Safety Tips: Avoiding Scams

The vast majority of BostonBargains users are honest, but a few bad actors exist anywhere people buy and sell. Following a few simple rules will help you avoid nearly all scams.

Do

• Meet in person in a well-lit, public place — many police stations offer safe-exchange zones;
• Bring a friend, and tell someone where you're going;
• Trust your instincts — if a deal feels off, walk away;
• Insist on seeing items before paying;
• Use cash or a secure in-person payment method for local deals.

Don't

• Never wire money (Western Union, MoneyGram) or send gift cards — these are hallmarks of scams;
• Never accept cashier's checks or money orders for more than the asking price;
• Don't give out financial information (bank account, card numbers, etc.);
• Don't ship items to buyers you can't verify;
• Don't rent or buy sight-unseen, or based only on photos.

Warning signs of a scam

• The other party can't or won't meet in person or talk by phone;
• They claim to be traveling, overseas, or otherwise unavailable;
• They want to use an escrow or "guarantee" service you didn't choose;
• They send too much money and ask you to refund the difference;
• The deal is dramatically too good to be true.

BB never handles payments or shipping between users, and will never email you asking to confirm a transaction or release funds. If someone claims to be "BB" doing this, it's a scam.