DOS AND DON’TS

• Do not hand over any goods until the funds have cleared and reflect as ‘available’ in your account. To confirm this, phone the bank, go into a branch or check your bank statements – payments that have not been cleared will reflect as ‘pending’. • Steer clear of cheque payments – they can bounce or be cancelled in the time that it takes to clear. • Ask a buyer if they can do an EFT with immediate clearance, also known as an RTC payment. The funds will reflect as ‘available’ within 60 seconds. • Compare the usual SMS payment notifications you receive from your bank with a buyer’s SMS notifications for discrepancies. • Try to avoid negotiating the sale on platforms like Whatsapp. Use the classifieds app or website so would-be scammers can be traced or blocked from contacting you (and others) if you’re being harassed. • Stipulate the conditions of the sale when you post your ad using some of the following phrases: ‘Cash only’, ‘Goods will not be released until payment has cleared’, ‘No cheque payments’, ‘Will communicate only through the app’, or ‘PayPal, MoneyGram or Western Union payments or exchanges will not be accepted’. • Meet the buyer in a public place and take someone with you. If you’re selling furniture that requires people to come to your house, make sure you aren’t home alone and, if possible, move the item to the garage or outside for viewing. Do not divulge information about your comings and goings (‘No one is at home until 2pm’). Or, transport the item to the buyer’s home (factor the cost into your asking price). • Stay abreast of scams and use the tips issued by SABRIC (sabric.co.za/staysafe/) to protect yourself. • Trust your gut – if something doesn’t feel right, don’t proceed with the sale.