The Internet is an amazing place to buy and sell items, but at the same time it can be a daunting experience if you are not aware of the possible scams that are present. At Smart Bride we aim to give you a safer selling environment.

Our support team scans every email enquiry to ensure that it is not a scam (before we forward the enquiry to you), whilst we also have a multitude of security features and filters built into our site. However, from time to time fake enquiries may pass through our filters undetected, and will only surface as a scam once the buyer is 'off our site' and dealing directly with you (the vendor).

What we do when we detect a Scam

If an enquiry is intercepted and deemed as either a fake or a scam, you will be notified immediately by our support team via email. The original email enquiry is then removed from your Sales Console and (in most cases), reported to the Australian Federal Police Internet Fraud Squad.

Tips to Protect yourself when Selling Items on the Internet :

	Never give out your personal banking details until you have verified the authenticity of your buyer
	Never relinquish your sale item until you have received full payment - Also see our section on negotiating your sale
	Watch-out for enquiries originating from outside Australia
	Be cautious of anyone making outrageous claims
	Be cautious of anyone who causes you any discomfort
	Try to contact your buyer by phone
	Always verify the identity of your buyer
	Always be vigilant and report any scams to Smart Bride

What is an email scam?

An email scam is a common method by which potential buyers masquerade as a legitimate customer, in an attempt to de-fraud you of your personal details. Usually there is a financial agenda for most scammers, so be very aware of who you are dealing with.

Before you continue, please familiarise yourself with the common Overpayment Cheque Scam

For further information on other scams and email hoaxes, visit the Australian Federal Police website or Scamwatch

Recognising a Scam :

	Scammers using the 'Overpayment Cheque Scam' method, will always send you a cheque for an amount higher than what your items is being sold for. Read more about this scam here
	Scammers will normally try to gain your trust before they strike, using a series of 'friendly' emails
	Scammers are nearly always based offshore, eg. Africa, Eastern Europe, Russia, China, USA etc.
	Scammers almost never have a legitimate phone number (always try to contact your buyer by phone)
	Scammers appear friendly at first, but usually become more unreliable and aggressive the longer the negotiation continues
	Scammers usually use poor or broken English in their initial (or subsequent) enquiry
	Scammers almost always make an outrageous request at some stage during the negotiation

What do you do if you have think you may have been scammed?

If you think you may have been scammed by a potential buyer at Smart Bride, please contact our support team here and provide full details of the scam.