A recent news report highlights the dangers of meeting an online seller offline. The buyer spotted a car for sale on a classified ads website and agreed to meet the buyer offline. When the two met, the buyer was ambushed, then beaten, kicked and stabbed, before the £5,000 he was carrying for the sale of the car was stolen.
The buyer ended up in hospital and needed open heart surgery.
The transaction was due to take place in daylight in a busy part of London. The buyer arrived at the pre-arranged location and called the sellers mobile when he couldn’t see the car he intended to buy. It was at this point the buyer was set upon.
It has to be said that this kind of incident is extremely rare, but you should always be very cautious when meeting a seller offline, especially if you will be carrying a lot of cash with you.
Here are several suggestions on how to avoid getting mugged when meeting an online seller offline.
Do not meet the seller alone
Try to take at least one person with you. If you can take more, do so. If you know anyone who looks particularly scary, he/she should be at the top of your list.
Meet in a public place
This happened in the incident I mentioned above, but it still remains good advice. Meeting in a cafe or coffee shop would be better than meeting in a pub or on the street.
Ask the seller to come to your home
Most sellers would prefer not to come to you, but it is worth asking if this is possible.
Avoid paying the full amount on your first meeting
Do not take all the cash you need for the sale on your first meeting. Use it as an opportunity for you to examine the item you are going to buy. If you like it, leave a deposit and agree to meet again, preferably at the buyers home, to complete the sale. The alarm bells should be sounding if the seller is not keen on this.
Ask the seller for his/her home phone number
Speaking to somebody gives you more of an insight into his/her persona than an email ever will. Before you arrange to meet the seller try to get hold of their home telephone number and ask some personal questions about where they live, what they do, why they are selling the item you want to buy etc. The answers provided and the reactions to your questions will help you to decide whether or not the seller is genuine.
If it sounds to good to be true, it usually is
Don’t be fooled into thinking you are getting a bargain. If someone is selling an item for a lot less than the usual price, steer clear. It could be fake or you could be being set up.
