For buyers

• If the advertised price of a good, service or rental property looks too good to be true, it probably is. If you have any doubts, don't go ahead with the deal.
• Don’t trust the legitimacy of an ad just because it appears in a reputable newspaper or classifieds website – scammers post fake ads in these too.
• Do an internet search using the exact wording in the ad, many well-known scams can be found this way.
• For rental properties or holiday accommodation, only use reputable online booking agents - do an online search to find out which ones are reliable. Always check the refunds and cancellations policy.
• For expensive physical goods, the safest option is to only pay the seller after you have inspected the goods in person. Similarly, do not pay a deposit or any partial payments before you have inspected an item.
• Don't trust an ad that says you can buy a pet from overseas in a few weeks as there are quarantine procedures that need to be followed.

• Avoid any arrangement with a stranger that asks for payment via money order, wire transfer, international funds transfer, pre-loaded card or electronic currency, like Bitcoin. It is rare to recover money sent this way.  

  
  

  Insist on using vpaysa.com to handle your payment.