Last updated: July 1, 2025
At PoulaTo, your safety is our top priority. These safety tips will help you buy and sell safely on our platform. Please read them carefully and follow these guidelines to protect yourself and others in the community.
• Always meet in public places during daylight hours
• Bring a friend or family member with you when meeting buyers/sellers
• Trust your instincts - if something feels wrong, walk away
• Never give out personal information like your home address until you're ready to meet
• Keep all communication through PoulaTo messaging initially
• Verify the identity of the person you're dealing with
• Take time to research the item's market value before agreeing to a price
Choose safe, public locations for transactions:
• Shopping centers and malls
• Police station parking lots (many have designated safe exchange zones)
• Busy coffee shops or restaurants
• Bank parking lots with good lighting and security cameras
• Public libraries
• Grocery store parking lots
Avoid:
• Your home or the buyer's/seller's home
• Isolated locations
• Meeting late at night
• Parking garages or secluded areas
• Cash is often the safest payment method for in-person transactions
• Count cash carefully and check for counterfeit bills
• For high-value items, consider meeting at a bank
• Be cautious of checks - they can bounce or be fraudulent
• Never send money in advance through wire transfers, gift cards, or money orders
• Avoid online payment methods with strangers unless using secure platforms
• Never give out your banking information, credit card details, or personal financial information
Watch out for these red flags:
• Prices that are too good to be true
• Sellers who refuse to meet in person or talk on the phone
• Requests for payment through unconventional methods
• Poor grammar or spelling in messages (may indicate scammers)
• Pressure to complete the transaction quickly
• Requests for personal information early in the conversation
• Offers to ship items instead of meeting locally
• Stories that seem overly complicated or emotional
• Buyers who offer to pay more than the asking price
When buying or selling vehicles:
• Meet at a well-lit, public location
• Bring a knowledgeable friend if possible
• Verify the seller owns the vehicle by checking the title
• Take the vehicle for a test drive in a safe area
• Have the vehicle inspected by a trusted mechanic
• Verify the VIN number matches the title
• Be cautious of deals that seem too good to be true
• Never give money without seeing proper documentation
When dealing with property rentals or sales:
• Work with licensed real estate agents when possible
• Verify the person showing the property has authority to rent/sell it
• Never send money before seeing the property in person
• Be wary of requests for large deposits or payments
• Research the property and neighborhood
• Get all agreements in writing
• Verify property ownership through public records
• Be cautious of rental scams where scammers post fake listings
• Keep your personal information private until you've established trust
• Use PoulaTo's messaging system initially
• Don't click on suspicious links in messages
• Be cautious of phishing attempts
• Use strong, unique passwords for your PoulaTo account
• Log out of your account when using public computers
• Report suspicious activity to PoulaTo immediately
• Keep records of your conversations and transactions
If you encounter problems:
• Contact PoulaTo support immediately through our reporting system
• Save all communications and evidence
• If you feel threatened, contact local law enforcement
• Report suspected fraud to appropriate authorities
• Don't try to handle dangerous situations yourself
• Block users who behave inappropriately
• Leave honest reviews to help other users
• Learn from the experience to stay safer in future transactions
Help keep PoulaTo safe by reporting:
• Suspicious listings or users
• Attempted scams or fraud
• Inappropriate behavior or harassment
• Fake or misleading advertisements
• Users asking for personal information inappropriately
• Any communication that makes you uncomfortable
To report issues, use the 'Report' button on listings or contact us directly at [email protected] with details about the incident.
If you have questions about our safety tips or need help, please contact us:
[email protected]