Safety Tips

Meeting Safely

• Meet in a public place. Choose a well-lit, busy location such as a coffee shop, shopping mall, or police station community exchange zone.
• Meet during daylight hours. Avoid evening or late-night meetups whenever possible.
• Tell someone where you are going. Share the time, location, and details of the meeting with a friend or family member.
• Use safe meetup zones. Many cities designate safe exchange zones at police stations and community centres with surveillance cameras.
• Bring a friend. Whenever possible, do not go alone to meet a buyer or seller.
• Keep your phone charged and have your own transportation arranged.

Payment Safety

• Avoid wire transfers. Never send money via Western Union, MoneyGram, or similar services. These are nearly impossible to recover.
• Use platform payments when available. In-app payment methods offer buyer and seller protection that cash and direct transfers do not.
• Never send gift cards as payment. No legitimate transaction requires payment via iTunes, Google Play, Steam, or other gift cards.
• Watch for fake e-Transfers. Always confirm the payment has fully cleared in your bank account before releasing the item. Do not rely on email notifications alone.
• Inspect before paying. Test electronics, check for damage, and verify the item matches the listing description.
• Get a receipt for high-value transactions. Include both parties' names, date, item description, and amount paid.

Scam Recognition

Watch for these common scam patterns:

• Courier scams. The buyer insists on using a specific courier service and sends you a fake payment confirmation. Never ship before payment clears in your account.
• Overpayment scam. The buyer "accidentally" sends too much and asks you to refund the difference. The original transfer is fraudulent and will be reversed.
• Deposit scams. Legitimate buyers will not ask you to pay a fee or deposit to "hold" an item they are selling to you.
• Too-good-to-be-true pricing. If a $2,000 item is listed for $200, it is almost certainly a scam.
• Urgent pressure. Scammers create urgency ("I need this today", "deal expires in 1 hour") to prevent you from thinking clearly.
• Refusing to meet in person. If a local buyer or seller will not meet face-to-face, be suspicious.

Reporting

• Report suspicious listings using the "Report" button on any listing page. Our moderation team reviews all reports.
• Report users who harass, threaten, or send inappropriate messages through the messaging system.
• Contact local police if you have been the victim of fraud or theft. File a report and keep all evidence (messages, screenshots, payment records).
• Report online fraud to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre at 1-888-495-8501.

Safe Meetup Locations

Many police services offer "safe exchange zones" with surveillance cameras in their parking lots. Consider these locations for your transactions:

• Police station lobbies or parking lots
• Community centres and recreation facilities
• Public libraries
• Shopping mall food courts
• Coffee shops and cafes
• Bank lobbies (for high-value transactions)