Safety

The process of buying and selling is usually pleasant and straightforward but you can also leave yourself open to fraud or other crimes. Please be careful not to compromise your safety or your money in the heat of the moment.

This advice is to help you avoid this.

When buying privately it is advisable to get a landline telephone number. If you are unhappy with the other party trust your instincts. Try to inspect the item before you purchase especially if it is of a high value.

Payment: Cheques and Banker’s Drafts can be fraudulent or counterfeit. Do not accept an overpayment, especially where the purchaser wants you to make a refund of the difference.

Do not accept payment via a money transfer company such as Moneygram or Western Union. If using ESCROW make sure it’s verified by the FSA and based in the UK. See the Metropolitan Police Fraud Alert website for more information. www.met.police.uk/fraudalert and or www.escrow-fraud.com

Overseas buyers: Beware of emails from abroad, offering to purchase without seeing your item and offering to pay more than your asking price. Also be wary of shipping companies or ESCROW companies recommending someone to you.

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