Safety

We are committed to creating a user-friendly environment, where our users can post and reply to ads and other messages freely and without concern. What follows are a number of tips and techniques you should keep in mind to protect yourself and your privacy online, whether you are using our site or some other site on the Internet. (Some of these suggestions "repeat" because they apply in multiple situations.) This list is not exhaustive and you should not use it as a substitute for your own common sense. As always, the best protection is to use good judgment and trust your instincts.

Responding to an Ad

Online ads help us find all kinds of different goods and services easily and quickly. It is important to remember that whether you are responding to a rental ad, a job posting, personal or "for sale" ad, you have never met the person behind the ad before. Use caution.

• Do not wire money, or send a check, for an apartment you have not seen to a person you have never met.

• Do not give out personal information about yourself, such as your social security number, without verifying that a job posting is legitimate.

• Meet people in a public place.

• Do not go check out furniture in someone's house alone. Bring a friend.

Placing an Ad

Online advertising allows us to quickly and effectively reach as many people as possible that are interested in what we are selling or offering. It is important to remember that you may not know the people responding to your ad, so be careful.

• Do not include personal information in an ad, such as your full name or address, and do not post images or content that are prohibited by our Terms of Use or Privacy Policy, like nudity or messages relating to illegal activities.

• Talk to people on the phone before giving them information, like your address, and trust your instincts.

• If someone is coming to check out the sofa you advertised, make sure you are not alone when they arrive.

• If you are selling something portable but expensive, such as a DVD player or a digital camera, consider showing it to people in a coffee shop instead of your home.

• If you are selling a car, make sure you are meeting the person somewhere public for a test drive, bring a friend, and be careful driving home.

• Meet people in a public place.

Safety Tips

• Be careful when purchasing gift cards through auction sites or classified ads; they may be empty or fraudulent.

• Be careful when bidding on auctions for products; they may be stolen.

• Be careful when replying to mystery or secret shopper jobs; you may end up owing all the money to the bank you thought you were getting paid.

• Be cautious when it comes to work-from-home opportunities, especially ones that do not require experience or time.

• Do not give money to an individual claiming to be the victim of a disaster if you do not know them.

• Do not give money to an organization if you have not heard of it.

• Do not wire money, or send a check, for an apartment you have not seen to a person you have never met.

• Do not give out personal information about yourself, such as your social security number, without verifying that a job posting is legitimate.

• Meet people in a public place.