Meet in a safe place
Where and when you meet matters more than anything else. Choose busy, well-lit public spots and avoid going alone for high-value items.
- Meet in public places with lots of people around — a shopping centre, a cafe, a bank lobby, or a police-station "safe exchange" zone if your city has one.
- Meet during daylight hours whenever you can.
- Bring a friend or family member, especially for expensive items or evening meetings.
- Tell someone you trust where you are going, who you are meeting, and when you expect to be back.
- For cars or large items, agree to meet at a neutral location, not at your home address.
If a buyer or seller insists on a deserted spot or refuses to meet in public, treat that as a red flag and walk away.
Inspect before you pay
Always examine the item in person and confirm it matches the listing before any money changes hands.
- Check the item closely for damage, wear, or differences from the photos and description.
- Power on and test electronics — phones, laptops, appliances — and check that all functions, ports, and accessories work.
- For phones and tablets, make sure the device is not locked to someone else's account and is not reported as stolen.
- Verify documents for vehicles, real estate, and branded goods: ownership papers, service records, serial numbers, and warranty cards.
- Confirm serial numbers on the item match the documents and the box.
- Count or measure quantities if you are buying in bulk.
If you cannot test or verify something important, it is fine to pause the deal. A genuine seller will give you time to check.
Pay safely
Choose a payment method that protects you and leaves a record. The safest moment to pay is when you have the item in your hands and have inspected it.
- Prefer cash at the moment of handover for in-person deals, or a protected, traceable payment such as a bank transfer or card payment you can later prove.
- As a buyer, hand over money only after you have inspected and accepted the item.
- As a seller, confirm the payment has actually arrived in your account before you release the goods — do not rely on a screenshot or SMS alone.
- Keep receipts, transfer confirmations, and the Selly chat history in case you need proof later.
- Avoid round-tripping money through third parties you do not know.
Cash counts both ways: as a buyer, get a written or photographed receipt for large amounts; as a seller, count the money before parting with the item.
Avoid prepayment to strangers
A request for money before you have met or received anything is the single most common scam signal on classifieds.
- Do not send a deposit, "reservation fee", or full payment to someone you have never met for an item you have not seen.
- Be very wary of wire transfers, instant money transfers, gift cards, top-up vouchers, or cryptocurrency — these are nearly impossible to reverse or trace back.
- Never pay a "courier", "customs fee", "insurance", or "delivery deposit" to release an item that is supposedly already on its way.
- If a deal genuinely needs shipping, use a delivery service with cash-on-delivery or post-office inspection where available, instead of prepaying a stranger.
Once you send money by these methods, no platform, including Selly, can usually get it back. When in doubt, don't pay in advance.
Recognize common scams
Scammers reuse the same handful of tricks. If a message matches one of these patterns, slow down and verify before acting.
Overpayment scam
A "buyer" sends you more than the price and asks you to refund the difference. The original payment later bounces, and you lose the refund you sent.
Courier / delivery prepayment
A "buyer" or "seller" insists on using a specific courier and asks you to pay a fee or deposit up front through a link they provide.
Phishing links
A link that looks like Selly, a bank, or a delivery service asks you to log in or enter card details. Check the address bar and never enter credentials from a link sent in chat.
Other warning signs
- Prices far below market value for popular items — too good to be true.
- Pressure to decide "right now" or to pay before anyone else.
- Pressure to move the conversation to WhatsApp, Telegram, SMS, or email, away from Selly.
- Sob stories explaining why the seller can't meet, can only ship, or needs the money urgently.
- Poor grammar, copied photos, or a profile created minutes ago.
Keep chatting on Selly
Keep your conversation inside the Selly chat from first message to final handshake. It protects you in ways that private messaging apps cannot.
- Our in-app AI assistant scans messages for known scam patterns and warns you about suspicious requests in real time.
- The chat keeps a record of what was agreed — price, condition, meeting place — which helps if a dispute or report is needed.
- If you move to another app, you lose those safeguards and the evidence trail.
- A push to take the deal off-platform is itself a common scam tactic — be cautious when someone is in a hurry to switch.
You can always come back to the Selly chat to re-read what was promised before you commit.
Protect your personal data
You never need to reveal sensitive personal or financial details to complete a normal deal. Treat any such request as suspicious.
- Never share passwords, PINs, or your Selly account login with anyone.
- Never read out one-time codes or verification codes sent to you by SMS or app — not even to a "buyer", "support agent", or "courier". Real staff will never ask for them.
- Do not share your full card number, CVV, or card expiry to receive a payment — receiving money never requires these.
- Share your phone number, address, or other contact details only when you are ready and comfortable, and prefer a meeting point over your home.
- Be cautious about photos of documents (passport, ID); share only what a legitimate transaction truly requires.
If anyone pressures you for a code or password "to confirm the deal", stop — that is how accounts and money get stolen.
Tips for sellers
Sellers are targeted too, often through fake payments and overpayment tricks. A few checks keep you covered.
- Verify the buyer: look at their profile, history, and how they communicate before agreeing to anything.
- Confirm payment has truly cleared in your bank account before handing over the item — a screenshot, SMS, or "pending" notice is not proof.
- Be suspicious of anyone who pays more than asked and wants change back, or who pushes a specific courier and an up-front fee.
- Meet in a safe public place and, for valuable items, bring someone with you.
- Keep the listing, chat, and payment confirmation until the deal is fully complete.
- Don't ship goods before money has actually arrived, and avoid couriers chosen and "prepaid" by the buyer through unfamiliar links.
Report suspicious activity
Reporting helps us remove scammers quickly and protects the next person they would have targeted. It takes a moment and can be anonymous to other users.
- Use the "Report" option on a listing or user profile to flag fraud, prohibited items, fake offers, or abusive behaviour.
- In a chat, report the conversation if someone asks for prepayment, codes, or to move off-platform.
- Include details — what was said, screenshots, links, and amounts — so our team can act faster.
- If you have lost money or feel unsafe, contact your bank and local police, and email us at [email protected].
- For privacy or data-protection concerns, write to [email protected].
Even if you did not lose anything, reporting a suspicious listing or message helps keep Selly safe for everyone.