Millions of people use the Internet every day to buy and sell products & services, to find news and information, or dates and jobs.

While the vast majority of people are honest, there are some precautions you should take when you post any information about yourself or consider buying or selling an item.

First & foremost, if possible, try to keep all transactions local. Since we are a local business it would make sense that our buyers & sellers would be local as well, but do what you can to check.

Please use caution and common sense when dealing with any potential financial transaction. Here are a few suggestions:

Keep it local.Unless you’re selling something truly unique, most non-local inquiries should be regarded as suspect, especially an obviously international inquiry.

Consider setting up a separate email account to handle your transaction and avoid exposing your normal account to the entire Internet.

Whenever possible, try to get the phone number of the person with whom you are communicating, whether they first called or emailed you. Then call the person back to verify the number. This is NEVER a guarantee of legitimacy but can be another safeguard.

NEVER wire funds to a seller, or to a buyer for any reason either.Various versions of scams involving wiring money are becoming an increasingly more popular means of fraud.

Be wary of another popular scam which involves a phony 3rd party (shipping agent, business associate owing buyer money, etc) acting as an agent for the buyer/seller.

Also be very cautious if the buying or selling party wants to use an escrow company.It is relatively easy to set up a fake escrow company or imitate one on the Internet.

Never divulge any personal financial information such as your social security number, checking account, credit card number, etc. If they say they will wire you the money and want your account information ask for a postal money order instead.

Be careful with cashier’s checks or money orders. Verify their authenticity before you accept them. Often banks will cash these checks but will hold you accountable if/when they are later found to be fraudulent.

Be leery of anyone willing to buy something site unseen.

Do not give out your address over the Internet.

Either agree to meet someone at a safe and neutral site or at least talk to them on the phone before you agree where to meet.

If the deal seems to be good to be true…it is probably a scam of some kind.

These are all merely suggestions.You can learn more or report suspected fraud as indicated:

• Contact your local law enforcement agency.
• FTC toll free hotline: 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357)
• FTC online complaint form (www.ftc.gov)
• Internet Fraud Complaint Center (www.ifccfbi.gov)

For other precautions you may wish to take, please visit the FTC site (Federal Trade Commission) which provides detailed information on E-Commerce transactions. You may also wish to visit www.OnGuardOnline.gov which provides useful tips reducing the likelihood of fraud, securing your personal information as well as other valuable information.

In addition, if you know of or suspect fraud by one of our advertisers or users please let us know at once by calling or emailing us.