Safety Tips

1. Before contacting a seller

• Compare the price with similar listings. A price that is far below market value can be a warning sign.
• Read the full description, inspect every image and ask for recent, item-specific photos or video where appropriate.
• Confirm the seller's name, telephone number, location and ownership information.
• Search serial numbers, vehicle registration details, property documents or professional credentials when relevant.
• Do not rely only on screenshots, copied receipts or social-media profiles as proof.

2. Meet and inspect safely

• Meet during daylight in a busy public place or at a reputable business location.
• Tell a family member or friend where you are going and take someone with you for high-value transactions.
• Inspect and test the item before payment. For vehicles, property, electronics and expensive goods, use a qualified professional where possible.
• Do not enter an isolated location or vehicle when you feel uncomfortable.
• Trust your instincts and leave if the other party changes the arrangement unexpectedly.

3. Payments, deposits and delivery

• Prefer payment after inspection and at the time of collection.
• Verify the recipient name and payment details directly. Fraudsters may send altered invoices or switch bank details.
• Avoid gift cards, cryptocurrency, anonymous transfers or payment links from unknown sources.
• Do not release an item based only on a transfer screenshot. Confirm cleared funds in your own banking app or account.
• Use tracked delivery and written terms when shipping is unavoidable.

4. Protect your account and personal data

• Never share passwords, OTPs, PINs, card security codes, online-banking credentials or full identity documents with another user.
• Do not click unfamiliar links sent through messages, SMS or WhatsApp. Open the official website or app yourself.
• Do not install remote-access software for a buyer, seller or “support agent”.
• Use a unique password and sign out from shared devices.
• Be cautious when someone asks to continue outside the platform immediately.

5. Vehicles, property and regulated transactions

For vehicles, verify registration, chassis and engine details, ownership, finance or leasing interests, accident history and transfer documentation. For property, confirm title, identity, authority to sell or rent, boundaries, approvals and outstanding obligations through qualified professionals and relevant authorities.

Professional, medical, financial, employment and licensed services should be checked against the applicable regulator or professional body.

6. Safety for sellers

• Keep home-address details private unless a home inspection is genuinely necessary.
• Remove personal information visible in photos, documents, number plates or backgrounds where it is not needed.
• Meet prospective buyers in a controlled location and keep valuable items within sight.
• Do not hand over goods until payment is confirmed as cleared and irreversible to the extent possible.
• Keep a simple written record for high-value sales.

7. Common warning signs

• Pressure to act immediately or keep the transaction secret.
• Refusal to meet, allow inspection or answer reasonable questions.
• Requests for an advance “booking”, “insurance”, “customs”, “delivery” or “verification” payment.
• Payment screenshots, overpayment stories, requests to refund a difference or links to fake courier/payment pages.
• Identity, location or account details that repeatedly change.

8. Report suspicious activity

Use the platform's report option and preserve screenshots, phone numbers, listing URLs, payment receipts and messages. If money has been transferred, contact your bank or payment provider immediately. For suspected crime, threats or immediate danger, contact Sri Lanka Police or the appropriate emergency service. EheMehe.lk is not an emergency service.