Dontab Safety Guidelines

These guidelines are designed to ensure safe, secure, and hassle-free transactions on Dontab.com, a local classifieds website. While we strive to maintain a safe platform, not all ads are reviewed before going live, so users must take precautions. Below are categorized safety tips for buyers, sellers, and general account security, along with guidance on avoiding scams and fraudulent activities.

1. General Safety Precautions for All Users

  • Meet in Safe Locations: Always meet in-person for transactions in public, populated places (e.g., coffee shops, public parks) to inspect products and exchange funds.
  • Protect Personal Information: Never share sensitive details (e.g., social insurance number, bank account details, residential address) unless absolutely necessary for the transaction.
  • Use Common Sense: If an offer or deal seems too good to be true, it likely is. Trust your instincts.
  • Report Suspicious Activity: Inform Dontab of any fraudulent or suspicious ads, emails, or user behavior via the Contact Us page. In cases of fraud, file a police report and notify Dontab to block the user.
  • Utilize the Help Desk: Visit the Dontab Help Desk to learn about platform usage, policies, safety guides, or to contact Customer Service.

2. Safety Guidelines for Buyers

Pre-Purchase Precautions

  • Review Item Description: Carefully read the seller’s product or service description. Contact the seller via chat, email, or call for clarifications before agreeing to buy.
  • Research Market Prices: Compare prices of similar products or competing brands to verify that discounts or special offers are genuine.
  • Verify Seller Credentials: Gather and verify as much information about the seller as possible before committing to a purchase.

Safe Transaction Practices

  • Inspect Products Thoroughly: Meet the seller in a public place and inspect the product’s quality, quantity, and standards before paying.
  • Digital Goods Transactions: For virtual or digital goods (e.g., video game accounts, digital movies/books), agree on a specific date/time for digital payment and verify the item before completing the transaction.
  • Avoid Sharing Unnecessary Information: Do not provide personal details unrelated to the transaction.

3. Safety Guidelines for Sellers

Creating Advertisements

  • Clear and Honest Listings: Ensure your advertisement is unambiguous, accurately describing the product or service to avoid misunderstandings.
  • Verify Buyer Intent: Confirm that the buyer has inspected and verified the product’s quality, quantity, and standards before finalizing the sale.

Safe Transaction Practices

  • Communicate Effectively: Use multiple communication channels (chat, email, call, comments) to clarify details with the buyer.
  • Meet in Public Places: Schedule in-person meetings in safe, public locations for product inspections and exchanges.
  • Digital Goods Sales: For virtual or digital goods, set a specific date/time for the buyer to make online payments before transferring the item.

4. Account Security

Protecting Your Dontab Account

  • Strong Passwords: Use a password that is at least 8 characters long, combining letters, numbers, and special characters. Avoid easily guessable passwords.
  • Keep Account Details Private: Never share your account credentials with anyone.
  • Limit Shared Information: Avoid sharing personal details (e.g., name, address, bank details, personal email) unless required for a transaction.
  • Secure Sign-In: Ensure you are signing into Dontab via a secure webpage (check for a secure connection in your browser).

Handling Suspicious Emails and Phishing

  • Identify Phishing Attempts: Be cautious of emails claiming your account is disabled, locked, or suspended, or requesting confirmation of account details. These are often phishing scams.
  • Verify Email Authenticity: Genuine Dontab emails directing you to log in will link directly to the secure Dontab website. Check for secure browser indicators.
  • Report Suspicious Emails: Forward suspicious emails or website links to Dontab’s Contact Us page and delete them immediately.
  • Learn More: Visit Dontab’s resources for tips on secure sign-ins and recognizing spoof or phishing emails.

5. Avoiding Scams and Fraud

Common Scam Types

Dontab has identified common scams targeting users in various categories. Review the following resources for specific tips:

  • General Scams: Tickets, Real Estate, Cars and Vehicles, Jobs, Services, Pets.
  • Reply Scams: Scams in response to your ad or when replying to an ad.

  • Common Scams to Avoid

    1. Overpayment Scam

    Scammers send a fake cheque or payment for more than the asking price and request a refund of the difference.

    2. Fake Vehicle Reports

    Fraudsters ask you to buy a vehicle history report from a third-party site before buying.

    3. Job Scams

    Fake recruiters request application fees or personal information for non-existent jobs.

    4. Rental Scams

    Fake landlords offer cheap apartments and ask for deposits upfront without allowing viewings.

    5. Pet Scams

    Scammers ask for courier fees or shipping charges for non-existent animals.

    6. Fake Services

    Fraudulent service providers charge upfront without delivering the service (e.g., moving, cleaning, psychic readings, insurance).

    7. Phishing Emails

    Emails impersonating Dontab asking you to verify your account, reset passwords, or login to a fake page.

Scam Warning Signs

  • Third-Party Solicitations: Be cautious of users who:
    • Offer to post your ads on their website.
    • Propose selling your items for a fee.
    • Offer consignment or similar services.
    • Dontab cannot validate the legitimacy of these third parties, and such offers may be fraudulent. Report them immediately.
  • Suspicious Ads or Users: If you encounter a suspicious or fraudulent seller or ad, report it to Dontab.
  • Unexpected Emails: Emails about ads you didn’t post or unrequested account changes are likely scams.

Safe Payment Practices

  • In-Person Transactions: Exchange funds in-person after inspecting the product.
  • Avoid Unsafe Payment Methods: Be cautious with cheques or other payment methods that may be fraudulent.
  • Purchasing Used Technology: Follow specific guidelines for safely buying used tech to avoid scams.

6. Best Practices for Safe Transactions

  • Local and In-Person: Conduct all transactions locally and in-person to ensure product inspection and secure exchanges. Dontab recommends using the platform for listing items and meeting in-person only.
  • Avoid Third-Party Services: Do not engage with users offering to sell or manage your items outside of Dontab’s platform.
  • Stay Informed: Regularly review Dontab’s safety guides and scam avoidance tips for specific categories (e.g., vehicles, real estate, pets).

7. Contacting Dontab

  • Customer Support: Reach out to Dontab’s Customer Support team via the Help Desk for questions or assistance.
  • Report Issues: Notify Dontab immediately about suspicious ads, users, or third-party solicitations via the Contact Us page.
  • Apology for Inconvenience: Dontab sincerely apologizes for any inconvenience caused by fraudulent activities and is committed to improving user safety.