Help Center / Message monitoring & safety

Message monitoring & safety

Cerca Help Center

Short answer: Cerca reviews in-app messages to detect fraud, harassment, and policy violations. Messages are never sold or used for advertising.

Why we monitor messages

Cerca is a marketplace where customers and local service providers meet, often for the first time. In-app messaging is a core part of how those relationships form — and, occasionally, where bad actors try to take advantage of people.

To keep the platform safe for everyone, our team uses a combination of automated tools and human review to scan messages for:

  • Requests to move payments off the platform (Venmo, Zelle, wire transfers)
  • Harassment, threats, or hate speech
  • Spam, phishing, or scam attempts
  • Solicitation for services that violate our policies

What happens when a message is flagged

When our systems flag a message, it may be reviewed by a member of our trust & safety team. Depending on what we find, we may:

  • Take no action (false positive — the flag is dismissed)
  • Issue a warning to the account holder
  • Temporarily suspend the account pending review
  • Permanently remove the account for serious or repeated violations

We aim to notify you if action is taken on your account. If you believe your account was suspended in error, contact us at support@app-cerca.com.

How we protect your privacy

Message data is used solely for safety and moderation purposes. We do not sell your messages, share them with advertisers, or use them to train external AI models. Access to message content is restricted to team members who need it for trust & safety work.

For full details on how we handle your data, see our Privacy Policy.

What you should never share in chat

  • Your bank account or routing number
  • Credit or debit card numbers
  • Your Cerca or any other account password
  • Social Security or tax ID numbers

Cerca's team will never asks for payment information, passwords, or personal financial details via chat.

Reporting a message yourself

If you receive a message that makes you uncomfortable, you don't have to wait for our automated systems. Use the in-app report button on the provider or customer profile, or email us at support@app-cerca.com. Our team reviews every report.

For step-by-step reporting instructions, see How to report a user.


Related: Community Guidelines · How to report · Payments explained