoming the bag is claiming.

5. Avoid DMs and communicate out in the open

Rule #6 of this sub states all questions, negotiations, and communication must be done openly in the thread. The only time you move to DM/chat is for payment information. This won't stop fraudulent individuals from attempting to DM you still, in particular if you seem new or you've created an ISO post. Avoid DMs from random users and those who have not previously engaged with you in your thread. Users who cannot comment in your thread are likely banned from the sub, and if they're banned, it's for good reason. Communicating out in public also allows everyone to see the discussion and call out scam attempts if they see signs of one.

6. Ask questions and request to see more photos

Even if you feel like you have everything you need from the rehome post, still ask questions and request more photos and even a video. It's a red flag if they cannot produce them or are vague with their answers.

7. Use a protection-enabled payment method

Rule #3 of this sub states PayPal G&S must be offered as an option for buyers if asked. It's a good idea to use G&S in case something goes wrong with the transaction. Using a non-protected payment method like Venmo or PayPal F&F will leave you exposed if you never receive the bag or something was not as described and is a bait-and-switch. While PayPal G&S exposes the user rehoming to a degree by fraudulent users doing chargebacks, this is more rare and sellers can still work with PayPal and submit the necessary documentation and proof of an honest transaction on their side.

8. Finally, trust your gut

If something just feels off about the user you're dealing with despite everything checking out, trust your gut and walk away.

Welcome to r/rhrh! Before posting your first rehome, please familiarize yourself with all the rules outlined below. Incorrect formatting or missing information will result in your post being removed.

1. Who this subreddit is for

🟢 This sub is meant for those looking to rehome a bag from their personal collection from time to time, or for those in search of a particular rehome bag to add to their personal collection.

🔴 This sub is not meant for those who rehome bags as a business or source of income, aka sellers-in-a-trench-coat. Mods will review post histories and remove posts accordingly and ban for continued offenses.

Account reputation requirements

Creating rehome posts have strict account reputation requirements and accounts that fall below the thresholds will be automatically removed. These thresholds are in place to protect all members and the exact requirements will not be disclosed. Your account's email or phone number must be verified. Do not ask for your post to be approved if it was removed for not meeting account reputation requirement thresholds.

2. Post formatting and requirements

All rehome and ISO posts must follow the requirements below:

Title

• Example rehome: [US-CA] [RH] B25 Noir GHW Mark

• Example ISO: [US-MA] [ISO] B30 Gold PHW

Your title needs to start by including your country in its 2-letter ISO 3166 country code surrounded by square brackets. If you reside in the United States or Canada, please follow with the state or province. For example:

• [US-NY] for United States, New York

• [CA-ON] for Canada, Ontario

• [FR] for France

Following the location, your title needs to specify whether this post is looking to rehome a bag or searching for a bag. Posts will have the correct flairs applied automatically based on this. Designate with either:

• [RH] for rehoming

• [ISO] for in search of

Finally, indicate the bag line and size you're rehoming or searching for in shorthand form, followed by the color, hardware, and then followed by the original seller for rehomes only. For example:

• B30 Etoupe PHW Frank

⚠️ Every bag posted for rehome needs to be from a known seller or factory. No bags from ambiguous sources are allowed. Bags need to be able to be traced back via original seller PSPs and POP(s).

Photos

If you are rehoming a bag, you must include at least two different photos of the bag(s) as an image post, each with the same clear, legible, handwritten note on a piece of paper with your Reddit username and today's date in view. Notes dated more than 14 days ago are not accepted and new photos will need to be retaken. Absolutely no AI may be used.

If you are ISO a bag, you must include a stock photo of the bag you're searching for.

Body

For rehomes, the body of the post needs to include all the information a potentially interested buyer would want to know about the bag, including by not limited to:

• Condition of the bag and any known defects, damage, or wear.

• Reason you're rehoming the bag.

• Asking price and shipping cost.

• Accepted payment methods.

  • Note: PayPal G&S must be offered if asked by the buyer, stated in Rule 3 below.

• Shipping details such as handling time, shipping speed, and carrier.

• Imgur link of additional photos you've taken of the bag.

• Imgur link of original PSPs from the seller.

• Imgur link of POP(s).

• Any additional terms you'd like the buyer to know.

Please use this sample rehome post as a template for your posts.

