Gumtree has really been in the spot light for crime and easy criminal targets. Cape Town jobs and unsuspecting selling items for cash has left many people affected lacking the level of trust and security.
Gumtree has placed some very effective security measures and also listed a few precautionary methods to make people more aware and also to remind everyone to keep safe and be vigilant.
Below are some safety tips from Gumtree:
Buying & selling safely
- Keep things local by meeting face to face to see the item and exchange money. Don’t send money (whether it's cash, cheque or direct bank transfer) if you’ve never seen the item. Similarly, don’t send items before receiving payment.
- For your personal safety, meet in a well lit public place.
- Always take someone with you, or at least tell a friend where you’re going.
- Never carry large sums of money with you. If you’re looking to buy something expensive, we recommend that you meet with the seller to view the item first. Once you’re ready to proceed with the purchase, either go to the bank with the seller to make the payment or arrange to meet somewhere safe with the money.
- Watch out for requests to use money transfer services like Western Union or MoneyGram. These services aren't meant for sending money to someone you don't know. In our experience, it is these forms of funds transfer that are favoured by fraudsters.
- Check the item to make sure you’re happy with it before parting with any money.
- Be aware of the top online scams.
- Use your common sense. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Finding a job safely
- Do your research. Find out as much as you can about your prospective employer from independent resources. This will also help you in an interview.
- Meet your prospective employers face to face. Be wary of any employer prepared to offer you a job without meeting you first.
- Never provide your bank account details or personal ID such as passport or driving licence when applying for a job. This should only happen once you’ve accepted an offer and started with the company, or when you’ve met your employer in person and verified their identity through independent resources.
- Be aware of top scam warning signs. In particular steer clear of jobs that involve working from home and simply cashing cheques for an employer you never meet. If in doubt about a prospective employer either contact us for advice or don't proceed.
- Use common sense. If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
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Let everyday be a training day and lesson to be learnt!!!
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