Buying
Trade-It helps you find local people selling online which reduces the distance you have to travel to buy your item/s, but you are still going to meet a stranger and you should take precautions and consider your online safety.
Here are some tips and advice for online safety when buying online. If you are unsure of the seller when you make contact with them, for example they ask you personal questions and don’t seem to be genuinely interested in you as a buyer then you can either say you have changed your mind about the item or take someone with you when you arrange to go and view a potential purchase, try not to go there alone. If there is not someone available to go with you, then at least give the details of where you are going to a friend or relative just in case. Take a mobile phone inside with you and leave it switched on.
Selling Online
Trade-It would advise in most instances of selling online for buyers to come to your house to view. If you are unsure about the buyer you have spoken to then it may be advisable to meet in a mutual location for online safety reasons.
Selling online - a car, this should be straightforward, but it's always sensible to ensure online safety:
- Don't let buyers go for a test drive on their own and without adequate insurance cover.
- Don't leave your house unlocked when you go for a test drive
Internet Sales, Shipping Fee or Cash back fraud - you must be aware of these whilst considering your online safety. There is currently an internet fraud affecting people selling online in classified advertisements, if you receive an offer much higher than the asking price of your item, then you may have been targeted.
The concept of the scam is to offer you, selling online, a much higher price than you are actually asking, the buyer will always live abroad or be on a business trip in Africa, Holland or similar. In all cases you will be asked to deal with the buyer's shipping agent, partner or friend who lives in this country which they possibly owe money too. They will send a cheque for at least double the cost you were selling online for and then request the excess funds refunded back to them. Obviously your online safety has been affected and the cheque is a forgery which by a loophole in the law then can leave you the seller liable for these funds.
If you experience an online safety breach similar to the situation above please:
Cease all communication with these people. Do not any under any circumstances give them any bank, credit card or other personal details. If Trade-It's website feature "Make Me An Offer" has been used, please contact support@Trade-It.co.uk or call 0844 8710 772 to have the offer removed.
Dating Online
It is not just selling online which causes online safety issues. If you decide to date someone online always arrange meetings in public places, never in your own home. Do not reveal your full name, address or home telephone number until you are sure that you wish to continue with the relationship.
Trust your instincts; don't meet again if you have doubts. On your first meeting, make your own way to and from the venue. Leave details of your meeting with family or friends when meeting for the first time.
Internet Dating is sometimes the best form of meeting people with the same interests and passions as you. Every year, tens of thousands of people get married as a result of meeting on an online dating service. If dating online is something that interests you why not visit Dating in Sussex Registration is 100% free. It's so easy to get started. Once registered - you can browse thousands of profiles with photos and to answer those you find interesting.