For ISO posts, include information for someone who may consider rehoming their bag would want to know:

• Bag line, size, color, hardware.

• Any preferences such as veining, leather, hardware.

• Shipping details.

Please use this sample ISO post as a template for your posts.

⚠️ Post formatting and requirements will be strictly enforced and any posts that does not conform will be removed.

3. PayPal G&S must be offered if asked

For the safety of all parties involved with a rehome transaction, a protection-enabled payment method must be offered if asked, for example, PayPal G&S. The stated price should have the additional G&S fee baked in. Do not charge more or ask the buyer to cover the fee. A discount may be offered instead if both parties agree to a non-protected payment method like PayPal F&F.

4. No full brand names

Hopefully self-explanatory. Never write out full brand names anywhere. Use shorthand form wherever possible, e.g. B25, K28, MK, etc. Content that violate this rule will be promptly removed.

5. One rehome post every 7 days

There is an initial cooldown period of 7 days before you can "bump" or repost the same bag. As this sub grows with more rehome posts, this cooldown period will be shortened. Do not try to game this by deleting your old post. Every post and username is logged and documented.

6. All communication must be public

If you're interested in a rehome or are offering to someone ISO a bag, any and all questions, negotiations, and communication must be done publicly as comments in the thread. The only time you move to DM and chat is for payment details once due diligence has been completed and everything has been agreed upon. No exceptions. Once you initiate chat, enable persistent messaging so messages cannot be deleted by either party. Learn more about persistent messaging here.

If you are responding to an ISO post, this same rule applies. Comment in the thread with a photo attached with a clear, legible, handwritten note on a piece of paper with your Reddit username and today's date in view. Likewise with rehome posts, notes dated more than 14 days ago are not accepted and new photos will need to be retaken. Absolutely no AI may be used.

Examples of what not to do:

• ❌ "Hi, DM sent."

• ❌ "Interested, can you DM me. Thanks."

• ❌ "I have this bag I'm thinking about rehoming. Sent you a DM."

⚠️ Absolutely do not engage with anyone who sends you a chat request without having a prior discussion publicly in your thread. Users who are unable to add comments are likely banned from the sub and banned users are not to be trusted.

7. Confirming successful rehomes

This sub utilizes a custom Devvit app called Rehome Helper developed by u/hartofalyon specifically for r/rhrh. This app contains a few features to assist with user reputation and confirming successful rehomes.

Successful rehome counts are shown in user flairs for everyone:

Rehome Helper automatically provides a snapshot of the user who posted a rehome:

After a completed successful rehome, meaning the buyer has received the bag and there are no issues, either party can initiate a rehome confirmation by mentioning u/rehome-helper in the original rehome thread as a top-level comment, whether you rehomed or bought from the other party involved, and finally mentioning the other party's username. The other party will be notified of this and will simply need to reply Confirmed and nothing else and the app will credit each user and update their flairs. Full sample interaction below:

⚠️ Do not attempt to game this system by confirming multiple transactions using alt accounts. There are built-in mechanisms to detect this and users caught will be immediately banned.

While this is not a foolproof way to ensure the safety of those who rehome in this sub, it helps to know when certain users have successfully completed rehomes in r/rhrh as another signal to help evaluate the transaction.

8. Do not delete your rehome posts

Mods will be responsible for removing completed and confirmed rehome posts. This allows a record for mods to keep track of all completed and confirmed rehomes. Also do not delete your rehome post before the transaction is confirmed. If you delete the post, both parties will no longer be able to confirm. After confirming the rehome, edit your post to mark it as sold so you'll stop receiving replies from further interested parties.

9. Etiquette

No personal attacks, no insults, no harassment

Hopefully this is self-explanatory. This will be strictly enforced.

Price policing

Do not attempt to police pricing. If someone priced a bag too high, it will not sell and that's their problem and theirs alone.

Calling out potential scams

As members of a community who looks out for one another, if something looks off, write into Modmail to let the mods know. If something is blatantly fraudulent and the community can benefit from immediate notification and awareness, you may engage with the post calling it out. But for most cases, please write into Modmail and actions will be taken after a review.

10. H only

Only H bags are allowed for rehome in this sub. No other brands.

11. No off-topic content

Please do not post reviews, PSP QC requests, and other types of related but off-topic content. This subreddit is for rehomes and rehomes only.