Buying Safety Tips

Updated: 01 January 2014

Thanks to the Internet, it has never been easier to buy or sell. The ability to upload and view photos and product descriptions, and contact buyers and sellers - all with a click - have transformed the business, and people's experience, of buying and selling.

However, the internet has also made it easier for dishonest buyers and sellers to defraud larger numbers of people, so there are a number of things you need to be aware of before going online to buy or sell products.

When buying, selling products or using services provided by Users/Members on KashADS.com website, you are accepting Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, Cookies Policy, Posting Policy and other policies displayed on KashADS.com.

Buying: The Risk and Safety Buying Tips

1. The Risk

1.1.Fraudulent advertisements placed by criminal gangs posing as sellers, often involving a hoax vehicle or goods at a bargain price, a faulty phone number and demands to transfer money into a payment protection service or abroad.

1.2.Buying stolen goods that have bogus documentation. If you are unfortunate enough to buy stolen goods, you may still be liable for finance agreement payments when it is returned to its rightful owner.

1.3.Buying a vehicle that has been ‘clocked’ (i.e. the mileage recorder has been wound back to make it appear that it has covered fewer miles).

1.4.Buying a cloned vehicle, this wears the stolen number plates from an identical model. This is not necessarily a stolen vehicle. If you buy a cloned vehicle, you will probably receive demands for parking and speeding fines, or be questioned about crimes in which the original vehicle is involved.

1.5.Phishing emails requesting login and payment card details, claiming to be from selling and buying websites or from KashADS.com.

2. Safety Buying Tips

2.1.Pay for the goods when you physically collect them from the seller. Never send money abroad or to a ‘payment protection’ service.

2.2.If the goods are being offered at a much cheaper price, it could be the sign of a scam. Always check the market value by getting a valuation or comparing the price on the internet or similar sites.

2.3.Physically check the goods (preferably in daylight) and its documentation. If purchasing a vehicle, check the ‘logbook’, service history and MOT certificates – before handing over any money.

2.4.Check – or have an expert check – that the goods are not replica or counterfeited.

2.5.View the goods at the seller’s home or seller’s premises.

2.6.When buying a vehicle, get a car history check to find out whether the vehicle has been recorded as stolen, written off, scrapped or is subject to outstanding finance.

2.7.Keep things local by meeting face to face to see the item and exchange money. Make sure you are completely happy with the item before handing over any money. Although we do not recommend paying for an item you haven't seen, if you are planning to do this, please use a secure payment method.

2.8.Do not send money using transfer services such as Western Union or MoneyGram. If you use any of the transfer services, never give the tracking number/reference number to the seller before receiving the goods.