Safety Tips

Always meet in well-lit, busy public locations such as shopping malls, coffee shops, police station parking lots, or bank lobbies.

Never invite strangers to your home or go to theirs, especially for the first meeting.

Take a friend or family member with you. If you must go alone, tell someone exactly where you're going, who you're meeting, and when you expect to return.

Schedule meetings during daylight hours. Avoid late-night or early-morning meetings, especially in unfamiliar areas.

Share the meeting location, time, and the other person's contact details with a trusted friend or family member. Consider sharing your live location.

For in-person transactions, cash is the safest payment method. Count the money in front of the seller before handing it over.

If using digital payments (UPI, bank transfer), verify the payment has been received before handing over the item.

Never send money via wire transfer, Western Union, cryptocurrency, or gift cards to someone you haven't met. These payments are nearly impossible to reverse.

Never pay for an item before seeing it in person. Legitimate sellers will not pressure you to pay upfront or make deposits for items you haven't inspected.

Be wary of prices that are significantly below market value. Extremely low prices are often used to lure victims in scam listings.

Never share sensitive information like your bank account number, Aadhaar/SSN, passport, passwords, or OTPs with anyone on the platform.

Use the platform's messaging system instead of sharing your personal phone number or email immediately.

Use GeoMiniAds messaging to communicate with buyers/sellers. This creates a record that can help if a dispute arises.

Be cautious if someone insists on moving to WhatsApp, Telegram, or email immediately.

Be suspicious of users who: refuse to meet in person, pressure you to act quickly, ask for unusual payment methods, have poor grammar with overly formal language, or claim to be overseas.

Before meeting, try to verify the other person's identity. Ask for a phone number and call them. Check if their profile looks legitimate with realistic details.

Always inspect the item thoroughly before paying. Test electronics, check for damage, verify serial numbers, and ensure everything works as described.

Request multiple photos of the actual item (not stock images). Ask for photos from specific angles or with a specific object for scale to verify authenticity.

Research the fair market price for the item before negotiating. This protects you from both overpaying and from scams using unrealistically low prices.

For vehicles: verify the registration, insurance, and ownership documents. For electronics: check IMEI/serial numbers against stolen goods databases. Never buy items without proper documentation.

Take well-lit photos showing the item from multiple angles. Include photos of any damage or wear. Honest listings build trust and reduce disputes.

For digital payments, verify the money is in your account before handing over the item. Do not rely on screenshots of payment confirmations — they can be faked.

If a buyer sends more than the asking price and asks you to refund the difference, it's a scam. The original payment will likely bounce or be reversed.

Before selling electronics, factory reset the device and remove all personal data, accounts, and SIM cards. Sign out of all services (Google, Apple ID, social media).