Safety Tips
- Use the same precautions online as you would offline, when meeting someone for the first time.
- Insist meeting on a high traffic, well-lit, public place like a restaurant or cafe. Never meet in a secluded area.
- Never agree to move to a secondary location. This is a red flag.
- Never invite a stranger into your home or go to a stranger’s home at any time during the transaction.
- Use extra precaution, especially when buying/selling high value items.
- Always tell a friend or family member where you're going and when you should be back.
- Check-in when you get there and check-in when you are finished and leaving.
- Always have a friend go with you. There is safety in numbers.
- Arrive early at the predetermined location and observe what is happening around you. Trust your instincts. If something does not feel right, STOP, do not proceed. Abandon the deal.
- Protect all personal and financial information from disclosure.
- Post photos without Geotag information.
- Don’t be so desperate to sell something that you sell away your safety.
- If you can, use proxy email addresses and not your true address.
- Deal locally, face-to-face.
- Only extend payment after you have safety met in person using the above mentioned precautions.
- There is a higher risk for fraud with deals that involve shipping. The best deals are those you can meet safely and in person.
- Only get involved in transactions with the seller, no third parties.
Protect your financial information. - Do not rent or purchase unseen item or property.
- Refuse background/credit checks until you have met landlord/employer in person.