A new technology platform, DoNotSell App, has been launched to address rising concerns around theft, online fraud, and disputed ownership in both digital and informal marketplaces, offering users a verification-based system to help prevent the circulation of stolen or questionable assets.
The developers say the platform was designed in response to increasing incidents of fake vendors, fraudulent listings, and unsuspecting buyers losing money after purchasing stolen items that later become difficult to trace or recover.
They explained that the app aims to reduce financial losses and emotional distress experienced by victims of theft, while also protecting buyers from unknowingly engaging in illegal or disputed transactions.
At its core, the platform provides a verification tool that allows users to check whether an item has been reported stolen, flagged as suspicious, or marked as not-for-sale by its rightful owner before completing a transaction.
The system covers a wide range of assets, including mobile phones, electronics, vehicles, gadgets, equipment, real estate, and other transferable property categories commonly exchanged in peer-to-peer markets.
The app also introduces a reporting feature called “Blacklist,” which enables users to flag fraudulent vendors, suspicious sellers, and individuals allegedly involved in deceptive or dishonest transactions.
Speaking on the launch, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Michael Nene said the platform was created to address what he described as a growing trust gap in modern commerce.
“People are losing money daily through fake vendors, disputed ownership claims, fraudulent listings, and stolen property changing hands multiple times before the truth is discovered. We wanted to create a platform that helps people verify what they are buying, who they are dealing with, and whether an item has been previously flagged before transactions happen,” he said.
Co-founder Olusoji Shitta added that verification and accountability systems are becoming increasingly important as commerce shifts further into digital and informal channels.
“One of the major reasons stolen items continue to circulate is because they can often be resold easily. A practical step towards reducing theft is to eliminate the incentive to steal by making it nearly impossible to sell stolen items, and by holding fraudulent vendors accountable,” he said.
He noted that the platform is focused on building practical tools that help users make safer and more informed transaction decisions, particularly in high-risk peer-to-peer environments.
Beyond verification and reporting, the platform also includes a recovery support feature that allows users to discreetly alert rightful owners if suspicious ownership activity is detected during checks, improving the chances of recovering stolen or disputed items.
The developers said future updates will expand the platform’s verification and recovery capabilities further, with a broader goal of strengthening trust, transparency, and accountability across consumer transactions for individuals, businesses, and online marketplaces.