Avoiding consumer trading scams

Trading between private individuals is great! Buying second-hand is a great way to save money, give an object a new lease of life, reduce the ecological impact of mass production, and even make a bit of extra cash. However, there are risks involved... But don't panic, there are certain habits you can adopt to avoid scams.

For buyers

Choose a secure system for hand-delivery or delivery

To avoid being duped, we recommend finalising the sale face-to-face! In reality, you have no idea of the intentions of the person you are about to meet. So it's best to hand over the sale in person, preferably in a busy public place. Don't send cheques or money orders! Whether it's hand-delivered or you need to send it, use Obvy to avoid any problems and protect yourself from delivery scams.

Do not use cash or other non-secure means of payment

It's not a good idea to carry cash, especially for larger amounts. Prefer a solution like Obvy, which avoids the risk of the money being stolen if the seller is ill-intentioned. Apart from this danger, having a dematerialised means of payment means that you won't be forced to negotiate if the seller doesn't have any change to give you back (for example, you buy a property for €40, but you only have a €50 note and the seller doesn't have the €10 to give you back).

Whether your transaction involves a meeting or a delivery, Obvy is a means of payment specially designed to make transactions between private individuals secure and guarantee protection against scams.

Ask for proof of purchase

Ask for proof of purchase, for example by means of a contract of sale. Even if individuals cannot legally be prosecuted for a sale, this still provides proof that the purchase actually took place. With Obvy, all your transactions are sorted in your history, giving you real traceability of your purchases.

For sellers

Give preference to hand-deliveries and shipments with Obvy

To avoid being duped, it is advisable to finalise the sale face-to-face! Cash orders, bank transfers and other means of remote transfer are not without danger, as they offer no guarantee that the property will be handed over. So prefer to hand over your property in person, preferably in a busy public place, and use Obvy to guarantee payment. And if delivery is essential, Obvy is a payment method specially designed for transactions between private individuals, providing solid guarantees and avoiding any risk of fraud.

Demand a secure electronic payment system

Scams involving counterfeit notes, bad cheques, etc. are commonplace. Use a solution like Obvy to be sure that the money actually exists and will be paid to you. Apart from this danger, having a dematerialised means of payment means that you won't be forced to negotiate if the buyer doesn't have any change to give you (for example, you sell a property for €60, but the buyer only has a €50 note and doesn't have the €10 to give you). Obvy is also capable of securing all transactions between private individuals by delivery.

As you will have realised, there are a number of good practices that apply to both buyers and sellers, so that you can take advantage of the many benefits of selling between private individuals without suffering any of the potential inconveniences.

For your next sale or purchase from another private individual, use Obvy!