Marketplace safety
Trade locally. Keep your good sense.
Most local transactions are straightforward. These habits make it much harder for scams to get a foothold.
Inspect before paying
Check the item in person and make sure it matches the description before money changes hands.
Meet somewhere sensible
For small items, choose a busy public place. Tell someone where you are going.
Ignore unusual payment requests
Do not use gift cards, crypto, deposits or links sent by someone you have not met.
Keep records in localads
Use marketplace messages so there is a clear record if something goes wrong.
Selling safely
Do not hand over an item until payment is visible in your own banking app or you have counted the cash. Screenshots and “pending” emails can be faked. Never share a one-time code with a buyer.
Trust labels
What each label means
Labels describe one specific account fact. They are not guarantees about an advert, item, seller or transaction. Only labels supported by a completed check should appear on a profile.
- Private seller
- The advertiser says they are selling in a personal capacity. This is a seller classification, not a verification check.
- Business seller
- The advertiser says they are acting for a business. Irish and EU consumer rights may apply, but the label alone does not mean the business was checked.
- Email checked
- The account completed the email confirmation process. It does not establish the person’s identity or the quality of an advert.
- Phone checked
- The account demonstrated control of the stated phone number. It does not establish identity or guarantee a transaction.
- Identity checked
- LocalAds reviewed identity evidence for the account. It does not verify ownership, condition or value of every advertised item.
- Business verified
- LocalAds reviewed business evidence and connected it to this account. It does not endorse the business or guarantee a transaction.
- PRO subscriber
- The advertiser has a paid LocalAds subscription. Payment for features is never treated as identity or business verification.