whatsused

1. Meet in Safe, Well-Lit Public Locations

Always arrange handoffs and inspections in busy public locations during daylight hours:

• Police Safe Exchange Zones: Many local municipal police departments and sheriff stations offer designated, 24/7 video-monitored parking spaces for classifieds transactions. These are the safest meetup locations.
• High-Visibility Public Venues: Bank lobbies, bustling coffee shops, or grocery store parking lots are good alternatives.
• Bring a Friend: Never go alone to high-value transactions. If someone insists on meeting at a secluded spot, cancel the meeting immediately.
• Minors Must Be Accompanied by an Adult: Minors under 18 years of age must never conduct in-person inspections or transactions alone; an adult parent or legal guardian must accompany them.
• Home Pickups: If selling heavy items (e.g., furniture) requiring home pickup, move the item to the driveway or garage, keep interior doors locked, and have another adult present.

2. Inspect and Test Before Paying

Never hand over money until you have personally inspected the item:

• Electronics & Appliances: Power the device on, test all ports/buttons, and verify battery health. For phones, verify clean IMEI/ESN and ensure iCloud / Google account locks are removed.
• Vehicles & Power Equipment: Inspect title paperwork in person to confirm clear ownership and verify the VIN matches the title before exchanging cash.
• Designer Goods & Collectibles: Verify serial numbers and receipts. Remember that whatsused does not authenticate items.

3. Cash Only — Avoid Payment Scams

Counterfeit checks, fake payment confirmations, and reversible peer-to-peer transfers are common online scams:

• Use Cash for In-Person Sales: Cash is instant, final, and cannot be recalled or bounced. Inspect bills for counterfeits on high-value sales.
• Never Accept Cashier's Checks or Money Orders: Fraudulent cashier's checks appear real and may initially clear your bank, but will bounce weeks later, leaving you responsible for the full amount.
• No Wire Transfers or Gift Cards: Never send payments via Western Union, MoneyGram, Zelle to strangers, or Apple/Target gift cards. Legitimate buyers and sellers will never request gift cards.
• Beware of Overpayment Scams: If a buyer sends more money than agreed and asks you to refund the difference, it is 100% a scam.

4. Protect Your Personal Identity & Data

• Keep Communications Private: Use whatsused platform inquiries or temporary/SMS contacts. Never give out your home address, banking info, or passwords.
• Two-Factor / PIN Scams: Never give anyone a Google Voice verification code, SMS PIN, or six-digit authentication code sent to your phone. Scammers use these codes to steal phone numbers or compromise accounts.

5. Trust Your Instincts

If an offer seems too good to be true, it almost always is. High-end items listed for a tiny fraction of their market value are frequently scams, counterfeit, or stolen property. If anything feels suspicious, walk away.