Safety Tips
Your safety is our priority. Read these guidelines before buying or selling on VendoAU.
In immediate danger? Call 000.
Australian Emergency Services — Police, Fire, Ambulance — available 24/7
How to Buy Safely
✓ Meet in public
Choose a busy, well-lit public place — a café, shopping centre, library, or petrol station forecourt. Many Australian police stations offer "safe exchange zones" — ask your local station.
✓ Inspect before paying
Never hand over money before you have physically inspected the item. Test electronics. Verify serial numbers match any documentation.
✓ Check for stolen goods
For vehicles, always run a PPSR (Personal Property Securities Register) check at ppsr.gov.au. For electronics, check the serial number online.
✓ Bring a friend
Never meet a stranger alone for high-value items. Bring someone you trust, especially after dark or in unfamiliar areas.
✓ Verify vehicle history
Use PPSR to check for encumbrances (money owed on the vehicle), stolen status, and write-off history before any vehicle purchase.
✓ Trust your instincts
If something feels wrong — the price is too low, the seller is evasive, the photos look stolen — walk away. You can always report the listing.
How to Sell Safely
✓ Keep your address private
Do not include your home address in listings. Meet buyers in a neutral public location. Never allow strangers into your home unless you are certain of their identity.
✓ Verify payment first
For bank transfer: wait for the funds to actually clear in your account before handing over the item. Never accept overpayments — this is a common scam.
✓ Wipe devices before selling
Factory reset all phones, computers, and tablets. Remove all personal accounts, photos, and data before handing over.
✓ Keep records
Take photos of items before handover. Note the buyer's details. For vehicles, both parties should sign a written bill of sale.
✓ Use the contact reveal system
Keep your phone number and email hidden until a buyer has paid to reveal them. This reduces spam and protects your privacy.
✓ Watch for overpayment scams
A buyer who sends more than the asking price and asks for the difference back is almost certainly a scammer. The original payment will bounce.
How to Spot Scams
🚩 Price too good to be true
An iPhone 15 for $50, a new car for $200 — if the price is shockingly low, it's almost certainly a scam. Research market prices before engaging.
🚩 Seller can't meet in person
"I'm away for work / in hospital / overseas" — these are classic scam setups. Legitimate sellers can meet or arrange a trusted third party.
🚩 Requests to communicate off-platform
Moving to WhatsApp, Telegram, or email before trust is established is a red flag. Scammers want to escape any platform oversight.
🚩 Pressure to act immediately
"Buy now or lose it forever," "Another buyer is coming in an hour" — urgency is a manipulation tactic. Legitimate sellers are patient.
🚩 Photos don't match
Do a Google reverse image search on listing photos. Scammers frequently steal photos from other websites or old listings.
🚩 Asking for unusual payment
Gift cards (iTunes, Google Play, Steam), cryptocurrency, or international wire transfer are scam payment methods. Legitimate sellers accept bank transfer or cash.
🚩 Job asks for payment to apply
Legitimate employers never ask you to pay for a police check, training materials, or "admin fees" to apply for a job.
🚩 Overpayment "mistake"
Buyer "accidentally" pays more than the asking price and asks for the difference back. The original payment bounces days later.
Safe Meeting Places
🏪Shopping centre food courts or entrances — busy, CCTV-covered, public
🚓Police station front car parks — many stations actively encourage marketplace meetups
☕Busy cafés or fast food restaurants during daylight hours
⛽Petrol station forecourts — well-lit, often with CCTV, staff present
🏦Bank branches — if large cash is involved, both parties can verify notes are real
🏟️Community centres, libraries, or council buildings during opening hours
Safe Payment Methods
✓ Safe Methods
- • Bank transfer (PayID or BSB/Account) — traceable and reversible in fraud cases
- • Cash (small amounts) — for in-person transactions under $200
- • BPAY — for business transactions
✗ Never Use These
- • Gift cards (iTunes, Google Play, Steam, Amazon) — untraceable, unrecoverable
- • Cryptocurrency (Bitcoin, Ethereum) — cannot be reversed or traced easily
- • International wire transfer / Western Union — impossible to recover
- • Cheques — can bounce days after appearing to clear
What to Do If You've Been Scammed
Immediate Steps:
- 1 Stop all contact with the scammer immediately
- 2 Contact your bank if money was transferred — they may be able to recall funds
- 3 Report the listing on VendoAU using the Report button
- 4 File a report with ScamWatch and local police
- 5 Keep all evidence — screenshots, messages, receipts, emails
Where to Report:
ScamWatch (ACCC)
Official Australian government scam reporting
ReportCyber — Australian Cyber Security Centre
Australian Cyber Security Centre — cybercrime reporting
Report a Scam — Scamwatch (ACCC)
Consumer complaints and marketplace fraud
📞 1300 302 502
IDCARE
Australia's national identity & cyber support service
📞 1800 595 160
VendoAU Trust Team
Report a scam or suspicious listing — our Trust & Safety team reviews all reports within 4 hours.
State & Territory Police
| State | Service | Non-Emergency | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | NSW Police Force | 📞 131 444 | Visit |
| VIC | Victoria Police | 📞 131 444 | Visit |
| QLD | Queensland Police Service | 📞 131 444 | Visit |
| WA | WA Police Force | 📞 131 444 | Visit |
| SA | SA Police | 📞 131 444 | Visit |
| TAS | Tasmania Police | 📞 131 444 | Visit |
| ACT | ACT Policing | 📞 131 444 | Visit |
| NT | NT Police | 📞 131 444 | Visit |
⚠️ For all emergencies: call 000
Useful Resources
PPSR — Personal Property Securities Register
Check vehicles for encumbrances, stolen status
ScamWatch
ACCC scam reporting and advice
Australian Cyber Security Centre
Report cybercrime and get cyber safety advice
ACCC — Australian Consumer Law
Your rights as a buyer and seller
MoneySmart (ASIC)
Financial scam advice from Australia's financial regulator
IDCARE
Identity theft support service