Why do we ask for a credit card?

We didn’t always require a credit card. For a long time, publishing on our platform was completely open. Unfortunately, that openness was taken advantage of.

Over time, we began seeing a wave of scam accounts. Some were posting topics filled with Trojan links. Others were uploading stolen or copyright-protected material. The result? We started receiving warnings and takedown requests from multiple directions. It wasn’t good for us, and certainly not safe for our community.

Adding a credit card requirement is our way of protecting both sides. It helps us verify that an account belongs to a real person, not a bot or a scammer.

We don’t charge your card

Adding a credit card is only for verification purposes. You will not be billed, ever, unless you actively choose a paid plan.

We don’t store full card numbers

All payments and card verification are handled securely through Stripe, a trusted global payments provider. Stripe is PCI-DSS Level 1 compliant, which is the highest standard of payment security. This means:

• We never store your full card number on our servers
• Your details are encrypted end-to-end
• Stripe handles card data using industry-leading security practices

Why this matters

We know adding a card may feel like an extra step, but from experience, it’s a simple and effective way to keep the platform clean, safe, and trustworthy for everyone who publishes and reads here.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What if I don’t have a credit card?
   At this time, we only support credit card verification.
• Will you ever charge me?
   No. Your card is strictly for verification. You will never be charged unless you actively choose a paid plan.
• Is my information safe?
   Yes. Your card details never touch our servers. They are securely processed and stored by Stripe, which is certified to the highest level of payment security (PCI-DSS Level 1).