Below are our 10 top tips on how to combat scams at NewhamLocal.com.

1. Meet the seller and item before you purchase.
A really strict rule should be that the Item and seller are met before any money changes hands. Unlike buying online, you have the right to view the item before you decide to commit to a purchase. Ensure that it is the seller who advertised the goods who meets you and that the goods match their description.

2. Arrange to meet the buyer or seller in a public place.
If possible arrange to meet a potential seller at their home address and bring along a printout of the advert to reference if details are correct. Always take someone with you or at least tell a friend where you are going.

3. Do not give out your personal information to strangers.
Any questions should be strictly related to the goods in question and there should be no reason for any party to give sensitive information such as bank details to the other party.

4. Never deal with people overseas.
Always try and deal with people locally or as close to your local area as possible.

5. Beware of deflated prices.
Deflated prices may indicate that the goods may be stolen or are not of significant quality. Avoid any severely slashed price cuts.

6. Never send or wire money to sellers or buyers.
This includes never mailing a cheque or using payment services like Western Union or MoneyGram to pay for items found on NewhamLocal.com

7. Never carry large sums of money with you.
If you are looking to buy something expensive then we recommend that you meet with the seller to view the item first and then arrange to return with money for payment if you are happy to continue with the purchase.

8. Deal primarily through phone calls.

It is usually a good idea to specify in your advert that you do not want to be contacted by email. Emails are the breeding ground for most scams as the fraudster can paint pictures he may not be able to through a phone call. Always be wary of anybody contacting you solely through email.

9. NewhamLocal.com does not offer any sort of buyer protection or payment programs.

NewhamLocal.com does not act as an intermediary and does not make arrangements for any payments or transactions. If you are contacted by someone who claims to be from NewhamLocal.com and you are asked to transfer money for an item for sale, this will be an illegitimate request and any emails you receive of this type will also be fraudulent. DO NOT follow any of the instructions contained within the email or given over the phone. If you receive any emails promoting these services, please immediately report it to us.

10. If it's too good to be true, it usually is... STAY SAFE ONLINE!