Check the offer and the seller
Read the full listing, compare the price with similar items and ask for details or additional photos when something is unclear. Be cautious when a price or promise seems unusually attractive or someone pressures you to act immediately.
Check a business’s identity and contact details using reliable sources. A seller profile, paid package or position in search results does not guarantee that an offer is genuine.
Inspect before paying
Where possible, examine and test the item before handing over money. If meeting in person, choose a suitable public place, tell someone about the meeting and consider taking a trusted person with you. Agree on the item, price and delivery terms in advance.
Be cautious about deposits or advance payments to someone you have not checked. Confirm the recipient details independently before sending money. For high-value items, property or specialist services, carry out the checks appropriate to that transaction.
Keep account and payment details private
Never share an SMS sign-in code, password, card security details or Mobile Money PIN. Check the destination before opening a sign-in or payment link. Unexpected requests to move money, install an app or disclose identity information deserve extra caution.
For Trueseller packages, begin payment from the app or website and check the payment details presented there. A package purchase is separate from paying a seller for an item.
Selling safely
Describe your item honestly, use your own photos and confirm payment in your own trusted payment channel before releasing goods. A screenshot or message claiming that a payment was made is not the same as confirmed funds.
Avoid exposing identity documents or other people’s private details in listing photos. Keep records of the agreement and use the platform’s report or support options if a conversation becomes suspicious.
If something goes wrong
Stop the transaction, keep the relevant listing and conversation records, and report the account or listing through Trueseller or contact support. If money has already been sent, contact the payment provider promptly using its official channel. Contact the appropriate authorities when you suspect a crime or face an immediate threat.
Trueseller helps people discover and contact each other; buyers and sellers arrange payment and delivery directly. These precautions reduce risk but cannot guarantee a transaction’s outcome.
Further guidance from Ghana’s Cyber Security Authority
The Cyber Security Authority publishes guidance about false shopping offers, advance-payment fraud and impersonated business profiles. Read its shopping scams advisory and online shopping and business impersonation alert for independent advice and official reporting channels.