Safety Guidelines

What we do for your safety

• Email verification: every account must confirm a valid email address.
• Phone verification: every account must confirm its mobile number via an SMS code already at registration – without this confirmation, logging in is not possible.
• Identity verification: sellers can additionally verify themselves via an ID document and selfie check – handled by a specialised external verification provider, without any ID copies being stored by avguide.ch. In the long run, the official Swiss e-ID is planned as soon as it becomes available; until then, this external provider carries out the check. Verified accounts carry the «Identity verified» badge.
• Listing review: we review the first listing of a new account before it goes live; all further listings are spot-checked.
• Reporting function: any listing can be reported with a single click. We review every report.
• Consistent follow-up: if we suspect fraud, we request additional evidence. We report fraudulent listings, including all metadata, to the Federal Office for Cybersecurity (BACS) and support law enforcement with investigations.

These measures make fraud significantly harder – but they do not replace your own caution.

The most important rule: never pay in advance

Never transfer money in advance to people you don't know – neither by bank transfer nor via TWINT, PayPal «Friends», gift cards or crypto. Once the money is gone, it is usually unrecoverable. No reputable seller insists on advance payment for a high-value item you have not been able to inspect.

Be careful with copies of ID documents

Fraudsters often send copies of ID cards or passports to build trust. Do not trust such copies. They are frequently forged or come from data leaks traded on the dark web – the person shown has no connection to the fraudster. A copy of an ID document you receive is not proof of authenticity.

Conversely: never send copies of your own ID documents to other users either. Doing so risks your identity being misused for fraud. avguide.ch will also never ask you via message or email to send copies of ID documents – identity verification takes place exclusively through the dedicated, secure process in your account.

Common marketplace scams

• Too good to be true: a strikingly low price for a sought-after item – often accompanied by a story (moving abroad, inheritance, military service).
• Time pressure: «Several people are interested, whoever pays first gets the item.» A reputable seller will not pressure you.
• Communication outside the platform: a quick switch to WhatsApp or email to bypass our controls.
• Fake escrow or shipping services: fake «escrow» services or freight companies demanding payment by email.
• Fake payment confirmations: PDF receipts or screenshots faking a payment or transfer. Only rely on the actual payment arriving in your account.
• Phishing links: links to fake login or payment pages. Only enter your credentials directly on avguide.ch.

Especially for sellers: the IBAN scam

A currently common scam specifically targets sellers. You receive a friendly, often strikingly formal request along these lines:

«I intend to make the payment by bank transfer and am happy to cover any fees involved. If you agree, please share your IBAN with me …»

Ignore such messages. These requests are meant to obtain your bank details or to set up triangulation fraud: the alleged buyer does not actually pay – instead, an unwitting third-party victim who has themselves been defrauded pays. You ship the item to the fraudster and later find yourself under investigation when the victim demands their payment back.

Therefore:

• Do not share your IBAN or any personal data with unknown parties making suspicious requests.
• Be suspicious of buyers who want to buy immediately without viewing the item, without negotiating the price, and without asking any questions about it.
• Be cautious of alleged overpayments («I accidentally transferred too much, please refund the difference») – the original payment later turns out to be invalid.
• When in doubt, only sell for cash or TWINT at in-person handover.

How to trade safely

Only in-person trading is truly safe:

1. Pick up in person – meet at the seller's location or a public place.
2. Live check – test the item in operation on site: switch it on, listen to it, test all functions.
3. Pay only on handover – cash or TWINT, directly at the in-person handover.
4. Receipt – get the purchase confirmed in writing (date, item, serial number, price, both names and signatures).

When shipping, you as the buyer always carry a residual risk. If shipping is unavoidable: request current photos with a handwritten note (name, date), have a phone or video call if possible, and document the communication.

Suspicious? Report it to us

If a listing or a user seems suspicious to you, use the reporting function directly on the listing or contact us. This also helps other users. In a concrete case of fraud, file a report with the police; cyber incidents can additionally be reported to the Federal Office for Cybersecurity (BACS). We support the authorities with investigations.