Safety

The vast majority of informacja.com users are honest and well-meaning people. However, as with all transactions, we recommend exercising caution when interacting with other users.

Safe Transactions

Meet in public places (cafes, shopping centers, store parking lots)
Bring someone you know to the meeting
Tell someone close to you where and who you're meeting
Meet during daylight hours
Pay cash upon receiving the item
Thoroughly inspect the item before purchase
Trust your instincts - if something seems suspicious, walk away
Keep correspondence as evidence

Avoid

Don't let strangers into your home
Don't send money in advance (before receiving the item)
Don't give bank account details to strangers
Don't accept overpayments (common scam)
Don't ship items before receiving payment
Don't use Western Union/MoneyGram transfers to strangers
Don't give out your SSN or other sensitive data

Recognizing Scams

Be alert to the following warning signs:

Common Scams

Check overpayment - Someone sends a check for more than the price and asks you to return the difference. The check turns out to be fake.
"Overseas" scam - Buyer claims to be abroad and will send a "courier" to pick up the item.
Fake escrow - Request to use an unknown escrow site (which is fake).
Phishing - Fake emails appearing to be from informacja.com asking for login credentials.
"Easy money" - Offers promising easy money for work-from-home, envelope stuffing, etc.
Upfront deposits - Landlord asks for deposit before showing the apartment.

Warning Signs

Price is too good to be true
Seller/buyer is abroad
Request for Western Union, MoneyGram, or gift card payment
Urgent pressure to make a quick decision
Language errors, strange phrasing
Reluctance to meet in person or talk on the phone
Request for personal information beyond what's needed for the transaction

Safe Meetings

Choosing a Meeting Location

Police station - Many stations offer "Safe Exchange Zones" with surveillance
Public places - Cafes, McDonald's, libraries, shopping malls
Store parking lots - Walmart, Target, Home Depot (often have cameras)
Banks - Well-lit, with surveillance

Precautions

Bring your phone with a charged battery
Share your location with someone close to you
If buying electronics - test on the spot
For expensive items - consider meeting at a police station
For cars - request a test drive, check the VIN number

Job Offers

When looking for jobs through classifieds, exercise extra caution:

Legitimate Job Offers

Include company name and contact details
Require meeting at the company's office
Have clearly defined requirements and job duties
Never require payment from candidates
Company can be verified online

Suspicious Offers

Require payment for training, materials, or "guarantee"
Promise unusually high earnings for simple work
"Work from home" for envelope stuffing, data entry
Ask for bank account number before employment
Require purchasing a "starter kit"
Meetings in cafes instead of an office

Employment Agencies

When using job placement services, remember:

Check if the agency has proper licensing
Meet in a professional office, not in a cafe or bar
If possible, pay by money order, check, or card (not cash)
Report any abuses to appropriate institutions (Department of Labor)

Apartment Rentals

Rental scams are increasingly common. Be vigilant:

Common Rental Scams

Fake listings - Photos and descriptions copied from other sites, apartment doesn't exist or belongs to someone else
"Owner abroad" - Can't show the apartment but asks for a deposit
Too-low price - Price significantly below market is a warning sign
Time pressure - "You must pay today, I have other interested parties"

How to Protect Yourself

Always view the apartment in person before paying any money
Verify that the person is the actual owner or has authorization
Search the address on Google/Google Maps
Check photos with reverse image search
Sign a lease before paying a deposit
Pay by check or transfer (not cash), keep proof of payment

Harassment

If you're experiencing harassment from other users:

Email Harassment

If you receive abusive messages:

Use the "Report" function on the message
Block the sender in your email client
Keep copies of messages as evidence
Report to us through the contact form

Phone Harassment

If your number was published without consent - report it to us immediately
Consider blocking the number on your phone or through your carrier
For serious harassment - contact the police

Publication of Personal Data

If someone published your personal data without consent, use our reporting form. We will remove such content as a priority.

Important: If you feel threatened, contact the police.

Reporting Problems

Report a Violation on Our Site

Use the "Report" button on the classified or listing
Write to us: reports@informacja.com

Report Fraud to Appropriate Authorities

In the USA:

FTC - Federal Trade Commission
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
State Attorney General's Office
Local police

In Poland:

UOKiK - Office of Competition and Consumer Protection
Police - report at station or online

Summary - Golden Rules

If something looks too good to be true - it probably isn't true
Never send money before receiving the item
Meet in public places
Trust your instincts - if something doesn't feel right, walk away
Keep evidence - correspondence, payment confirmations
Verify - check identity, addresses, companies
Don't act under pressure - an honest seller/buyer will give you time to decide