There are a lot of great deals to be had online for smart shoppers who don’t mind buying used items to save money. But as with any cash transaction, there can be some less than honest individuals posting false ads for items for sale that either don’t exist orShopping that were acquired through less than legal means. Fortunately, most people engaged in online commerce essentially are honest and have good intentions. But, as always, a small percentage of people have made it more difficult to trust the honest online sellers. Thankfully, some simple safety precautions can help to prevent being the victim or fraud or some other form of crime.

Always Check Email Addresses and Phone Numbers

Just as it is easy to find items for sale or trade online, it also is easy to run quick checks to see if there are any obvious issues with someone you might have agreed to meet in order to purchase something. Running a quick Google search of a telephone number or email address can turn up potentially obvious red flags. If there are a lot of shady advertisements that pop up on Google search results for illegal activity, the seller should be avoided. If there are no red flags that show up, precautions still can protect against becoming a victim of some type of crime.

Money Orders and Friends Help

When agreeing to meet someone who has an item to buy, the bigger the purchase, the more caution is required. If looking to buy a vehicle, don’t bring money. If anything, take a certified bank check that whose payment can be stopped if it somehow is lost or stolen, but the best bet is to leave the cash behind until a deal is reached, if any. Showing up a little early for a scheduled meeting with a friend for assistance can help to keep things civil. Some simple precautions can help online shopping experiences remain positive and fruitful ones.

Do you know of anyone who has run into less than honest people when buying or selling goods online?