Before you trade
- AUWith is not a party to trades between members. Payment goes directly between the two of you — AUWith never receives or holds the money for a trade.
- An automated filter blocks some language such as abuse, but no person reviews listings before they appear. Scam listings are not filtered out.
- Most consumer guarantees — refund, replacement, repair — do not apply to a private sale between individuals. Three do still apply: that the seller actually owns the item, that you can possess it undisturbed, and that there are no undisclosed debts or securities over it. If the other party is in fact selling repeatedly as a business, the full consumer guarantees can apply.
- Inspect the item in person and pay on the spot. If you are the one selling, do not hand the item over until the money has actually cleared into your account — payment confirmation screens and bank notification emails are forged.
Where to meet: Victoria has exchange spots set up outside police stations (Safer Exchange Sites). They have CCTV and lighting and are open 24 hours, but police do not supervise your transaction or mediate disputes — they provide the location only. Victoria Police official guidance
If you have already sent money and think it's a scam
- Contact your bank or card provider right now and ask them to stop the transaction. This comes first.
- Stop contact with the other party and save screenshots of the messages, the listing and the transfer.
- Report it to Scamwatch (scamwatch.gov.au), which collects scam intelligence and issues warnings.
- Report it to police through ReportCyber (cyber.gov.au) — that is where an actual investigation is lodged.
Reporting does not automatically get your money back, which is why step 1 matters most. If you feel unsafe, call 000.
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