Do:

  Keep things local by meeting face to face to see the item and exchange money.

  For your personal safety, meet in a well lit public place.

  Always take someone with you, or at least tell a friend where you’re going.

  If you’re looking to buy something expensive, always meet with the seller to view the item first.

  Check the item to make sure you’re happy with it before parting with any money.

  Use your common sense.

  If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

  If you’re a seller, be wary of requests to use money transfer services like Western Union or MoneyGram.

  These services aren't meant for sending money to someone you don't know and are commonly used by fraudsters.

Don’t:

  Send money (whether it's cash, cheque or direct bank transfer) if you’ve never seen the item.

  Send items before receiving payment.

  Carry large sums of money with you when buying.

  Once you’re ready to proceed with the purchase, either go to the bank with the seller to make the payment or arrange to meet somewhere safe with the money.

  Buy tickets to events without first checking you will be able to use the tickets

You can find even more advice at http://www.getsafeonline.org/

If you’d like more safety advice or are unsure about something please contact us.