Safety Centre

Meet safely · Spot scams · Report illegal content · Effective: 8 October 2026

1. Our role (please read)

2. Quick safety checklist

1. Meet in a busy public place, and tell someone where you are going.
2. Inspect the item before you pay, and test electronics on the spot.
3. Prefer cash on collection or a payment method you control. Never share banking codes or PINs.
4. Don't click payment links from strangers, and don't install remote-access apps.
5. Private sellers usually mean no cooling-off rights. If it's a business, ask for receipts and a returns policy.
6. Report suspicious ads. If you've lost money, contact your bank and An Garda Síochána, and see CCPC scam guidance.

3. Meeting in person (Ireland)

• Choose daylight hours and a busy public spot (a shopping centre foyer, a busy café).
• Bring a friend for high-value items.
• Tell a trusted person where you are going and when you expect to be back.
• Stick to your own county or town where possible. "I'll courier it if you pay first" is a classic risk.
• Trust your instincts, and leave if something feels wrong.

4. Paying and getting paid

• Prefer cash on collection after you have inspected the item.
• Beware pressure to "pay now, collect later", gift cards, crypto or unusual payment apps.
• Never share bank PINs, one-time codes (OTP) or passwords.
• Never give anyone remote access to your phone or computer (AnyDesk, TeamViewer, etc.) to "help with payment".
• Treat a sudden move to WhatsApp or Telegram plus a rush to pay as a warning sign. Arranging a meet is fine, but stay cautious.

5. Common scam signs

• A price that is too good to be true;
• A new account, stock photos only, or a vague location ("Ireland" with no county);
• A seller or buyer who cannot meet and insists on advance payment or "courier";
• Fake "I've already paid" emails or screenshots;
• Requests for fees to "release" a parcel or refund;
• Urgency, threats or emotional manipulation.

If you see these, walk away and report the ad.

6. Tips for sellers

• Never ship before you have cleared payment that you can verify independently.
• Beware fake "buyer paid, now release the item" messages that do not match your real bank or app.
• Meet in public, and don't invite strangers to your home for high-value first meets.
• Don't share extra personal documents "for verification" beyond what you are comfortable with.
• Keep copies of your listing and messages in case of a dispute.

7. Private sales vs trader sales

For typical private (person-to-person) sales, EU and Irish consumer cooling-off rights and trader-sale remedies usually do not apply. That is normal for classifieds, so inspect before you pay.

If the seller is a business or trader, consumer law may apply to their contract with you. Ask whether they are a business, request a receipt and ask about returns. We host the ad; we are not that seller. More detail: Terms, consumer rights note.

8. How to report illegal content, scams or prohibited items

Use the Report option on the listing where available. Otherwise email:

Include:

• the listing link or ad ID;
• the reason (illegal item, scam, counterfeit, hate, privacy, IP, other);
• screenshots or other evidence;
• your contact email.

We aim to acknowledge reports and act diligently, without undue delay, on illegal-content notices. Abuse of the report tool (manifestly unfounded notices) may lead to limits on reporting privileges. Prohibited categories: Community Guidelines.

9. If you have lost money or feel unsafe

• Your bank or payment provider: report the transaction quickly;
• An Garda Síochána: report fraud or threats. In an emergency call 999 or 112;
• CCPC: consumer and scam guidance at www.ccpc.ie;
• Citizens Information: practical consumer-rights explainers.

Reporting to us helps other users but does not replace bank or Garda action, and does not guarantee recovery.

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