Safety Measures for Buyers & Sellers on cars.used.co.zw

At cars.used.co.zw, your safety is our priority. Follow these guidelines to protect yourself, your money, and your vehicle during every transaction.

General Safety Guidelines

• Communicate only through official platform messaging.
• Avoid sharing sensitive personal information.
• Report suspicious listings or users immediately.

For Buyers

1. Verify Seller & Listing

• Check the seller’s profile, reviews, and activity.
• Be cautious of prices that are “too good to be true.”
• Ask for recent photos or videos of the vehicle.

2. Inspect Before Paying

• Always view the car in person before making any payment.
• Inspect the vehicle with a trusted mechanic.
• Verify mileage, chassis number, and engine number.

3. Meet Safely

• Meet in public places or police-designated safe zones.
• Avoid late-night meetings.

4. Secure Payments

• Never send money before seeing the car.
• Use secure payment methods.
• Avoid paying deposits to strangers.

5. Check Documentation

• Verify the registration book (logbook).
• Confirm the seller’s name matches the documents.
• Confirm the seller’s or broker’s authority to sell the vehicle.

For Sellers

1. Protect Your Identity

• Do not share ID photos or personal documents unnecessarily.
• Keep all communication within the platform or your preferred platform, e.g. WhatsApp.

2. Safe Meetings

• Meet buyers in safe, public locations.
• Bring someone along when meeting unknown buyers.

3. Protect Your Vehicle

• Do not hand over keys or allow test drives without collateral (e.g., ID or leaving their car).
• Accompany the buyer during any test drive.

4. Beware of Scams

• Avoid accepting counterfeit or suspicious payments.
• Verify mobile money or bank transfers before handing over the car.
• Be cautious of buyers who rush the deal or offer overpayment.

5. Documentation

• Only transfer ownership after full payment is confirmed.
• Sign a written agreement (bill of sale) for the transaction.

Platform Safety Measures (What We Do)

• Manual and automated listing reviews.
• Fraud detection and removal of suspicious accounts.
• Secure messaging system to reduce scam attempts.
• Reporting system for users to flag suspicious activity.
• Educational updates on new scams and safety alerts.

If You Suspect Fraud

• Do NOT continue communicating with the user.
• Report the listing or profile immediately.
• Contact local authorities if money has already been lost.