Safety Tips

 
 
 

Personal Safety

Please take the same common sense precautions online as you would offline.

When meeting someone for the first time, please remember to:

  • Insist on a public meeting place like a cafe.
  • Do not meet in a secluded place, or invite strangers into your home.
  • Be especially careful when buying/selling high value items.
  • Tell a friend or family member where you e going.
  • Take your cell phone along if you have one.
  • Consider having a friend accompany you.
  • Trust your instincts.

 

Avoiding Fraud and Scams

To avoid scammers and fraud, please ensure that all transactions take place locally and meet in-person.

 

Buying & Selling – Tips to Stay Safe

 

  1. If you are Selling or Buying, the best and safest way to complete a transaction is to meeting in-person to view the item and exchange money. Where possible take someone along with you or have someone at home if a buyer is coming to your house or workplace.
  2. Never send or wire funds (money) via Western Union, MoneyGram or any other money wire service to sellers or buyers.
  3. Never send your item before receiving the money. This includes fake bank checks & money orders. The Banks will hold you responsible when the fake is discovered weeks later.
  4. AVOID DEALS INVOLVING SHIPPING OVERSEAS OR ESCROW SERVICES. Best to always inspect the item before agreeing to a sale and transferring funds.
  5. Post Ads is NOT INVOLVED IN ANY TRANSACTION
  6. Post Ads doesn’t offer any sort of buyer protection / payment solutions or seller certification. Any emails you receive that talk about such systems should be ignored, even if they may have the PostAds logo. If you receive any emails promoting these services, please report it to us: report@postads.com.au

 

For more information about personal safety online and reporting a scam/fraud, check out these resources:

·         Australia Government: http://australia.gov.au/service/scams-reports-and-complaints

·         ASIC: https://www.moneysmart.gov.au/scams/report-a-scam

·         ScamWatch GOV: http://www.scamwatch.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/693900

·         AFP: http://www.afp.gov.au/policing/cybercrime/internet-fraud-and-scams.aspx