Buying and selling safely

Meet smart

• Meet in a busy public place during daylight. Many police stations have a lobby or parking lot you can use for exchanges; call ahead to ask.
• Bring a friend for large items or high-value sales. Tell someone where you're going.
• For big items at a home, have them in the garage or driveway rather than inviting strangers inside.
• In winter, plan for the cold: agree on a time, keep your phone charged, and don't leave a vehicle running unattended.

Pay smart

• Inspect the item before paying. Cash in person is simplest.
• Never accept a check or payment for more than the price and send back the difference. That's the "overpayment scam".
• Never wire money, buy gift cards, or pay a "shipping agent" for someone you haven't met.
• Be wary of anyone who wants to move the conversation to a text code, asks you to "verify" with a code sent to your phone, or can't meet in person.

Vehicles and big-ticket items

• Check the title matches the seller's ID and the VIN. Run a VIN history check.
• Complete the title transfer and bill of sale together, following Alaska DMV rules.

See something wrong?

Use the 🚩 Report link on any listing. If you're a victim of fraud, contact local police and report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov.