![]() That’s why it’s a good idea to stick to the official platform as exclusive means of communication. Your full name and phone number can be used to find you elsewhere, which is why many buying and selling apps offer patrons a secure chat or messaging system. The benefit that many trading platforms offer is a bare-bones profile that betrays none of your personal information to anybody you end up meeting. They can mean you’re dealing with an actual scammer or somebody up to no good. Avoid anybody with no ratings or abysmal reviews, as both are red flags. If you have access to eBay-style seller reviews, read them, especially if you’re making a big purchase. As you would when comparing prices, you should always consider seller ratings and reviews as one of the determining factors influencing the seller you choose. This means that every potential deal you find comes with a rating out of five stars or some other system. Thoroughly vet the sellerĪ seller’s reputation may not always be easy to ascertain, but marketplace platforms like OfferUp ask all participants to rate their buyers or sellers as partners. ![]() Of course, there’s power in numbers, and you’ll be safer if you have someone with you. Some scam sellers won’t even live in the area in which they’re trying to wheel and deal, so this additional step is likely to extinguish a bad situation before it happens.īonus points for bringing a friend along. ![]() Arrange a meeting during the day, ideally in a brightly-lit area.įraudsters are unlikely to agree to a public rendezvous, so if you sense hesitation, back away slowly and find another deal. Credit cards offer more protections that can help you dispute any fraudulent transactions if worse comes to worst.Īs the buyer, we encourage you to insist on choosing a place to meet that you already know will be safe and full of people. If you use a card, make it a credit card, not a debit card. Our best advice will usually be to pay in cash, avoiding sharing any personal information whenever possible (although, in some cases, services like PayPal may offer your transaction an extra layer of buyer’s protection in the form of fraud assurance).
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