At Rover, we’re happy we can provide a platform for you to run and manage your dog-sitting business, and we take safety and security very seriously. Although it’s rare, we know dog-sitter profiles could become the target of phishing scams looking for your personal information. The good news is there are three key ways you can keep your Rover profile safe and secure.
You should never feel pressured to share your personal information until a stay is booked
On our end, we’ll only share your phone number when you and your client both confirm the stay. Of course, we strongly recommend communicating through the Rover site or app even after the stay is booked, unless you experience a medical or safety issue during a stay and need to get in contact with them right away. If that happens, give our Trust & Safety team a call too at 888-727-1140, and we’ll help you through it.
Always have a Meet & Greet before you book a stay with a new client
Meet & Greets aren’t just for your clients—they’re for you too. Getting to know your potential clients before you book the stay, and saying “no thanks” to the stays that aren’t right for you, are a key way to succeed on Rover while keeping your information secure. It’s a win-win!
Always book through Rover
Booking through Rover.com has major benefits for sitters and dog owners. After a stay ends, we’ll ask dog owners to leave you a review, which allows you to build a great reputation. And over time, as you continue to book stays and deliver great care, you’ll show up closer to the top of search results, so you can connect with even more clients. Plus, with every stay booked through Rover you have access to our 24/7 emergency support. Our trained experts are here to help.
Warning Signs of Phishing
So what does phishing look like? It can take a few different forms, but here are the most common:
- Your first message from a potential client asks you to email them outside the site.
- Potential clients ask for extensive personal information before you book the stay.
- Clients ask to pay you outside the site.
If someone writes to you with any of these requests, you can always respond with something like, “Communicating, paying, and booking through the Rover website keeps everyone’s information secure. I’m happy to talk with you more to learn about your dog—but let’s keep the conversation on Rover.” If someone persists—or you see someone doing all three of these things—it’s easy to let us know: Just select “Flag this conversation as inappropriate” on your conversation thread with that person.
It’s unlikely you’ll run into this, but just like preparing for each new stay, taking a few safety measures will only do good things for your business. And remember: No matter what, we’ve got your back.
