Safety tips

When you're meeting in person

• Meet in a busy public place in daylight — a shopping mall, a petrol-station forecourt, a bank parking area. Many police stations have a designated "safe exchange zone."
• Bring someone with you if you can. Two people are a much harder target than one.
• Tell a friend or family member where you're going, who you're meeting, and when you expect to be back.
• Inspect the item before paying. Test electronics, check serial numbers, run a car for at least a few minutes. For high-value items, consider a professional inspection.
• Don't share more personal info than you need to — your home address can usually wait until the deal is done.

Spotting and avoiding scams

• Never pay upfront for an item you haven't seen. "I'm out of town, just send the deposit and I'll ship" is a classic scam.
• Be wary of prices way below market value. A brand-new flagship phone for a third of its retail price is almost always bait.
• Watch for pressure tactics. "I have other buyers, you need to decide right now" — slow down. Real sellers don't need to rush you.
• Verify payment cleared before handing over the item. Bank transfer reversals, fake EFT confirmations and forged proofs of payment are common. Wait for the money to actually reflect in your account.
• Avoid unusual payment methods. Crypto, gift cards, MoneyGram or wiring money abroad for a local item are huge red flags.
• Don't click suspicious links in messages from other users — especially anything claiming to be a "secure payment gateway" you've never heard of.

Extra care for the Personals section

Personals is for adults (18+) looking for companionship, friendship or dating. The dynamics are different from buying a second-hand fridge — please take these extra steps:

• Video call before meeting. A short video chat confirms the person matches their photos and helps you read the vibe.
• First meet in public, never at someone's home or yours. A coffee shop, restaurant or bar is ideal.
• Tell someone your plans. Share who you're meeting, where, and when you expect to check in.
• Arrange your own transport. Don't be dependent on the other person to get home.
• Don't send money. Anyone you meet on Personals who asks for money — for emergencies, travel, medical bills, "to come visit you" — is almost certainly running a scam.
• Don't share intimate photos with strangers. They can be screenshot, stored, and used against you in "sextortion" scams.
• Report and block anyone who pressures you, asks for explicit content, requests money, or makes you uncomfortable.

If something goes wrong

• Report the user or listing using the report link, or email support@starlightgroupsa.co.za. Include the listing URL and as much detail as you can.
• For crimes — theft, assault, fraud, harassment, threats — contact your local police. AfrikaFinds will cooperate with valid law-enforcement requests.
• For financial fraud, contact your bank immediately. The sooner you act, the better the chance of recovery.