# ProofBadge

> Funds verification for serious buyers & sellers

ProofBadge is a fintech web app that lets buyers prove they can afford high-value items without revealing bank details, balances, or account info to sellers.

## How It Works

1. Seller creates a verification link with price and minimum proof-of-funds requirement
2. Seller shares link with potential buyers
3. Buyers verify funds instantly via Plaid (secure bank connection)
4. Seller sees verified buyers in dashboard, sorted by inquiry time

## Pricing

- Selling: Free (unlimited verification links, instant buyer verifications)
- Buying: $10 Buyer Pass (valid 30 days, unlimited item submissions)

## Key Features

- No bank credentials, balances, or account details shared with sellers
- Powered by Plaid (trusted by major financial institutions)
- Qualify buyers before meeting in person
- Reduce scammers, tire-kickers, and wasted trips

## Use Cases

Vehicles, vessels, electronics, real estate, luxury goods, and other high-value peer-to-peer sales.

## Company

- Founded: 2025
- Headquarters: Dallas, TX, USA
- Industry: Fintech
- Status: Private

## FAQ

### General

Q: How does funds verification work?
A: Buyers sign up to ProofBadge and securely connect their bank account or brokerage through Plaid, the trusted verification service used by major financial institutions. ProofBadge checks that sufficient funds exist for the specific transaction amount and generates a verified badge. Sellers receive confirmation without ever seeing any balances or account details.

Q: How do I request funds verification from a buyer?
A: Send your buyer a verification link when you're ready to meet. The link lets them confirm their funds securely and privately in under a minute—without sharing any sensitive account details with you.

Q: Do sellers make money from verification fees?
A: No. Sellers do not receive any portion of the verification fee. The fee covers the cost of secure financial verification through Plaid and other business operation expenses.

Q: How long does verification take?
A: Verification is instant. Once a buyer connects their account, the funds check happens in seconds. Sellers can see confirmation in the dashboard immediately.

Q: Do sellers see fund checks that don't clear?
A: No. Sellers only see successful verifications. If a fund check doesn't clear the minimum amount, the seller is never notified. You can try again after adding funds or selecting a different account.

Q: Can I get a refund if I don't end up meeting the seller or completing the transaction?
A: Since financial institution connections and balance checks cost money, we cannot offer refunds for transactions that don't go through between buyers and sellers. However, paying for ProofBadge gives you 30 days of fund checks that can be used for unlimited items from unlimited sellers.

### Security & Privacy

Q: Is my financial information safe?
A: Absolutely. All financial connections are handled securely through Plaid, which is trusted by millions of users and thousands of financial institutions. ProofBadge never shares your actual balance or account details. Sellers only see if you have sufficient funds for their item.

Q: How does ProofBadge verify funds without accessing my bank credentials?
A: ProofBadge uses Plaid, a secure third-party service trusted by Venmo, Cash App, and other major financial institutions. When you connect your account, you enter your credentials directly into Plaid's interface—ProofBadge never sees or stores them. Plaid then securely confirms your balance to ProofBadge. We only check if it meets the minimum proof-of-funds amount.

Q: What data does ProofBadge access via Plaid?
A: ProofBadge only requests the minimum permissions needed: account balance information. We do not access transaction history, account numbers, routing numbers, or any other financial data. The only information we receive is whether your balance meets the required amount for the transaction.

Q: Do I need to share my login credentials with the seller?
A: Never. Your bank or brokerage credentials are entered directly into Plaid's secure interface—ProofBadge never sees them, and sellers definitely don't. The only thing shared with sellers is whether you have sufficient funds for the agreed amount.

Q: Does ProofBadge do background checks?
A: No. ProofBadge only verifies that a buyer has sufficient funds for a specific transaction. ProofBadge does not perform background checks, identity verification, or criminal record searches. ProofBadge cannot guarantee the safety of any transaction or the trustworthiness of any party. Always take appropriate precautions when meeting strangers and conducting private sales.

Q: Do sellers need to connect their bank accounts?
A: No. Sellers do not need to connect their bank accounts unless they are also buying and want to verify their funds via a verification link.

### Misc.

Q: When should I send a buyer my verification link?
A: Send your verification link when you're ready to meet a buyer in person, or if the transaction involves time-consuming disclosures. Verifying funds upfront ensures you're only investing time with serious, qualified buyers.

Q: How much does ProofBadge cost?
A: ProofBadge is completely free for sellers. A Buyer Pass costs $10 and lasts 30 days. During this period, buyers can verify funds for unlimited items from unlimited sellers.

Q: Why do buyers pay for verification?
A: Plaid, the secure verification API used by ProofBadge, charges for financial institution connections and balance checks.

Q: What types of transactions is ProofBadge good for?
A: ProofBadge works for any transaction, but is most commonly used for high-value private sales: vehicles, bikes, electronics, motorcycles, and other valuable items.

Q: Which banks and brokerages are supported?
A: ProofBadge supports over 12,000 financial institutions across the United States through integration with Plaid. This includes all major banks like Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citi, and Capital One, as well as credit unions, online banks, and brokerages like Fidelity, Charles Schwab, and Robinhood.

Q: Can I use ProofBadge as both a seller and buyer?
A: Yes. Your ProofBadge account works for both roles. You can create verification links as a seller to qualify buyers, and can also verify your own funds when buying from others.

Q: Is ProofBadge affiliated with Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist?
A: No. ProofBadge is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or any other marketplace platform. ProofBadge simply provides a verification tool that buyers and sellers can use alongside any platform of their choice.

Q: Is there a mobile app?
A: No. ProofBadge is designed to be as simple as possible. The website works great on any device—funds verification or buyer status checks can be done right from your phone's browser.

## Links

- Website: https://proofbadge.com
- Dashboard: https://proofbadge.com/dashboard
- Verify funds: https://proofbadge.com/verify