Safety tips

Most people on Orderbook Africa are honest, but we do not check every ad or every buyer, and we are not part of the deal. These habits prevent nearly all of the trouble we hear about.

The three rules

• See it before you pay for it. Do not send a deposit, a "holding fee" or transport money for something you have not seen in person.
• Meet somewhere public, in daylight. A shopping centre, a fuel station forecourt or the banking hall of a bank is better than a house or a quiet street. Bring someone with you for expensive items.
• If the price is far below everything similar, ask why. A deal that needs you to decide right now, before you can look, is usually not a deal.

If you are buying

• Ask questions by phone or WhatsApp first. A real seller knows the item and can send another photo when asked.
• Test it properly. Switch it on, try every function, and take your time. Walk away if you are rushed.
• Pay only when the item is in your hands. For large amounts, pay by bank transfer inside a bank, or count cash in a safe place.
• Ask for a signed note with the seller's name, ID number, the date, the item and the amount paid.
• Be careful with a seller who refuses to meet, says they are out of the country, or sends a courier or "agent" to collect payment.

Vehicles

• Check that the name in the registration book matches the seller's ID, and that the engine and chassis numbers on the vehicle match the book.
• Get police clearance for the vehicle before you pay, and do the change of ownership together.
• Take a mechanic you trust, and test-drive on a road you know.

Property and rentals

• View the property inside, with the person who has the keys. Do not pay a viewing fee to someone you have not met.
• Before paying a deposit, ask for proof that the person owns the property or is allowed to let it, and get a written lease.
• For a purchase, have a registered conveyancer check the title deed before any money moves.

Phones and electronics

• Put your own SIM card in and make a call. Check the IMEI on the box against the one the phone shows when you dial *#06#.
• Make sure the previous owner has signed out of their account and removed any screen lock.

Jobs

• A real employer does not charge you to apply, to be interviewed or for a uniform before you start.
• Do not send copies of your ID or bank details until you have met the employer and know the job exists.

If you are selling

• Check the money yourself. A payment message on the buyer's phone, or a forwarded SMS, proves nothing. Look at your own mobile money or bank balance before you hand anything over.
• Check US dollar notes for fakes, and count cash before the buyer leaves.
• Refuse overpayments. Someone who "accidentally" sends too much and asks for the difference back is running a known trick.
• Do not let a stranger test-drive alone. Go with them, and hold their ID or keys while they drive.
• If buyers are coming to your home, have someone else there and keep other valuables out of sight.
• Leave your street address off the ad unless you run a shop. Your suburb is enough.

Protect your account

• Orderbook Africa will never ask for your password, your mobile money PIN or a one-time code, by phone, WhatsApp, SMS or email.
• Open the site by typing the address yourself, not from a link in a message that asks you to sign in.
• Top up your wallet only from the Wallet page of your account, following the instructions shown there. Ignore anyone who contacts you offering to sell you points.

When something looks wrong

Use the Report button on the ad and tell us what you noticed. If you have lost money or feel threatened, go to the police first, then let us know which ad it was so we can act on the account.