Being able to buy and sell online is a great advantage of our ever evolving society. Technology allows buyers and sellers to connect in ways that were never even imaginable. Online shopping is easy, fun and convenient and allows you to do what you want when you want on almost any device and no trouble at all. However… with all these benefits there are always going to be negatives.
Just like in society, there will always be people trying to scam, rob and take advantage of people, and it’s even easier online. Because not all people are 100% familiar with the internet and are not really ‘CyberSmart’ if we can call it that, makes it a simple task for scammers to take advantage. Just like you would when shopping offline, you need to be smart with your money and only do business with verified businesses, do your research and protect your cash online!
There are a few simple Do’s and Don’ts that are imperative to all online shoppers that could end up saving you a lot of trouble and heartache. Simple things like if you are buying a used car from a private seller, be sure to arrange for a viewing and test the car thoroughly before proceeding to any form of payment, don’t just deposit the money without viewing the product. There will always be that 50% chance that you could get done in or taken advantage of. It’s not a nice thing to hear, but unfortunately this is reality and it does happen.
To avoid being a victim, always keep your guard up and do your research. What scammers tend to do is to place an advert online with all the relevant information, just enough to make it seem legit, usually with a very enticing price tag. Then when an interested buyer contacts them via email they will respond with very little information and the response could almost seem a bit generic. For instance if you are enquiring about a car, they might make a mistake and have the word ‘bike’ in their response, so pay attention to detail, it’s the little things that count. The scammer is usually very pushy and tries to move the deal on very quickly pressurising the buyer to deposit the money, stating that there are many other interested buyers wanting this deal. If the buyer is desperate enough they could feel pressurised and end up paying the money without even having viewed the car or met the seller.
Auto Mart can only provide you with the tools to assist you in your transaction, at the end of the day it will be between the buyer and the seller to ensure that the deal gets closed. In some cases scammers have asked buyers for their personal details to register them on Auto Mart as a serious buyer. Be careful who you give your details to, as this can be used against you.
We take scammers very seriously and want your buying and selling experience on Auto Mart to be smooth, effortless and enjoyable. We do our best to prevent scams and scammers from placing adverts, but if you do come across any strange or dodgy adverts please do not hesitate to contact us (webmaster@automart.co.za) and we will investigate the matter right away!
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If you’re looking for a comfortable and stylish ride, then visit www.AutoMart.co.za for good deals on cars in your area.
