Good deals can be had when buying or selling online. Unfortunately, not everyone is trustworthy and these places are rife with fraudulent activities and scams.
Does this mean we should never buy or sell online? Certainly not!
Just keep your wits about you and be aware of certain dangers. Here are some important tips to keep in mind:
If you’re buying something:
- Shop locally wherever possible and be wary of deals that sound too good to be true.
- Don’t share personal information.
- Photos should be of the actual product being offered, not stock images of the item.
- Ask questions, and keep asking until you’re satisfied. Ask for the relevant documentation where applicable.
- Pay with cash, and don’t share any personal information such as bank or payment card numbers, or any other personal information that isn’t necessary for the sale.
- For your safety, make your purchase in a public place, or take someone with you to the seller’s house.
- Check to see if your city has an approved buy/sell/trade location and use this site for your transactions.
If you’re selling something:
- Always meet in person. We’d recommend trading locally in a public place for safe deals.
- Don’t share personal information. You shouldn’t even need to share your address.
- Do not send the item before the buyer pays for it.
- It’s best to accept only cash. Personal or cashier’s checks can be forged, which means you get no money.
- If you must accept a bank transfer, call your bank to check that the funds have cleared before handing over the item.
- Deal locally wherever possible. That helps you avoid getting scammed by not being paid via mail or email. And don’t accept offers to have money wired to you.
Do not hesitate to walk away from a potential deal if you feel uncomfortable or threatened. If the item isn’t what it appeared to be, tell the seller and walk away with your money in your pocket.