Safety Tips for BuySellUsedStuff Users
BuySellUsedStuff considers information security and privacy a very serious matter. We continually
work hard to ensure that our members are protected against scams and other internet
frauds. While most individuals who use BuySellUsedStuff have success with finding, buying,
selling, renting or connecting with others, from time to time, we are made aware
of attempted scams or frauds.
Information security is a shared responsibility and we have found one of the best
ways to address this problem is to work with the community to report these instances
and learn how to protect yourself. To ensure a positive trading experience, we have
compiled the below information to help everyone be prepared to protect themselves
and learn to identify risky situations.
Our goal is a safe, secure and easy to use online environment
for our members.
Some steps you can take to protect yourself:
- When buying or selling, you should meet in-person to see the product and exchange
funds.
- Never send money using payment services (e.g Western Union, Money Gram, Internet
Banking or mailing a cheque etc.) to sellers or buyers.
- BuySellUsedStuff will never ask about your personal or login information (password etc.) through
emails and if you receive any email regarding this matter, please forward the message
to us.
- Never provide your personal or banking information (e.g. social insurance number,
credit card number) to others over the Internet.
- Inform BuySellUsedStuff in case of any attempted fraud or suspicious emails, ads, or other
activity by community members.
- Use common sense. A little groundwork and common sense on your part will go a long
way in protecting yourself.
Some examples of common scams and frauds:
- Phishing or Brand name Spoofing: You will get an email from BuySellUsedStuff
or other brand name companies asking for your personal information or sending money
through that site. Remember that BuySellUsedStuff and most of the other sites will never send
out such emails. So be careful while responding back to these emails. Get more information
- Overpayment: A buyer or seller will send you a cheque or draft
of overpayment and ask you to return the balance. Often the cheque will bounce and
you will have lost all money you sent to the other party. Get more information
- Letter Scams: The seller claims to be a manager or government official
and proceeds to ask you a number of personal questions to offer you a big money
(figure often in millions ). Get more information
- Pyramid Schemes: You get a work from home offer to make big money
(e.g $100 or so) in an hour by packing stuff or typing articles. But before claiming
that money you may be asked to sell the system to others. Get more information
- 900 Scams: You will be encouraged, usually through an offer in
the email, to call a 1 900 number in order to find out how much money you have won.
You get an email about winning a grand prize like cash, car, boats, foreign trip
etc,and your brief phone call will confirm which prize is yours. The per minute
call charge will be around $4.99 and the automated voice system will force you to
spend about 7 to 8 minutes during a call. Most often the prize money is one or two
dollars and you end up by spending about $35-40 for the call. Get more information
How and where to report scams and frauds:
- If you find an ad on BuySellUsedStuff which you suspect as Spam, Illegal or Violating the
BuySellUsedStuff Policies then you can bring it in our attention by clicking on the 'Report
this ad as abuse/spam/illegal' link on that ad's details page.
- If you get some unsuspected emails from other users through this site then please
report us.
- In case of any fraud, inform us and file a report with your local police or the
police in the community where the identity theft took place.
- You may also contact the following agencies:
If you have any other question which is not answered here, please feel free to
contact us.