The folk in our legal department have told us that we can’t tell you which payment methods to use, however we can tell you that some are safer than others. Here’s a few things we can say.

Safer payment methods:

• Offer financial and anti-fraud protection for buyers and sellers
• Don’t reveal the personal or financial details of the buyer or the seller
• Keep a record of the transaction, and can refund money if there’s a dispute
• Hold an appropriate financial services licence.

Banned payment methods

Tradingpost has banned the use of money transfer services on the site. We know that fraudsters use these services, and there’s no protection for you once the money has been transferred. We recommend avoiding these services when you’re buying from someone you don’t know.

Tips and advice from the experts

• Changing payment methods. Don’t pay a seller who offered you a safe payment method, then told you it wasn’t available after you committed to buy.
• Use a payment method you feel comfortable with. Don’t be afraid to ask the seller if they will accept a different payment method. If they refuse, you may wish to withdraw your offer.
• Get a receipt. If there’s a dispute, you will need to show proof of purchase. Many payment methods, such as PayPal, will send you a confirmation email to prove you’ve paid for the item.
• Be smart about escrow. Escrow services offer to hold money for you until you are satisfied with goods, but many fraudsters scam buyers by creating or using non-existent escrow services, or by faking communication from legitimate services. Always check out the service before you use it.
• Keep up to date with scams. We publish regular updates on the latest frauds. You can find it here.
• Don’t send money overseas. Or at the very least, check with us first. Tradingpost members must live in Australia. If they’re asking you to send money outside the country, we want to know about it. Email us at investigations@tradingpost.com.au, or call 13 26 26.
• Be wary when buying or selling rare or expensive items. Scammers often use rare or expensive goods to attract their victims. Be careful, and get as much information about the seller or buyer as you can.
• Talk to the seller before you pay. This will help you to check that you have their correct contact details, and give you a better idea of who you’re dealing with.
• Never send cash in the mail. Kind of a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised at how often this happens.

Compare some common payment methods.

What to do if you see something suspicious

Contact us immediately. We take your security very seriously, and have procedures for managing fraud on the site. Call us on 13 26 26 or email investigations@tradingpost.com.au. More information about reporting suspicious behaviour can be found here.