The internet is a great place to do business, unfortunately from time to time there are unscrupulous people waiting to cheat unsuspecting people. Always be careful when making a financial transaction, and make sure you verify who you are dealing with. Peanut Café is dedicated in providing a safe environment for the community.

• Try dealing within your local community, and check out products in person whenever possible.
• Currently, the Peanut Café DOES NOT have a payment system for buyers, buyer protection program or seller certification. Avoid postings that offer these services.
• Never submit your credit card number, username, password or social security in an email.
• NEVER click an email link that requests personal information, because criminals can redirect a link to an address other than the one shown, and steal your information.
• Never give out any personal financial information such as usernames, passwords, credit card numbers or social security.
• DO NOT send money to distant sellers (especially overseas) via wire transfer, cashiers checks, money order or escrow service like BidPay, Square Trade etc.
• Buyer beware! If the price is too good to be true, be cautious and use common sense.
• Ask as many questions as possible.
• If you must purchase online, use a trusted and secure platform to transfer funds.

Be careful when meeting sellers at their home. To assure your safety, always ensure you take someone (plus a second opinion could be useful). If you're answering a home service post, require the advertiser to produce identity and proof of qualification before inviting them into your home.

Someone you don't know wants to pay you by check for over the amount, but wants you to wire some of the money back. There is no reason for someone to overpay you for an item and ask for some of it back. If a stranger wants to pay you for something, insist payment for the exact amount, preferably from a local bank or a bank that has a branch in your area.

They are in another country. These scammers will say they are living in another country, so they cannot checkout what it is they want to buy from you, or show you the product they are selling. This also an excuse for why you have to wire cash to them.

You are asked to wire money to them after you've deposited their (fake) check. More than likely, the check looks very real, but is a fake; even some bank tellers can't tell the difference. If you're selling something, they say they'll pay you by having someone in the U.S. who owes them money send you a check. Many of these scams also include making deals on behalf of a "client." When you receive the check, it will be for more than the sale price; you deposit the check, keep what you're owed, and wire the rest to them. (Banks will deposit these checks, and then hold you responsible for the amount if it turns out to be fake days later.)

You deposit the checks and then wire them the money minus your "pay." Or they may send you a check for more than your pay "by mistake" and ask you to wire them the excess.

These can also be represented as money making opportunities where you are asked to act as a middle man for money transfers. Delete these emails as soon as possible.

Fake email from escrow service (please refer to the fraud prevention information on sites such as Square Trade.) The seller will send a fake email complete with the escrow service name and logo stating they are serving as an agent on behalf of a verified seller. They will request you to send money to them via wire transfer (usually western union). Be careful, these emails look very real. The email will also state they cannot withdraw the money until you've received your item. This is false. Once you've wired the money, it's gone.