Market Verification
How to confirm you're inside the real Dark Matter Market once you're already logged in ā not how to find the link. For link verification itself (exact address match, PGP fingerprint on the login page, the built-in checker), see the current verified list on the Mirrors page before you log in.
Verify You're on the Real Site
Once you're past login, here is what actually distinguishes the genuine marketplace from a clone or a compromised session:
- Vendor PGP fingerprint. Every legitimate vendor publishes a PGP fingerprint on their profile. Compare it character-by-character against the copy in your own encrypted message history ā a mismatch mid-conversation means the account or session has been hijacked.
- Escrow behavior. Funds should stay locked in multi-signature escrow until you confirm delivery. A vendor or "support agent" pushing you to release escrow early, pay outside escrow, or "finalize early" for a discount is a red flag regardless of how real the site looks ā see the Escrow guide for the expected flow.
- Listing authenticity signals. Genuine listings carry consistent vendor history and review patterns that build up over time. Listings with only 5-star reviews posted the same week, no order history, or prices far below every competitor are common signs of a fake or seeded listing.
- Consistent account state. Your balance, order history, and messages should match what you remember from your last real session. Any unexplained gap or reset is a reason to stop and check the address you're on with the Link Checker ā see the Disputes guide if something looks wrong after that.