Your Safety

How to Avoid Being Scammed

First and foremost, do business locally and on a face to face basis.

• Render payment only to those you have met in person.

• Be careful of shipping offers – do business with people you can personally meet.

• Do not transfer or wire funds (e.g. Western Union or your bank) – those who ask are probably scamming you.

• Cashier/Certified Checks and Money Orders can be counterfeited – Do Not Accept – your bank will hold you accountable.

• All Transactions are between seller and buyer, third parties cannot provide a "guarantee".

• Do Not Provide Personal Financial Information (banking account number, social security, or PayPal account number are prime targets).

• Make No Rental or Purchase Agreement Unless You’ve Seen the Item or Property – if something is too good to be true, it probably is not. The bargain may not exist at all.

• Unless You Have Met the Potential Landlord or Employer Refuse All Background and Credit Checks! A lot of personal information is involved, do not provide until necessary to do so and only to those with a need to know.

In case of attempted fraud or scamming you may contact the following:

United States

• Internet Fraud Complaint Center

• FTC Video: How to report scams to the FTC

• FTC complaint form and hotline: 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357)

• Consumer Sentinel/Military (for armed service members and families)

• SIIA Software and Content Piracy reporting

• New York Attorney General, Avoid Online Investment Fraud

Canada

• Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre or 888-495-8501 (toll-free)

• Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)

If you are defrauded by someone you met in person, contact your local police or sheriff’s department.

If you feel that a Sidepatch Listings post may be connected to scamming, please send us the details: admin@sidepatch.com

Common Sense Safety

The majority of people and Sidepatch users are trustworthy and good intentioned.

Taking the same safeguard and preventive measures online as you would offline is advisable.

For the first-time meeting of someone:

• Make it a public place such as a cafe, bank, or shopping center.

• Do not meet anywhere that is isolated, or invite strangers into your home, have someone else such as a friend or family member with you.

• Being particularly careful when buying/selling high value items is always advised.

• Telling a friend or family member where you're going provides a network of safety.

• Have a cell phone or someone who has one with you.

• Be aware and trust in your own feelings and intuition.

Taking these simple precautions helps make Sidepatch safer for everyone.

For more information about personal safety online, check out these resources:

• http://www.staysafeonline.org/

• http://www.onguardonline.gov/

• http://getsafeonline.org

• http://wiredsafety.org

Weapons and Firearms

Advertising the sale of weapons, firearms/guns and components is to be done only by preauthorized federally licensed firearms dealers who prescribe to Brady's Gun Dealer Code of Conduct! Any unauthorized advertising of weapons or firearms will be deleted and individuals will be turned over to authorities for investigation and prosecution. Further information on Sidepatch’s firearms dealer authorization program can be obtained by contacting admin@sidepatch.com.

Prohibited

Users must comply with Sidepatch Terms of Use, posted site rules, and all applicable laws.

Here is a partial list of goods, services, and content prohibited on Sidepatch Listings:

• The selling weapons; firearms/guns and components; BB/pellet, stun, and spear guns; etc. by individuals

• ammunition, clips, cartridges, reloading materials, gunpowder, fireworks, and explosives by individuals

• offers, solicitation, or facilitation of illegal prostitution and/or sex trafficking

• exploitation or endangerment of minors; child pornography

• recalled items; hazardous materials; body parts/fluids; unsanitized bedding/clothing

• prescription drugs, medical devices; controlled substances and related items

• alcohol or tobacco; unpackaged or adulterated food or cosmetics

• pet sales (re-homing with small adoption fee ok), animal parts, stud service

• endangered, imperiled and/or protected species and any parts thereof, e.g. ivory

• false, misleading, deceptive, or fraudulent content; bait and switch; keyword spam

• offensive, obscene, defamatory, threatening, or malicious postings or email

• anyone’s personal, identifying, confidential or proprietary information

• food stamps, WIC vouchers, SNAP or WIC goods, governmental assistance

• stolen property, property with serial number removed/altered, burglary tools, etc

• ID cards, licenses, police insignia, government documents, birth certificates, etc

• US military items not demilitarized in accord with Defense Department policy

• counterfeit, replica, or pirated items; tickets or gift cards that restrict transfer

• lottery or raffle tickets, sweepstakes entries, slot machines, gambling items

• spam; miscategorized, overposted, cross-posted, or nonlocal content

• postings or email the primary purpose of which is to drive traffic to a website

• postings or email offering, promoting, or linking to unsolicited products or services

• affiliate marketing; network, or multi-level marketing; pyramid schemes

• any good, service, or content that violates the law or legal rights of others

Please don't use Sidepatch Listings for these purposes and notify admin@sidepatch.com about anyone else you see doing so.

Thanks for your assistance in maintaining Sidepatch Listings’ safety and usefulness for our community.